Bo St. Clair and Dakota Barker of Durant High School have been selected as the Shamrock Bank Impact Athlete and Performing Arts Students of the month for December 2023.
St. Clair, a senior, is a four-year wrestler and a three year member of the varsity football team.
On the mat, this season, the team captain advanced to the semifinals of the Southmoore Open finishing fourth and has registered victories in dual matches versus Little Axe, Plainview, Sulphur and Madill.
“Bo St. Clair is one of the hardest working athletes/students that I have ever had the pleasure to work with, ” Durant wrestling coach Jim Taylor said. ” Bo is usually the first to get to practice and seldom wastes his time while there. He has a daily goal to get better as a wrestler and to help his teammates improve as well.”
“With a smile on his face, he always shows up, always works hard, and always makes us better.”
On the gridiron, the undersized, but determined St. Clair, helped lead the improved Lions to a 5-5 record in the fall. The program’s best showing in seven years. Also, a team captain, St. Clair was named second team all- district linebacker in Class 5A-3 and was selected by the DHS coaching staff to receive the Durant Lumber Company Hard Hat for his play in the Ada game his junior year.
Bo has recorded a 3.8 grade point average in the classroom and is a member of the National Honor Society, In addition, he is part of the Union Leadership Committee and received the Champion of Character Award.
Active in the community, St. Clair has volunteered at the annual Magnolia Festival and with Families Feeding Families (now known as Feeding Hope). He is also a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Durant and finds time to work at Taco Mayo.
He plans to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant and will pursue a degree in education. He hopes to teach and coach wrestling and is not ruling out trying to wrestle in college.
Bo’s mother is Margaret St.Clair and he has two brothers Billy and David.
Dakota Barker is an integral part of the ” Pride of Durant band” and the Symphonic and Jazz music program.
The senior started his band journey in sixth grade in Norman before his family moved to Durant two years later.
His involvement in the DHS band program and the community is extensive and impressive.
He plays the clarinet, alto saxophone and other woodwinds and is a member of the Symphonic Band (competition band), the Jazz 1 (competition jazz band) and Jazz 2 (non competition jazz band). Jazz Band is a volunteer band that takes place outside of regular school hours. In addition, Dakota is the 2023-24 Sound, Prop and Facilities manager (Band Officer).
At DHS, he has received multiple awards including the Gold Band Award for three years, a musical excellence award and Outstanding Musician for the past three years along with earning superior ratings at District and at the State solo and ensemble competitions.
Barker has been named to the SEOBDA (Southeastern Band Directors Association) District Honor Band the past five years and has advanced to the second round of OkMEA All-State Symphonic Band two years in a row.
This past summer, he was selected as an Oklahoma Ambassador of Music which allowed him to take part in the programs symphonic and jazz bands as they toured and played in five different countries in Europe.
He also manages to find time to work or three years with the DISD and most recetnly at Pruetts’ grocery store in Durant.
Barker is also a difference maker outside of school.
He is a member of the First United Methodist Church where he volunteers and performs special music on occasion. He also has participated in the Youth Force program community involvement program for three years.
In addition, Barker volunteered with the OU Loves Joplin campaign that provided assistance and donations following the 2011 Joplin, Missouri Tornado. Plus, he has volunteered for Serve Durant and various other events and activities within the Durant area.
The impressive young man maintains a 3.71 grade point average and is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
He is planning to attend college with an eye on a music performance major. His list of possible destinations includes Oklahoma City University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Dakota’s parents are Todd and Danielle O’Neal and he has a step-brother, Andrew O’Neal.
Congratulations to Bo St. Clair and Dakota Barker the Shamrock Bank Impact Athlete and Performing Arts Students of the Month for December 2023.
