Subscribe
CommunityAn uplifting experience
Graduates told to keep their senses of humor
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by DARWIN WEIGEL
Calvert High School graduates Cody Denton and Janine Hoerauf horse around with joy Thursday after receiving their diplomas at the school's graduation ceremony at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro.
|
E-Mail This Article
It’s been a long 13 years but for the 2008 Calvert County high school graduates, it was long anticipated.
All four Calvert public high schools celebrated graduations last week at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro.
Parents like Kent, who came to see her daughter Krystal Arnold graduate from Calvert High School, spent many years preparing and guiding their children for that very moment when they would turn the tassel and enter adulthood.
‘‘With a high school diploma, we are ready for that next level,” said Calvert High School salutatorian Shawn Richardson.
‘‘From this point forward our lives are in our hands,” Amy DeTorres, valedictorian of Calvert High said.
‘‘If there is anything we have been taught these past four years, it’s how to make a decision,” she said.
Helping along in decision making throughout each graduate’s education were family members and staff of the public school system.
‘‘To watch them go four years from little ones to adults ... it’s awesome,” said Faye Shields, secretary of Huntingtown High School.
Many staff members attended the ceremonies even if they did not have an active role.
‘‘The staff is really involved,” said Callie Waggamon, 17, of Patuxent High School. ‘‘They do a really good job keeping us motivated,” she said of the staff throughout the years.
It was the staff of each high school that led each student within the hallways of their respective high schools through many honorable, momentous and even awkward times in their lives. Some of these memories will stay with graduates and some will fall to the wayside. Steven Chow, valedictorian of Northern High School, said the titles given to graduates through school, whether as a jock, book worm or something else, would not precede them.
‘‘For some this will be a much anticipated fresh start. For others it may quite possibly be a humbling experience.”
Throughout all these experiences, class president of Northern High School Ahna Turley reminded students to make the best of every day.
‘‘It’s the feelings and the memories we make that make each day different,” she said.
Shields stood behind the stage at the commencement hugging students as they began their procession into the ceremony.
Also receiving hugs left and right was Susan Johnson, principal of Calvert High School. Johnson, who told the graduating seniors that they ‘‘emphasize what is good about youth today,” was all smiles as she congratulated each and every senior who walked across the stage. One senior even attempted messing up her hair in mid hug. Johnson laughed it off.
Laughter was the advice given to students in several of the graduating classes.
Zachary Seawell, vice principal of Calvert High School, advised graduates that laughter and a good sense of humor will help get them through many situations in life, while George Miller, principal of Northern High School, amongst many words of wisdom, advised graduates to find humor in every day.
Hundreds of graduates found humor on Wednesday as both the Huntingtown and Patuxent High School graduations were affected by a severe storm that swept through the area.
‘‘I almost made it through my first year with no major incidents,” joked Huntingtown High School Principal Rick Weber.
Before the storm Weber encouraged graduates to continue on with the success and achievements they accomplished throughout their years at Huntingtown.
Power went out throughout the arena in the midst of Calvert County public schools Superintendent Jack Smith’s congratulatory remarks. Smith continued on through flickering power until the microphones went out completely. At that time, Smith wrapped up his speech by walking up to the graduates and shouting ‘‘Best of luck, take care of yourselves,” as the graduates cheered.
Despite the weather, Huntingtown High School and Patuxent High School charged through the ceremonies even with little to no power.
Holding a portable microphone and standing in little light, valedictorian Kavita Nadendla of Huntingtown High School gave many words of advice but remembered to especially thank all of the families who have supported the graduates.
‘‘When the time came, they put aside their feelings to let us take our own path in the world. They watched us make mistakes and bad decisions, but they were always there in the end,” she said.
‘‘I’m proud of my baby,” parent Jean Wagner of Lusby said of her Patuxent High graduate Davon Wagner.
Salutatorian Stephanie Chan of Huntingtown High School reminded her class that graduation was not just an ending but also a beginning.
‘‘Today is the day that will catapult the rest of our lives,” she said.
Chan took her class back through the past four years recalling the many ‘‘firsts” the class had either together or individually throughout the years.
These sentiments were similar to Calvert High School class president Hannah Batong.
‘‘We’ve done so much in just four years.”
Batong said the graduates have learned a lot in class but even more through experiences.
‘‘Be proud of what you have accomplished and what you will accomplish,” Chan said.
These words rang true not only for Huntingtown but also Patuxent as similar remarks were made by valedictorian Colin Kelly.
‘‘I hope that as we move on we will remember the best moments, learn from the worst and go on to make even better ones,” he said.
Northern High School Salutatorian Ryan Butler just wanted to get the message to graduates to go out into the world and do the best.
Principal Nancy Highsmith of Patuxent High School spoke of her graduating class as a class who has been prepared to handle whatever life throws there way.
‘‘Shift happens,” Highsmith said.
Highsmith said that students should be prepared now to take opportunities as they come and be prepared for the many shifts that bump people off one path and onto another.
Whichever path chosen, President of the Board of Education Frank Parish urged students at both ceremonies to just be happy.
Class president of Patuxent High School Colleen Ursic said she was proud of all the graduates and hopes that most will be able to keep in touch over the years.
Many graduates would agree with the closing remarks given by class president Danae Peoples when she said ‘‘[High school has] been a fun ride and an experience of a lifetime.”
The mood was equally jubilant at The Calverton School, a private school in Huntingtown.
Before its Saturday, June 7, graduation, Calverton’s Head of School, Daniel Hildebrand, said he was especially impressed with this year’s graduating class of 32 students.
‘‘Really, this class has exceeded our expectations. They’re a good group and they’ve always been a good group,” he said.
Charlie Winegardner, 17, who has attended Calverton since kindergarten, had mixed feelings about graduating.
‘‘I’m excited to get out of here but I’m going to miss my friends. Most of them,” he said.
Likewise for Alan Chaney, 18, who attended the school for 14 years, felt both happy and sad to be leaving.
‘‘It’s just being with everybody. We’re a tight-knit class,” he said.
A few female students were in tears before the ceremony and had to be comforted by psychology and music teacher Susan Dice.
But Board Chair Bill Lerch urged them not to be sad.
‘‘Smile. It’s a great day to be proud of what you’ve accomplished,” he said.
