Where are they now?
A look at what some former Mustang students and residents are up to today
MHS grads reaching for the stars
Stacy Barnes
Mustang High School seniors Carrie (Diehl) Helm and Jimmy Helm had not spoken to each other until graduation night in May 2000 when the two were on the bus heading for Project Graduation, an all night alcohol-free party hosted by the PTSA for graduating seniors.
Carrie says the pair struck up a conversation that night and that led to a date. And although the couple went to separate colleges, Carrie to Oklahoma City University and Jimmy to Oklahoma State University, they stayed in touch via computer and eventually began dating their sophomore year in college.
“We went on one date. Then he went to OSU and I went to OCU,” she said. “It wasn’t until the next year that we started dating.”
After Two years at OCU, Carrie transferred to the University of Central Oklahoma where she majored in communication education. Jimmy remained at OSU obtaining a degree in broadcast journalism. The couple married in December 2004 and now lives in Oklahoma City where Jimmy is a producer for the 5-6:30 p.m. weekday news on channel 9. Carrie said his duties include writing scripts, calling camera shots and monitoring time for the newscasts.
Carrie graduated in December and is substitute teaching and hoping to land a job as a Drama teacher while also working on another exciting project—a possible recording contract for her Christian musical group, Beyond Chance.
The five ladies of Beyond Chance met at church and formed the group three years ago—by chance—when they were singing in a Christmas choral concert and a soloist had to back out. A fellow church member noticed how well they sounded together and suggested they form a group and they followed his advice. Members of Beyond Chance are Shandy Baggs and Misty Farmer (sisters), Jenny Diehl and Carrie Helm (sisters) and Kristin Fitzgerald.
Beyond Chance has performed in area churches and at women’s retreats. They sang the national anthem twice at NBA Hornets games, and have performed at various other venues across the metro. They recorded their first CD, which Carrie says was a huge financial undertaking, costing over $10,000 to produce. Members of their church, Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, lent the group money to fund the effort. In fact, Carrie says it was a church member who sent the CD to the recording company.
Beyond Chance auditioned for the Oklahoma City-based MC productions just a couple of weeks ago and the recording company has expressed interest in signing the group. Carrie said they are in the process of retaining legal counsel before signing a contract, but expects the group to sign.
“We didn’t really realize we were on an audition, but we were,” she said. “They want to sign us!”
Carrie has come a long way from her days at MHS—days that she says are filled with memories of Drama classes and classmates, many of whom she still keeps in touch with.
“I was a huge drama freak in high school,” she said.
One thing Carrie says she notices on her frequent trips back to town is the growth. The school expanded since she and Jimmy left by adding the band room next to the auditorium, but even more has changed in Mustang’s business district.
“Every time I come here I see a new business,” she said. “I have been really amazed the last few years watching the businesses grow and the people move in. At first I thought the growth would be a bad thing. I thought it would change Mustang, but it hasn’t really. I would come back and raise my kids here.”
Jimmy is the son of Allen and Dee Cope and Carrie is the daughter of Dr. Mark and Judy Diehl.
A look at what some former Mustang students and residents are up to today
MHS grads reaching for the stars
Stacy Barnes
Mustang High School seniors Carrie (Diehl) Helm and Jimmy Helm had not spoken to each other until graduation night in May 2000 when the two were on the bus heading for Project Graduation, an all night alcohol-free party hosted by the PTSA for graduating seniors.
Carrie says the pair struck up a conversation that night and that led to a date. And although the couple went to separate colleges, Carrie to Oklahoma City University and Jimmy to Oklahoma State University, they stayed in touch via computer and eventually began dating their sophomore year in college.
“We went on one date. Then he went to OSU and I went to OCU,” she said. “It wasn’t until the next year that we started dating.”
After Two years at OCU, Carrie transferred to the University of Central Oklahoma where she majored in communication education. Jimmy remained at OSU obtaining a degree in broadcast journalism. The couple married in December 2004 and now lives in Oklahoma City where Jimmy is a producer for the 5-6:30 p.m. weekday news on channel 9. Carrie said his duties include writing scripts, calling camera shots and monitoring time for the newscasts.
Carrie graduated in December and is substitute teaching and hoping to land a job as a Drama teacher while also working on another exciting project—a possible recording contract for her Christian musical group, Beyond Chance.
The five ladies of Beyond Chance met at church and formed the group three years ago—by chance—when they were singing in a Christmas choral concert and a soloist had to back out. A fellow church member noticed how well they sounded together and suggested they form a group and they followed his advice. Members of Beyond Chance are Shandy Baggs and Misty Farmer (sisters), Jenny Diehl and Carrie Helm (sisters) and Kristin Fitzgerald.
Beyond Chance has performed in area churches and at women’s retreats. They sang the national anthem twice at NBA Hornets games, and have performed at various other venues across the metro. They recorded their first CD, which Carrie says was a huge financial undertaking, costing over $10,000 to produce. Members of their church, Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, lent the group money to fund the effort. In fact, Carrie says it was a church member who sent the CD to the recording company.
Beyond Chance auditioned for the Oklahoma City-based MC productions just a couple of weeks ago and the recording company has expressed interest in signing the group. Carrie said they are in the process of retaining legal counsel before signing a contract, but expects the group to sign.
“We didn’t really realize we were on an audition, but we were,” she said. “They want to sign us!”
Carrie has come a long way from her days at MHS—days that she says are filled with memories of Drama classes and classmates, many of whom she still keeps in touch with.
“I was a huge drama freak in high school,” she said.
One thing Carrie says she notices on her frequent trips back to town is the growth. The school expanded since she and Jimmy left by adding the band room next to the auditorium, but even more has changed in Mustang’s business district.
“Every time I come here I see a new business,” she said. “I have been really amazed the last few years watching the businesses grow and the people move in. At first I thought the growth would be a bad thing. I thought it would change Mustang, but it hasn’t really. I would come back and raise my kids here.”
Jimmy is the son of Allen and Dee Cope and Carrie is the daughter of Dr. Mark and Judy Diehl.
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