It was banners, beach balls and blue gowns at Fairfax High School’s graduation Tuesday, June 21. The L. Patrick Laing Field House echoed with whistles, cheers and the occasional blare of an airhorn from graduates’ relatives and friends, some holding posters and signs as the class of 2005 entered.
Cindy Waddell, assistant principal of Fairfax High School, was enthusiastic about this year’s graduating seniors. "They worked hard all year long for this," she said. "It will be a very dignified ceremony. We have a wonderful, wonderful senior class, and they were a pleasure to work with."
"Quite a few of [the graduates] have a lot of potential," said Brian Thomas, director of the Fairfax High School band. The band included a handful of graduating seniors, who joined the band during the ceremony to play "October" by Eric Whitacre.
"We’ll always be Rebels, and we’ll always have the memories we made here together," said Rosie Blais, senior class president, welcoming the audience. Rebels is the name of Fairfax High School's sports teams.
Whether the graduates felt they would miss their years at Fairfax High, or whether they could not wait to leave, when asked of their feelings about the end of high school most of them came back with the same answer: "Awesome."
"I am excited," said Semence Bonane. "Oh, my God, we are out. No more FHS." Bonane, who plans to study computer science at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, said that her senior year had passed very quickly.
"I didn’t even get a chance to feel like a senior," said Bonane. "It went by so fast."
"Senior year has been amazing," said Ryan Wood. "Well, except for applications [to college]." Wood, who will study social science at Radford University in Radford, said he would miss his friends and journalism teachers most. He wants to become a history teacher himself.
In the bleachers, Kari Sanders and Bill Clement waited for their son’s name, Cody Clement Sanders, to be called. "I’m trying not to cry," said Sanders.
While at Fairfax, Cody ran track and was a member of "all the bands they have at this school," including the jazz band, marching band and symphonic band, said Clement. "He’s done all the activities he could possibly do." Cody will go to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., after graduation.
"Get ready," said Sanders, just before Carole Kihm, director of student services, read Cody’s name. When they heard it, Sanders, Clement and the rest of Cody’s family stood up, pounded their feet on the bleachers and cheered.