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13/12 One last lesson | LoudounTimes.com

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Tuesday, Jun. 12, 2012 by Laura Peters and Alicia Constant, Times-Mirror Staff Writers | 0 comments | Email this story

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyBoluwatife Adetunji hu gsa fellow Tuscaroragraduate before theceremony June 12.Adetunji was first in lineand received the firstdiploma handed to aTuscarora student.

Officially signaling the final chapter of high school, Woodgrove and Tuscarora high schools saidfarewell June 12 to their first graduation class of 2012.

The beginnings of tradition at Woodgrove

For Woodgrove, their event may have been rained out, but there was no stopping the class of2012s parade. Walking in with smiles and joy their graduation was anything but traditional much like their entire school experience. The graduating class of 330 students, filtered into thehigh schools gym to take the next step into their future lives.

Darren Baker sits in thefront row after receivinghis diploma. Times-Mirror

Staff Photo/Laura Peters

Tradition is an interesting concept. Because though it is often regarded as an immovable,

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unchangeable aspect of life, its really always changing. If you think about our high schoolexperiences, an outsider might call it untraditional, Woodgrove graduate and senior speakerJocelyn Westray addressed her classmates. But, what define tradition? Does it mean four yearsin a real high school, four years in the same high school? If thats so, then I want nothing to do

with this so-called tradition. We may have not had a traditional high school experience butour lives will be anything but traditional.

Senior Class President, Andrew Board said the class of 2012 had seen more change thanObamas 2008 campaign.

Tradition is not the word to describe the group thats about the walk across the stage today,Board said. In four years weve walked through the doors of three separate buildings [and]

worked with four d ifferent principals.

Marshall Alexander, left,and Wesley Alvis, right,scan the crowd inWoodgrove High Schoolsgym, as Adriane Alvordwhispers with AlisonAnderson waiting for thecommencementceremony to begin June12. Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Laura Peters

Joseph Spicer, Woodgroves Chemistry teacher and State Champion softball coach was selectedas their commencement speaker, urging them to reconsider graduation, jokingly.

Now, personally I think youre all a bit crazy for wanting to graduate in the first place, he saidpointing out they can eat pizza five days a week. Look at this school the community has builtfor you - its perfect. Youve had it great since day one.

Emily Avery stands as sheis recognized for herhonors achievementsduring Woodgrove HighSchools graduationceremony June 12.

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Laura Peters

Some of you have been ready to graduate since the eighth grade. And now that that day hasarrived, youre a little afraid. Have faith, not fear, Spicer added.

Quoting Winston Churchill, Spicer said, this is not the end, its not even the beginning of theend. But, perhaps, its the end of the beginning.

Woodgroves graduatingclass tossing their hats abit too early, causingthem to find them andcross their tassel over tosignal their graduation.Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Laura Peters

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Tuscaroras first graduates take flight

As the mixed choruses of Tuscarora High School lifted their voices to sing Bob Chilcotts In theHeart of the World, school faculty and staff brushed a few tears from their eyes. The graduationof the class of 2012 was the end of all they had invested in these 235 students, but it also markedthe schools new beginning, as the first class ever to graduate from Tuscarora took flight.

Even though your footprints may not leave lasting marks on the moon, music, or art, in yourtwo years at Tuscorora, youve sparked an entire culture, said James Cassar, who delivered thesenior address. But, he said, the classs high school accomplishments were just a footnote in alarger story.

Times-Mirror StaffPhoto/Beverly DennyAmanda Welch smiles asshe accepts the facultyscholarship fromTuscarora principalPamela Paul-Jacobsduring the graduationceremony for the firstgraduating class June 12.

Rick Doc Walker, former tight-end for the Washington Redskins, encouraged studentsthrough his commencement address to display personal responsibility as they entered the real

world, where when you want to put gas in the ca r, you have to pay for it.

You just finished your first quarter, and youre winning, he said, but cautioned, To succeed inlife is not easy.

Walkers advice was practical: Say please and thank you and dont be a fraid to ask for help.Give your best instead of just doing enough to get by. Dont expect life to be handed to you on asilver platter. Have the courage to say no to the party life, because the people who love you havesent you on a mission: It takes more courage to say no than to say yes.

Endings are just doorways to new beginnings, said valedictorian Jordan Tyrrell. Tyrrell sharedhow he learned to give back. I took a trip to Virginia Beach that changed my life It was there Idedicated my life to Jesus Christ, he said. An end had to be made to the way I was living tostart a new beginning.

Loudoun County Public Schools had 4,465 high school graduates for 2012 from 12 high schools,Douglass School and Monroe Technology Center. Graduation took place June 10 through 12 at

various schools in the county and the Patriot Center in Fairfax.

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