GHS Graduates Class of 2011

On Friday, June 3, Gaithersburg High School held its Class of 2011 Commencement Program at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. 

Gaithersburg Principal, Dr. Christine Handy-Collins opened the program with a summary of the tremendous accomplishments of the Class of 2011, which included:  a large number of scholars and athletes who earned almost $10,000,000 in scholarships; the 25-0 State Champion Lady Trojans basketball team; the Regional Champion football and baseball teams; and Gaithersburg winning the State Sportsmanship Award. 

Handy-Collins energetically stated, “Trojan pride is on the rise.”  She also encouraged all the new graduates to set goals for their lives.

Handy-Collins also recognized and thanked Dr. Jerry Weast, outgoing Superintendent of Schools.   The Gaithersburg Commencement Chorus then sang “In My Dreams.”

Senior Class Treasurer Elizabeth Le introduced Senior Class Sponsor Hannah Carlton. 

Carlton spoke about the need for each graduate to define success for themselves.  She closed by stating, “It is your time to be successful, however you define success.”

Senior Class President Shannon Taruc then introduced Keynote Speaker Manuel Scott, a Freedom Writer.  Scott started his moving presentation by softly singing “If I Can Help Somebody as I Pass Along.” 

He then spoke of the importance of pouring our lives into other people, and he thanked all of the leaders who poured themselves into this fine group of Gaithersburg students.

Scott then noted that in the midst of the turbulence of our times, we have the opportunity to create a better future.  He spoke about being born into a “beautiful but broken family.” 

Scott went on about his father’s imprisonment, his abusive stepfather, of living in 26 different places as a child, of being homeless, and of wondering if anyone in the world cared about his family.  He told the students of how he took his personal issues to school, and, as a result, fell behind in school, missed 60 to 90 days a year from the fourth grade through the ninth grade, and, ultimately, dropped out of high school.  Scott spoke about a good friend who was killed, and how he thought, “Every time I try, I get knocked down…why should I try?”

Scott then spoke about a day when he was sitting in the park and a man came up to him and challenged him.  The man said, “Just because you live in the hood doesn’t mean the hood has to live in you.” Scott said the man told him, “You can create a better life for your family…a future that is better than the past.” 

Scott said that he had blamed everyone else for his problems, but that he then began to accept that, while he could not control what happened to him, he could control his response.  He said he began to dream of “breaking the cycle,” and he went back to school.  

Scott became the first member of his family to graduate high school.  He went on to earn two Bachelor’s Degrees and a Master’s Degree, and is now working on a Doctorate.  He is now happily married with three kids and property of his own. 

Scott encouraged the new graduates to “dream big” and to “use haters as your elevators on your way to the top.”  Scott told the graduates,“hold on to the dream that you have.”

Encouraging the graduates to work hard, he told the new grads that “there are no traffic jams on the extra mile.”  Scott closed his presentation by asking the graduates to “dream big, work hard, and love others.”

Senior Class Vice President Katherine Roberts then introduced graduates Emily Samuelson and Lynique Webster, who beautifully sang “For Good.” 

Taruc, the class president, then delivered her Farewell Address and Senior Class Secretary Famatta Ajavon discussed the “Presenting of the Rose” to someone that inspired each graduate. 

Roberts then introduced Dr. Judith Docca, a Board of Education Member, who participated in the presentation of the diplomas. 

Finally, Taruc led the graduates in the traditional “turning of the tassel,” igniting a cap tossing celebration as the ceremony came to a close. 

Congratulations to Gaithersburg’s fine Class of 2011!