Where Are They Now.
Week six.
The UHS/PCHS Alumni Scholarship winners detailed this week all graduated in 2010:
Jamie Phinney, Sarah Riley, and Daniel Mallette. A slideshow of all scholarship winners will be
given during the reunion assembly the afternoon of September 3.
Jamie Phinney has already completed two college degrees, both from Truman State
University. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2014 and a Master of Arts in Education
in Music in 2015. She is certified to teach K-12 music.
Jamie is beginning her second year as the K-12 music teacher at Linn County R-1 School
in Purdin, Missouri. Her teaching duties include general music for kindergarten through 6 th
grade, band, choir and drumline for middle and high school students.
Jamie attributes her career path to some great music teachers at Putnam County. “One of
my band directors set me up to take lessons on the French horn with a professor at Truman, and
that was what really got the ball rolling.”
While at Truman, Jamie performed with the marching band, the wind symphony, horn
choir, brass choir, and the orchestra. As a member of these groups she performed in St. Louis,
Kansas City, Tennessee and Arkansas. Jamie was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Truman’s
music fraternity for women.
Jamie lives in Brookfield, a short drive from the school. She has become involved in the
First Christian Church in Brookfield, singing in the choir and serving as choir director. Jamie
also enjoys reading and playing the ukulele.
Sarah Riley will soon attain her goal of being a doctor by age 25 as she will be
completing a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland University in December, 2016. The
University is located in Overland Park and Sarah lives in the Kansas City area. She attended
UMKC for three years studying biology before being accepted into chiropractic school. Sarah
attributes achieving her doctorate goal at such a young age to the college classes she was able to
take in high school. She says, “I am very proud to call myself a Midget!”
Upon graduation, Sarah intends to move back to Putnam County and open a chiropractic
clinic in Unionville. While she has enjoyed the convenience of living in the city, she states
“After living in KC the past 7 years, I can wholeheartedly say I am ready to move back to
Putnam County. The city is too "fast" for me. I miss the slow, small town, country lifestyle. I
especially miss seeing everyone.”
Sarah holds several certifications including Fascial Movement Taping by Rock Tape, a
specific top-of- the-line kinesiology tape that works with pain relief, especially on athletes.
Another certification she holds is in Webster technique, a chiropractic technique specific for
pregnant women and babies.
In her spare time, Sarah is very involved with fitness and has competed in body building
competitions through the World Body Building and Fitness Federation. In 2012 she placed 3 rd in
the bikini model division and was featured on the cover and had a three page spread in World
Physique Magazine. In January, Sarah and Kale Triplett will welcome their first child.
Daniel Mallette graduated from the College of the Ozarks in Branson in 2014, earning a
Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation and Wildlife Management and Biology. He is
furthering his education by pursuing a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from York
College.
Daniel lives in Branson and works in the Ozarks area. His employer is Growing Deer, a
private land consulting firm that also produces a weekly hunting show. Daniel’s primary
responsibility is managing the company’s property for white-tailed deer through habitat and
wildlife management practices. Daniel says, “I have been blessed that my job revolves around
hunting because that has always been my passion.”
The education Daniel received at Putnam County R-I provided a good foundation for his
career, stating, “I was able to gain many skills that I now use in my field while enrolled in
classes such as ag/shop and building trades.” He misses playing basketball as a Putnam County
Midget.
Daniel has found people in the Branson area to be pleasant and friendly and he enjoys the
beauty of the Ozarks. He is active in a church by helping with the youth program. Daniel finds
time to bow hunt deer in the fall and chase turkeys in the spring.
Watch for more scholarship winner updates in next week’s paper.
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