Linda Crawford was grinning ear to ear, just like all of the other proud parents during Herndon High School's graduation ceremonies June 13. And just like any parent, she had a great big hug for her graduates — all 492 of them.
"I'm just a secretary that adopted 492 kids," said Crawford, the school's administrative assistant, as she hugged every member of the Class of 2002 after each one received his diploma.
The nearly two-hour, outdoor ceremony was marked by personal touches such as Crawford's hugs and guest speaker and school security specialist Peter Coles' "Top 10 Favorite Moments of the Past Four Years," including such crowd favorites as, "No. 6, standing at the main intersection and getting my shout outs," and "No. 2, Mike Kecman and Jennifer Michaux being crowned king and queen of everything."
By the time Coles had finished his speech, he had named as many of the seniors as he could including the 15 graduates that have joined the military.
"We don't know where you're going, but we're proud of you," he told them.
Nineteen students graduated as Advanced Diploma candidates. Kecman was honored with the Student Leadership Award, and Michael Dominguez received the Faculty Award.
Senior class president Emery Rogers urged her classmates not to be satisfied with just graduating from Herndon: "Don't stop here. Do not make these four years your glory years."
Crawford summed it up best, however, telling the Class of 2002, "You guys rock."