Trumann High School 2008 Honor Students pose for photos after being honored by the Trumann Chamber of Commerce last week at a dinner held at the Trumann Country Club. Honor students, pictured from left, are: Candace White, Colton Everhart, Whitney Richardson, Jordan Hendrix, Kyle Barker, Brittany Marshall, Daniel Holt and Cassie Rains. The students were recognized for their academic success at the dinner. (Democrat photo/Ruth Ann Estes) [Click to enlarge]

The eight Honor Students of the Trumann High School Class of 2008 and their families were honored Monday night, April 28, by the Trumann Chamber of Commerce with a dinner at the Trumann Country Club. The eight students comprise the top 10% academically in the senior class.

Seventy-two people attended the dinner honoring Trumann High School seniors Candace White, Colton Everhart, Whitney Richardson, Jordan Hendrix, Kyle Barker, Brittany Marshall, Daniel Holt and Cassie Rains. Trumann Attorney Kelly Webb was speaker for the event.

Webb, a former middle school and elementary school principal in the Trumann School District, spoke to the students on qualities one must have in life to be successful.

The first honors student banquet held by the Chamber was held in 1983. Webb, who was in the Arkansas State Legislature at the time, asked then-Governor Bill Clinton to speak. When Clinton was unable to work the event into his schedule, he sent his wife, Hillary, to speak at the event.

"Your presence here tonight is indicative of the fact that you understand the importance of education," Webb told the students last week. "You can be successful, regardless of your social or financial status."

He told students he changed schools 12 times when he was growing up.

"One person influenced me to attend college," he said. "M.P. Talbot of Trumann convinced me to go to college by encouraging me."

Webb talked to the students about behavior.

"Bad behavior, whether mere rudeness or criminal activity, boils down to the lack of good standards," he said. "No child is born bad, children come into this world as a blank slate. They don't know who they are, where they are, what color they are, or how they should behave. They must learn and it is what they learn that determines their behavior."

Webb told the students that the standard of conduct for teenagers in behavior, appearance and speech has declined since he was a child. He said little was left to the imagination any more and that vulgar language was accepted as normal.

"We even now accept as normal armed policemen stationed in our schools," he said.

"I encourage you to set your standards high regardless of your occupation or social standing. Care about how you look and dress. Keep the streets safe for our children. Do not tolerate vulgarities in print or films."

"Education is extremely important," he said, "but quality of life is very important."

He urged the students to have four important words in their vocabulary: choices, attitude, honesty and integrity.

"The most important word is choices," Webb said. "We live and die by the choices we make."

He emphasized two choices students must make that will affect almost every moment they spend for the rest of their life.

"Do you want your life filled with joy, happiness and fun?" he asked. "Then choose the right spouse and choose the right occupation. Don't make a mistake in these choices."

He urged the student to keep their attitude right.

"Our state of mind is connected to how we react to what is said or done," he emphasized. "This has a great impact on life, probably more of an impact that facts, education, money, failures or what other people say or do."

"We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day," he said. "We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. The only thing we can do is control our attitude. Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it."

He urged the students to be honest in their life.

"If you are honest, you will always have friends," he said.

He also urged them to use integrity in their daily actions.

"It is extremely important for a businessman to use integrity," he said. "Without integrity, you can destroy what you have spent a lifetime developing. You must stand behind your work. Do not shortchange people or misrepresent your business. You will not last in a business without integrity. One little mistake can destroy your entire life."

He also urged the students to live up to three responsibilities in life.

"Be true to God, your family and your community," he said.

Eight members of the Trumann High School Junior Class served dinner to guests at the banquet. They were Asa King, Morgan McKenzie, Alex Whitaker, Kami Fritz, Morgan Crain, Ethan Glover, Clinton Curtis and Logan Schmidt.