"It’s going to be a glorious day," were the words echoed by one of Centreville High School’s valedictorian candidates. On a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, 452 flag-carrying Centreville High School seniors marched out of a tunnel and into the Patriot Center at George Mason University. They took their seats as friends and family cheered them on from the stands and waved U.S. flags of their own. Graduation day aside, Tuesday was Flag Day, and Centreville High wanted to celebrate both.
As the students sat, and the cheering died down, Senior Class Administrator Sterry McGee welcomed one and all to the commencement program. The Centreville High School Symphonic Band and Front ‘n Centre Choirs, both conducted by Lynne Babcock, struck up the National Anthem, and Jessica Hill, a senior class board member, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Awards Committee Chairperson Stephanie Holt presented the Centreville Faculty Award to student Daniel Germano, commenting on Germano’s academic brilliance and athletic prowess. Germano, a National Honor Society Member, recorded the experiences of WWII veterans for the Library of Congress Veteran’s History Project, ran on the cross-country team, and served as captain of the ice hockey team.
SENIOR CLASS BOARD Member Sophia Kim introduced retiring Principal Pam Latt, who instructed the graduating class to strive not to be important, but to do something important. "The best way to predict your future is to create it," said Latt. During her words, the first balloon of the evening appeared in the student section, which prompted Latt to jokingly order, "Put the balloon down!"
Latt then presented the valedictorian candidates to the graduating class and audience members. Each candidate took a turn to speak, and the last candidate, joined by two others, sang, "You have to fight (duh-duh), for your right (duh-duh), to party!"
Student Amy Thompson, a senior class board member, announced that the 2004 class gift would be a collection of door mats to be placed in front of the 12 sets of doors at Centreville High School. Afterwards, students Lindsey Bestebreurtje, Chris Chang, Kevin Corcoran, and Sarah Long took the stage, and facing silence, sang a rendition of "It’s so Hard to Say Good-bye to Yesterday."
Lindsey Bestebreurtje remained on the stage and gave a brief introduction to the class history. The history, a slideshow presented on two screens in the upper sections of the auditorium, showed pictures of students from all four years of their high school careers. During the slide show, a beach ball materialized in the student section, and more balloons began bouncing along. When the slide show ended, the students gave a tremendous cheer.
AFTER A PERFORMANCE of "America the Beautiful" by the Symphonic Band and Symphonic Choir, National Honor Society Member and AP Diploma Candidate Christina Shapalis congratulated seniors for making it this far to graduation. She then gave an introduction to Flash "Gordon" Helm, a Spanish teacher at Centreville High.
"Mrs. Latt, you are a gifted educator," Helm began. He then turned his attention the students, and during the course of his speech, offered the students seven words to live by. "Don’t let the bastards get you down," said Helm. "Pluck is the key," he said afterwards, offering the students four more words to live by. Helm explained that pluck was attitude. "Use it to become worthy of those who love you," he said. "Young people, you are surely needed."
At the end of his speech, Helm asked everyone to join him in singing, "God Bless America," and everyone rose to their feet. After the song, an air-horn from somewhere in the audience went off in celebration.
AS EVERYONE SAT, Sarah Villyard, who won a Cappie Award for Lead Actress in a Musical at the Cappie Awards last Sunday at The Kennedy Center, walked up to an electric piano sitting in front of the stage. She began playing and singing "Essentially You," a song she had written and composed herself. Her performance brought several students to their feet.
After Villyard’s performance, students lined up and approached the stage. Principal Latt began handing out diplomas as students walked across the stage, with several students hugging Latt before returning to their seats. During the presentation, one row of determined students tried to start a wave.
Senior Class Board Member Stacy Velasquez gave the Farewell Address, and as students chanted, "Seniors, Seniors!" the graduation caps were tossed into the air.