287 students from Maurice J. McDonough High School received their diplomas at their 2012 commencement ceremony in Upper Marlboro on Monday night. 75 of those students graduated with Certificates of Merit.
“This is a wonderful time,” Class Valedictorian Erica Richardson said. “A culmination of years filled with talent, defeat, perseverance and victory. We survived the awkwardness of adolescence and morphed in to young adults ready to take on the next chapter of our lives. Last week, when I learned I was valedictorian, I was pretty excited until I realized I was going to have to give a speech before thousands of people. Let’s just say, the thrill was gone and nerves set in. My first inclination was to ask Mr. (Bradley) Snow if I could tweet my speech, post it to Facebook or upload it to Instagram. But I knew he would tell to march forward because that’s what he’s taught me all along, marching forward, tacking our challenges and working toward our goal of being right where we are tonight.”
The choir performed the songs “When You Believe” by Kenneth Edmonds and “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban during the ceremonies. Raven Murphy was the Class of 2012 President for McDonough. Murphy spoke about the teachers at the school and how they helped the students through the four years of high school.
The graduates from McDonough earned $6,502,277 in grants and scholarships to attend college. Most of the graduates will attend the College of Southern Maryland. 22 students have enlisted to join the United States Armed Forces.
