Ajai Tripathi accepts his son’s diploma. Photo by Vernon Miles.
Three graduations. Three different atmospheres. One location. One day.
On June 21, Arlington Public School’s three different high schools flooded the Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitution Hall with celebration.
At Washington-Lee High School’s graduation, the morning’s celebrations were mixed with grief. Jayant Tripathi, a senior at the school, died from natural causes on April 20. His father came to the stage as the ceremony began to receive his son’s degree.
“Today is a day of loss, courage, and accomplishments,” said Tannia Tolente, a School Board member whose son was graduating.
Many of the students wore pins on their caps with Jayant’s face, showing solidarity for their classmate.
Kay Tiernan was one of the busiest parents on graduation day. She was at the Washington-Lee graduation to support her son, Jon Tiernan, then at the Wakefield graduation that evening for her two daughters. Jon Tiernan attended Washington-Lee to attend the international baccalaureate program and will be going to Virginia Tech to study computer science.
“It feels great,” said Kay Tiernan. “I’m very excited. He loved being at Washington-Lee.”