The Connection

When W.T. Woodson High School Principal Scott Poole stood before the Cavaliers’ graduating class on Wednesday, he contemplated what it meant to be a champion.

Several of his students were crowned champions on the field this year. The boys’ basketball team, for instance, won its first-ever state title in March, and Poole expressed how honored he felt to receive a championship ring. Other Cavaliers were champions in theatre, arts or academics. Still other students have championed causes or candidates. This word can take many forms.

“There are hundreds of champions of all kinds sitting in front of me,” Poole said, “and the staff, as well as your parents, are proud of the champions that you have become.”

Ryan Hilliard, who coached Woodson’s boys’ lacrosse team to its first state championship in 17 years earlier this month, also feels the pride that comes with the “champion” label, but he said he’s even more proud of the players whose accomplishments will always be remembered.

“Every time they drive by the building, they’ll be able to see 2017 in front of the building, state champs,” Hilliard said. “That’s something they’ll always have.”

Woodson beat South County, with whom the Cavaliers had split two previous games this spring, for the title on June 10. For the 10 Woodson seniors whose career ended on the highest note, Wednesday’s commencement was a little extra special.

“Walking across that stage … knowing that people know they’re state champions, I think that definitely means something to them,” Hilliard said.

Five-hundred forty eight students graduated from Woodson on Wednesday afternoon at EagleBank Arena. It was the culmination of four years together; by student speaker Hailey Wingo’s math, they spent 2,761,920 hours in high school.

THIS GROUP certainly made the most of those hours.

The 2017 class received more Ivy League acceptances than Woodson’s previous three classes combined. The graduates have earned over $12 million in scholarships. As Poole said, the group features all sorts of champions.

“In 20 years, I can’t wait to read the newspaper and see my classmates’ names,” Wingo said. “I can’t wait to see a Broadway play and recognize a face onstage. I can’t wait to be able to brag, ‘I went to high school with them.’”

Students processed in at 2 p.m., and diplomas were handed out an hour later. There was one award still to be given, however: The School Award, which is the highest honor Woodson faculty can present to a student.

Emily Cabrera, who spent her time at Woodson balancing tennis, tutoring and technology club with her academics, was the class’s recipient. Minutes after she was recognized on stage, her mother stepped to the podium as guest speaker.

Beth Cabrera is a senior scholar at George Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and the author of “Beyond Happy: Women, Work, and Well-Being.” In her speech, she presented three tips for all graduates to hold dear: be grateful, be social by connecting with others, and be a giver by helping others.

“Your happiness does not depend on what happens to you,” she emphasized. Even after the highs of a state championship or the lows of a college rejection, Cabrera explained, one’s happiness levels will eventually even out. As a result, those levels are impacted more by small choices made throughout the day.

THE THRILL of graduating might not last, then, but the memories along the way will. This senior class made plenty in nearly 3 million hours together, and even as the now-graduates part ways for this summer and beyond, they’ll take these memories with them. The 2017 basketball and lacrosse state championship banners aren’t going away, either.

“Here’s to the friendships forged, the connections cherished, and the lessons learned,” Wingo said. “Here’s to us.”