More News

His maternal grandmother, Wanda Brooks, said the two were both proud of their grandson’s achievement, and looked forward to his future accomplishments.

Families and friends of other Crossland graduates shared similar sentiments during the school’s 2007 graduation exercises Friday at Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro.

‘‘Today is a milestone for all of you,” county Board of Education member Linda Thornton-Thomas said in an address to the students. ‘‘A high school diploma is a great achievement. During your time in school you have learned not only who you are, but who you can become in life.”

Schools Superintendent John E. Deasy said he was ‘‘extremely proud of the students.” He said he looked forward to the leadership the graduates would give to make their community and country proud.

‘‘Always take the quality of integrity you learned at your school with you through life and remember to make tough decisions and wise choices,” Deasy said.

Salutatorian Samuel Ramsey said that his secret to successfully graduating with the second highest grade point average for the school was motivation.

‘‘I’m lazy,” Ramsey said. ‘‘I think math is evil and I can’t stand doing homework, especially when ‘I Love New York,’ and ‘Avatar the Last Airbender,’ two of my favorite shows, are on television. But with God and motivation, all things are possible.”

Valedictorian Nicole Hancock likened preparing her graduation speech to preparing for life.

‘‘Planning is essential in both,” Hancock said. ‘‘Sometimes you may get writers’ block, which is like encountering an obstacle in your life. This causes detachment, anxiety, and stress, and you don’t know where to turn for help or how to get back to where you left off.”’

The graduation’s special speaker was Kim Oliver of Montgomery County, the 2006 National Teacher of the Year.

‘‘I had the honor of meeting the nine African-American students who were the first to integrate into a white high school during the 60s, and I was in awe.” Oliver said. ‘‘They were young, no more than 14, 15 and 16, yet they led the civil rights movement in education

Oliver encouraged the graduates to try to remember the ‘‘Little Rock Nine.”

‘‘Know that no matter how old you are, you can make a difference,” she said. ‘‘Always stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.”

After receiving his diploma, Stanley McCoy said that he is happy the high school part of his life is over.

‘‘I can’t wait to go on to tech school in the fall,” McCoy said.

Some students at Oxon Hill High School were surprised with tuition money at Tuesday’s graduation when keynote speaker Michael Miller, an ambassador with the U.S. Department of Education, called their names and asked them to stand along with their parents. Miller vowed to pay for their college education.

Graduates Steven Darby, Maurice Robinson Jr. and Daryl Freeman were told by Miller to ‘‘go to college and send me the bill.”

Oxon Hill High School Principal Roney Wynn said Wednesday that during a conversation he had with Miller prior to the graduation, Miller said he had scholarships he wanted to give to students who, may not have had a 4.0 grade point average, but had shown improvement over the year.

The announcement was a surprise to the students and their parents.

Miller is the author of ‘‘A Promise to Persevere” and said he uses proceeds to pay for students to go to college.