Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Stonewall Jackson graduates exit to the sounds of joy
Year after year, the principal of Stonewall Jackson High School tells the audience at graduation that air horns will be confiscated, those sounding the horns will be removed by police and all applause should be held until the last student receives the final diploma.
But like the friends and family of graduates at Battlefield and Brentsville District High Schools who also gather annually at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, the Stonewall attendees triumphantly hoot, holler an occasionally sound a few horns as the name of each student is read.
This year was no different, despite a new principal and a new set of graduates.
More than 360 teenagers from Manassas and Gainesville heard their names called to raucous cheers, about a dozen of which were accented with air horns.
After all, the first-year principal at Stonewall did mention that this group of graduates is tops in the county.
“To the seniors, the members of the Class of 2008, tonight we celebrate the final graduation in Prince William County, and I truly believe we have saved the best for last,” said Richard Nichols.
Salutatorian William Moore talked about overcoming adversity to achieve greatness. He brought up the 2004 Boston Red Sox ending the Major League Baseball club’s 88-year drought to finally win the World Series. He also pointed to Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, an African-American and a woman competing for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“Given all that, I do believe anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” he said.
He later instructed those seated in front of him to a life of activism.
“As we grow older, we must take it upon ourselves to make a difference in the lives of people in the communities around us,” said Moore, emphasizing the word “we.”
Valedictorian Nadia Tanoli noted that Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, wanted to be remembered for something other than violence, so he left money to set up the Nobel Peace Prize, which is what he is most widely remembered for today.
“It all comes down to, ‘What do you want your legacy to be?’” she asked the Class of 2008.
Taylor Gentry, president of the Student Activities Leadership Council, advised her fellow classmates to “never take anything too seriously.
“Otherwise, you really will miss out on the big things in life,” she added.
Class President Ted Jackson said the class members “can be whoever we’d like” and continued Moore’s theme of giving back to the community by recommending everyone take the attitude of “I will act now.”
One of Stonewall Jackson’s own gave the commencement address: 1989 alumna and Olympic track gold medalist Kimberly Graham-Miller.
“I really did get my start right here at Stonewall Jackson high school, walking and running the same halls, the very same halls that you guys have been walking the last four years,” she said.
Graham-Miller once used the third floor at Stonewall as a training ground. Even though she graduated seven years before the Atlanta summer games, when her 4x400 meter relay team came from behind to win, she said the race actually began when she graduated from high school, as it took years of training.
“Are you going to be in first place the whole way? Or are you going to go through adversity and never give up, come from behind to win?” Graham-Miller asked. “The choice is yours.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.