Chopticon High School’s Class of 2011, 333 strong, graduated Thursday in a ceremony at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Principal Garth Bowling, Jr. told the graduating class that they had received $6.5 million in scholarships and the school was recently recognized as being in the top three-percent of all schools in the country.
Bowling said a few people teased him, when he was appointed principal three years ago, that he would be going to a school in the country surrounded by cow pies (the school has embraced the nickname “Cow Pie High” after it started as a derogatory term by their rivals). But Bowling said they don’t tease him anymore. “Way out in Morganza we have one of the most competitive schools in the United States. I am proud to be your principal.”
Bowling said he knows his graduates are academically prepared for the world they will be facing. But he added, “Be the kindest person your conscience tells you to be.” He said the graduates can’t do anything about yesterday and tomorrow. “That leaves you with one day – today.”
He said success can bring friends and enemies, but “Be honest and sincere anyway.” And happiness can make people jealous, but “Be happy anyway.” He added, “It is between you and your conscience; it never was between them anyway.”
Class President Amber Christine Frazier sang a song to her classmates and reminded them of some of the highlights at their four years, including the many bake sales. “Serving as your president has been an amazing experience for me,” she said.
School Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano noted that he had a son graduating this year from another county high school, so he was able to look at the system from the inside and from the outside. He told the graduates, “You are receiving a top notch education. I can say that as a dad and as a superintendent.”
Martirano asked the moms in the audience to remember that moment when their child who was graduating was born. And he chided the graduates that whatever they do with their life, “Always call your mom.”
Parroting his own motto of “Work hard and be nice,” he challenged the graduates, “Leave things a little better than what you found it.”
Class Salutatorian Bryan Daly walked his classmates through a humorous tour of their four years, from when “it was good to make it through the day without bumping into a senior and upsetting a teacher” to four years later when “after all we were the ‘one’.”
Daly concluded by saying, “No matter where we go or what we do, we will have that common thread. We are the Class of 2011,” that was met by a thunderous applause from his classmates.
Class Valedictorian Mitchell Lucas said he had been asked to talk about the future, which was a scary subject
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