Keeping with school tradition, the commencement speech was delivered by three graduates of the Thomas Stone High School Class of 2012 during their commencement ceremony in Upper Marlboro on Monday afternoon. 380 graduates received their diplomas at the ceremony.
It was a bittersweet ceremony for Thomas Stone High School Principal LC Martin, as he was also saying farewell to Thomas Stone High School, where he has been the head principal since 2005. Before that, Martin was the principal at Westlake High School.
“This is the last time I will talk with you,” Martin said. “This is the last time I will shake your hand and the last time I will see you smile. This is also my last graduation because you and I are going out together. 2012 is rather unique for me. When I was a kid, my jersey number was 12. I was a vice principal for 12 years and I’ve been a principal for 12 years. Now, I get to leave with the class of 2012.
Before the Valedictorian’ speech, the senior class choir members performed their rendition of Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” as their class song.
“After four years of pencils, books, calculators and countless trips to Rita’s, the time to walk across the stage is finally here,” Thomas Stone High School Class of 2012 President and Valedictorian Jemm Dela Cruz said. Her speech consisted much of quoting and giving examples of “Brotips”, as inspired by the Brotips.com website.
Lindsey Gateau, Gabrielle Miguelez and Tiffany White were the commencement speakers, keeping to a long-standing tradition the school has of having graduating seniors give the commencement speeches. They spoke about their time at Thomas Stone High School and moving forward in the next chapter of their lives.
Charles County Public Schools Superintendent James Richmond, who was a teacher at the school in 1969. Richmond served as the principal of the school for 12 years (1973-1985). He is set to retire at the end of the 2013 school year.
380 students graduated with $1.396 million in scholarships, grants and awards awarded to the students who will attend college. Most of the students will attend College of Southern Maryland. 44 graduates have enlisted to join the United States Armed Forces.
