Roanoke County high schools sent more than 1,200 seniors out into the world with four graduation ceremonies held Tuesday at the Salem Civic Center and one on campus at Glenvar. Salem held its graduation event Wednesday and Roanoke City’s two high schools will hold their commencements at the Roanoke Civic Center Friday.
Of the 220 graduates at Cave Spring High School, 12% were valedictorians, with GPA’s of 4.0 or higher, and several student speakers were typically optimistic about the future.
“The final buzzer has sounded [and] the tickets have been bought for the next leg of the journey,” said departing senior Parker Vascik. “Our lives are gaining momentum.”
Fellow graduate and valedictorian Kathryn Lawryszek added, “[There is] monumental potential that resides in each one of us…why can’t we be the next ‘Greatest Generation?’”
“[This class is] already establishing itself as a vital pillar of the community, ” Lawryszek said as she listed the number of community service projects the Class of 2009 had completed over the past four years.
Cave Spring principal Steve Spangler called graduation, “a milestone no one can ever take away. [High school] has prepared you for what’s to come in many ways.”