Summaya Sulaiman was awarded the Faculty Award, the highest award at the graduation ceremony, which is voted on by faculty members and administrators. It is awarded to students who show outstanding academic success and impressive contributions to Herndon High School and the Herndon community. Photo by Sarah Anderson/The Connection
Herndon High Graduates: Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
Mark Anderson
“I am going to the University of Virginia to study computer science. When I graduate college I hope to work as a freelance software developer.”
Brandon Dillon
“I am going to George Mason next year. I don’t know what I want to major in but my goals after college are to get a job and to move somewhere out of Virginia.”
Brian Maye
“I will be playing soccer at Shenandoah University in the fall and will possibly transfer to a division one school at some point. I hope that in the future I can continue to play soccer, either here or overseas.”
Dasha Bradfield [Attending the College of William and Mary]
“I hope to major in Psychology and Linguistics. I’m not quite sure what the future holds, but I hope to keep my close friends by my side!”
Haley Brazier
“I will be attending Gettysburg College. I will play on the soccer team at school and I plan to major in French and International Relations. In the future I hope to be able to travel all over the world.”
Herndon High School’s Class of 2014 received their diplomas at George Mason’s Patriot Center on June 23. More than 500 seniors graduated, many wearing medals, cords, and stoles, and all ready to tackle the next phase of their journeys. Many still couldn’t help but throw a few balloons and beach balls into the air on their way.
After the Herndon High School Band played the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance,” Principal William Bates and Vice Principal Kelly Barr recognized the graduates for their academic, community service, and leadership achievements. Principal Bates awarded Summaya Sulaiman the Faculty Award, Herndon High School’s highest honor. Sulaiman, captain of the two-time national champion Herndon High School Step Team, was praised by Bates as a respectful, kind, hard-working student as well as a fierce competitor.
Colette Merril, class of 2014 vice president, announced the class gift of new water fountains for the athletic field. Though she acknowledged the gift isn’t “fancy,” Merrill noted that the water fountains “will provide a valuable function for future Hornets” as the old water fountains “poured more water onto [the students’] shoes than into [their] mouths”.
Guest speaker Sara Cranford, Social Studies Teacher, noted the major responsibilities that adulthood will bring these graduates, stating that “ultimately you will determine your own destiny with the decisions that you make”. Cranford imparted three pieces of advice to the 2014 graduates: dream big and work hard to accomplish those dreams, be a giver, and value one’s family.
In his farewell address, class president Andrew Goldman asserted that it wasn’t successes that had made these graduates’ high school years important, but rather, their failures. “While high expectations challenged us to test our limits and excel, they also made us confront the possibility of failure and disappointment. Not doing great at everything we tried was a very real part of our high school experience but through trial and error we sometimes discovered our hidden strengths.” Goldman challenged his fellow graduates to find their passions and strengths from their failures while “knowing that we are not perfect individuals but rather tenacious dreamers determined to find the right path.”
After the graduates received their diplomas, Bates sent off the class of 2014 off with warm wishes and a reminder that “Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.”