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Dr. Ed Markley is not one given to hyperbole.
In 13 years as Broad Run High School's principal -- and 27 years as a principal overall – he's not been one to heap on meaningless praise.
That's what made what he said to the 342 members of the Class of 2009 on Saturday, June 20th, particularly meaningful.
“This is probably the most outstanding graduating class that we've ever had.
“First of all, you're great people, almost to a person. I couldn't ask for better kids.”
Markley then recounted how this class led a school that received consecutive Governor's Awards for academic excellence, won four state athletic championships this year alone as well as producing a state champion in debate and earning $1.6 million in scholarships. By any measure, he said, this class was exceptional. |
As Markley spoke, a large banner was raised behind him on the stage wall of the Patriot Center listing the Class of 2009's achievements. He said the banner, purchased by the school's administration, would be displayed on the back of the concession stand facing Ashburn Road so that no one would forget what the Class of 2009 meant to Broad Run.
“It will be there as long as Broad Run is standing.”
The featured speaker for the graduation ceremony was former Broad Run social sciences teacher Dan Kent.
Kent said his last (and only other) commencement address was given at a small high school in southern Virginia. The night before the ceremony, someone snuck into the gym where it was to be held and stole all the chairs as a prank. On his way to the podium, Kent said he tripped and fell into the podium, splitting his lip.
When he returned from his speech, his wife asked Kent how it had gone.
“I told her the truth.
“I told her every seat in the place was taken.
“I got a standing ovation for the entire address.
“And my words flowed from my mouth with great color.”
Kent said Broad Run's faculty got a scouting report on the Class of 2009 as it was coming out of middle school. “That's a very valuable tool because some teachers use that to determine if they are retiring that year…We saw that you had tremendous potential. We also saw that you were not as boisterous or rowdy as some of our previous classes…
“You have been a cornerstone of Broad Run. As Dr. Markley said you are one of the best schools in Virginia. Not only are you one of the best schools in Virginia, you are one of the best schools in the United States. I have been to over 3,000 high schools and I can tell you that Broad Run is the place to be…
“Broad Run becomes more than a place. It becomes part of your heart and soul. When you leave, you'll be taking a part of Broad Run with you. But you'll also be leaving a part of you behind as part of that legacy.”
As a faculty member who has sat through many graduations, Kent said he'd often wonder as he looked at the graduates whether they had gotten all of the experiences out of high school that they needed to be successful in the world. “To the faculty, I'd say ‘They got it, they've done their job.' ”
Senior speaker Nicole Lavella noted there had been an epidemic in the halls of Broad Run. “And no, it wasn't Swine flu, it was senioritis. Many seniors have not adequately used their brain since the beginning if this year.”
Lavella asked her fellow seniors to use their brain to remember a bit of ancient history, specifically the tale of Sparta. She said they should remember the words with which Spartan mothers sent their sons into battle: “Return with your shield, or on it.”
“Whether mourning the loss of a fellow schoolmate or comforting families struck by tragedy, the Class of 2009 was always up to the challenge, always fighting together with the strength and kindness of its members…
“The Spartans fought every battle they encountered bravely to become the most feared school in the region…
“In a few moments, as we walk up to this platform and shake Dr. Markley's hand, we will be handed our shield. The shield we will carry into education and work…
“As we leave the platform, with shields in hand, we will be directed to the inevitable battle that lies ahead. It's a scary battle. One that many of us have feared and prepared for our entire life....
“I know that no matter what we do, no matter where we end up in the years to come...we will enter the battle fighting the hardest for the people we want to be.”
Based on what they have already done as a class, Lavella said, they will fight with courage and honor. “After all, this is Sparta, we are Broad Run, therefore we will never stop fighting.”
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services Dr. Mary Kealy stood in for LCPS Superintendent Edgar B. Hatrick III, who was attending another graduation. Kealy said she saw a sign in the Munich Olympic Village in 1972 that bore words the graduates should remember. “As we approached the Olympic Village the first thing we saw was a huge sign (that said) 'Life is competition.' From that moment on that message continued to resonate with me.
“It's still quite true. And now you will go forward to the competitions that you will face.”
Broad Run's 2009 valedictorian was Nam Nguyen with a grade point average (GPA) of 4.46. The salutatorian was Corinne Lepe with a GPA of 4.39.
The top 10 percent of the class, with GPA's ranging from 3.93 to 4.46 included:
- Laurie Adams
- Justin Alexander
- Gi-Tae Baik
- Robert Bobbitt
- Allison Bogle
- Vanessa Bornholdt
- Nicole Bruno
- Catherine Casares
- Monica Chiu
- Michael Edstrom
- Nancy Ellsworth
- Kathryn Finney
- Jessica Foster
- Kelly Friedmann
- Hubaida Fuseini
- Michelle Gabro
- Elizabeth Geary
- Kelly Giltner
- Jacqueline Glass
- Kaleigh Ham
- Katherine Hayden
- Devon Hudson
- Cortney Jiggetts
- Christine Jordan
- Diana Kao
- Mari Kent
- Rohan Kothakapu
- Nicole Lavella
- Han Lin
- Julie MacDonald
- Wesley Malychev
- David Mann
- Jean Manuel-Tayag
- Scott Miles
- Mary Mitesser
- Alyson Mullee
- Patrick Murphy
- Jenny Nguyen
- Thang Nguyen
- Shannon Northcott
- Stephanie Parker
- Eric Pasztor
- Marissa Petty
- Michael Pokrass
- Ashley Pruett
- Michael Schweikert
- Erik Shamloo
- Sravan Tumuluri
- Christopher Tydings
- Megan Waterman
- Bradley Whitwell
- Ashley Williams
- Jaewon Yang
- Eric Zoepfl
David Mann and Catherine Casares were named winners of the $500 faculty scholarships.
Attending the Broad Run graduation were School Board Chairman Robert F. DuPree and Broad Run School Board representative Bob Ohneiser.
06/22/09/wbb
