ST. MARY’S CITY, MD — The end is now the beginning of greater things for Leonardtown High School’s Class of 2016.
Hosted at the St. Mary’s College’s Athletics and Recreation Center in St. Mary’s City, over 400 diplomas were distributed to the LHS graduating class June 1.
This day was a special event not only for the graduating class, but for the parents, friends, teachers and faculty members at the high school, said Michael Watson, LHS principal.
“It is a day we say goodbye and send these students out into the world to make their mark on the world. We wish them happiness and success,” said Watson. “These students won’t have it easy, as they will be expected to carry the burden of making a difference in the world and changing things that don’t work in this world.”
He then challenged the graduating class to be the change they wish to see in the world. “You’re ready for this. Don’t talk about it, be about it,” said Watson.
The graduating class was asked to fill out a survey noting for who or what they were most thankful for, said St. Mary’s County Superintendent of Schools J. Scott Smith.
“Their responses listed people who picked them up, or made them feel at some point that someone was rooting for them or made them feel like someone cared about them,” said Smith. “Seek opportunity to show you care, because the smallest gestures make the biggest difference. Nobody gets to graduation on their own.”
He then asked the graduating class to thank those who supported them through their school years and lives. A clamor of thanks and appreciation rose from the blue clad graduates, including the occasional ‘I love you Mom!’
After ripping up his initial speech notes and claiming that he didn’t need the speech, Ryan Williams, class president, pulled another set of speech notes out of his gown sleeve.
“What we all have accomplished these last four years was taxing, tiring and tough, but is likely to not be the toughest thing we face. Some of you will be off to college, the military, or the workforce. No matter where you end up, it’s going to take hard work and determination to succeed,” said Williams.
The most stressful part of being the class president is knowing that he would have to make a speech at graduation, said Williams.
“I knew I would have to speak. I figured that with the time I had, I would be able to come up with a speech that something profound would show up in my mind, like personifying LHS as a long-time girlfriend or an extended allegory about wrong. But it didn’t. Trying to come up with this speech showed me that nothing in this world is going to be easy,” said Williams.
Those that have helped those students conquer high school will not always be there. Appreciate them while you can, said Williams.
“Don’t leave anything up to chance, because not everything will be made available to you by others. The only constant person in your life is you. High school was what you made of it, and life will be what you make of it,” said Williams. “If you want it, work for it. There is no goal that is unattainable through hard work. Impossible is nothing. Go show the world how great you are.”
The three salutatorians, Alexandria Dillon, Amrik Gill and Ramnik Gill, gave two speeches, with both Gills sharing a speech. Valedictorian Chelsea Kibler thanked her friends, family and teachers for making the last four years at LHS unforgettable.
“I also want to thank my kindergarten teacher back in Pittsburgh, who told my mom during a parent teacher conference that I was a class distraction and a devil child who would always struggle in a classroom setting. Looks like you were wrong,” said Kibler.
Seniors submitted photos for their Senior Slideshow, letting the audience relive the students’ lives via the silly and smiling faces captured in the photographs. The dedication song selected by the seniors to play with the slideshow was Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See you Again.’
The Leonardtown High School Symphonic Band performed various arrangements of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ and ‘Fanfare and Recessional’ to begin and end the ceremony. The Leonardtown High School Chorus performed an arrangement of ‘Star Bangled Banner,’ and both groups performed an arrangement of the tune ‘Lean On Me,’ and an arrangement of ‘Armed Forces on Parade’ to honor all those involved with the military.
Check out Leonardtown High School’s YouTube page for the broadcast of the ceremony.
You view pictures of the LHS Graduation ceremony by clicking here, here and here.
Contact Jacqui Atkielski at j.atkielski@thebaynet.com.