West Potomac graduates Photo by Mike Salmon.
The future is what’s ahead for the graduates of West Potomac High School, and it was suggested more than once that they take advantage of opportunities, deal with setbacks and go for the brass ring in life.
These suggestions and more rang through the Eagle Bank Arena on the afternoon of June 6, and the 535 members of the graduating class threw
their mortarboards in the air and headed out as high school graduates.
Some are headed to college, others to the military or jobs, remembering their former life at West Potomac with smiles.
“We are not the same people that entered West Potomac four years ago,” said Jacqueline Amacker, the senior class president. “We’ve got this, congratulations Class of 2019,” she said.
Class speakers James Schroeder and Manuela Danso-Fordjour reiterated that feeling. “Explore what the world has to offer,” said Schroeder. “You made it, not everyone does, but you did,” added Danso-Fordjour.
The stage was full of school dignitaries, and a few elected officials such as Supervisor Dan Storck (D-Mount Vernon), state Sen. Scott Surrovel (D-36), and Del. Paul Krizek (D-44). The teacher of the year award went to history teacher Robert Kerr for his work addressing intolerance, and the student of the year went to Mary Ellen Bell.
“Right now in this moment, I’m the proudest principal in Fairfax County,” said Principal Tanganyika Millard. “Once a wolverine, always a wolverine. Be strong and never give up.”
The band rolled into the graduation favorite “Pomp and Circumstance,” diplomas were handed out, the caps became airborne, and people gathered in the parking lot.
Mack Brown’s son Savveon Pena went into the Reserve Officers Training Corp as a student, and it helped him out. “Very good education, my son, he’s come a long way,” Brown said.
Sofia Parkins was there to see her sister Isabel who specialized in architecture through the academy. “Helps them dive more into it,” Sofia Parkins said of the academy classes.