The gym was packed with family and friends to witness the graduation ceremonies for seniors at Mt. Vernon High School. There were 330 graduates receiving diplomas during commencement exercises on June 18.
The students listened to remarks by Linda Chavez, President of the Center for Equal Opportunity and the valedictorians shared their favorite quotes. Valedictories werre presented by James Weightman, Nadia Shairzay, Danielle Christensen, Laila Ouhamou, Emily Johnson, Christopher Mlinarchik, Zemma Kassa, Kimberly Jeffries, Jules Kroehl and Christiana Behringer.
Among some of the distinguished guests witnessing the ceremony were, in additon to Chavez, Delegate Kris Amundson, Supervisor Gerald Hyland, School Board member Isis Castro, and Board of Supervisors Chairman Katherine Hanley.
Robert Bryan and Marcus Ferguson presented messages to seniors preceded by the official greeting from seniors Laila Ouhamou and Nadia Shairzay.
Principal Cathy Crocker, Ed.D, had the honor of recognizing the top 10 students and then helped Harry Wolin, Mary Jane Tzoumas, and Jeanne Nelson, hand out the diplomas.
SEVENTY-EIGHT PERCENT of the class will attend some type of post-secondary education or training. Valedictorians will attend schools such as the University of Virginia, Indiana University at Bloomington, the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of California at Santa Cruz, John Hopkins and Virginia Polytechnical Institute.