Farewell to a Class with Heart
Although the sun shined upon them in only a figurative sense, 118 young men and women walked one by one across the stage this morning and to the rousing applause of a myriad friends and family proudly accepted their Collegiate diplomas. Despite the unexpected spring rain that sent the commencement exercises indoors, it was, nevertheless, a glorious rite of passage for our newly minted graduates, many of whom arrived on a much different North Mooreland Road campus as kindergartners in the fall of 1991. In the 13 years that followed, they witnessed incredible improvements in facilities, technology, and opportunities, and they made the most of the bountiful resources provided for them.
They excelled in athletics, a fact validated by 5 state championships, 7 league titles, and enough golden moments to fill an entire edition of SportsCenter. They excelled in academics, a fact borne out by the impressive list of college choices on the graduation program and their performances on SAT tests and advance placement exams. They excelled in the arts as anyone who sat spellbound at West Side Story, enjoyed a choral or instrumental performance, or marveled at a display of painting or sculpture will enthusiastically attest.
Yes, the Class of 2004 has truly left its mark, but my lasting impression of these young men and women will have little to do with what they accomplished on the athletic field or in the classroom or in the Hershey Center. Instead, what I’ll remember is the way they pulled together last fall when their classmate Nick Adams died in a tragic automobile accident and in an instant they were faced with the devastating reality that life isn’t always fair. As Nick’s friends assembled in the hospital and at his home, the best instincts of their character came to the fore, and through their grief, they comforted one another as they traveled together through uncharted and often treacherous territory.
They excelled in athletics, a fact validated by 5 state championships, 7 league titles, and enough golden moments to fill an entire edition of SportsCenter. They excelled in academics, a fact borne out by the impressive list of college choices on the graduation program and their performances on SAT tests and advance placement exams. They excelled in the arts as anyone who sat spellbound at West Side Story, enjoyed a choral or instrumental performance, or marveled at a display of painting or sculpture will enthusiastically attest.
Yes, the Class of 2004 has truly left its mark, but my lasting impression of these young men and women will have little to do with what they accomplished on the athletic field or in the classroom or in the Hershey Center. Instead, what I’ll remember is the way they pulled together last fall when their classmate Nick Adams died in a tragic automobile accident and in an instant they were faced with the devastating reality that life isn’t always fair. As Nick’s friends assembled in the hospital and at his home, the best instincts of their character came to the fore, and through their grief, they comforted one another as they traveled together through uncharted and often treacherous territory.
Time passed, of course, but the memory of their friend and of that surreal interlude in their lives wouldn’t fade. As winter became spring, a plan began to take shape.
Nick loved music, and Diana Adams, his mother, conceived the idea of a concert as a way to assemble her son’s friends and honor his memory. One great idea led to another. As plans evolved quickly, someone suggested a billboard to be placed in a highly visible location.
Then came the idea for a formal and broad-based effort to raise awareness about the dangers of high-speed driving. Very soon, thanks to the expertise of advertising executive Bill Westbrook, website designers at Roundtable, and billboard creators Grand Graphics, the dream became reality.
Nick’s friends called their organization the Wish You Were Here Foundation. “Our cause is universal,” said Harry Ludeman, Nick’s classmate and the foundation president. “We’re telling people to be careful, not to drive too fast. This whole process made our thinking and mission very clear.”
On Saturday, May 8, a crowd estimated at 600 convened at the Tredegar Iron Works to enjoy the music of six bands. At about the same time, a billboard bearing Nick’s smiling countenance appeared on I-64 just east of the Staples Mill Road interchange. It reminded westbound travelers to “Slow Down. Heaven Can Wait.” In the future, there will be other billboards. The message will remain the same.
Through a painful time, the class of 2004 remained strong, just as it has throughout its tenure at Collegiate. It’s boasted scholars and athletes. It’s boasted some of the most creative young men and women ever to walk our hallways. It’s boasted some of the coolest people you’d ever want to meet.
As they took their final bow, however, what stands out most prominently is their ability to find light in the darkness and to make each day just a bit brighter for those around them. That quality of character is what truly defines the Class of 2004.
(For more information about the Wish You Were Here Foundation, please visit www.wishuwerehere.org.)--Weldon Bradshaw wbradsha@collegiate-va.org
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Nick loved music, and Diana Adams, his mother, conceived the idea of a concert as a way to assemble her son’s friends and honor his memory. One great idea led to another. As plans evolved quickly, someone suggested a billboard to be placed in a highly visible location.
Then came the idea for a formal and broad-based effort to raise awareness about the dangers of high-speed driving. Very soon, thanks to the expertise of advertising executive Bill Westbrook, website designers at Roundtable, and billboard creators Grand Graphics, the dream became reality.
Nick’s friends called their organization the Wish You Were Here Foundation. “Our cause is universal,” said Harry Ludeman, Nick’s classmate and the foundation president. “We’re telling people to be careful, not to drive too fast. This whole process made our thinking and mission very clear.”
On Saturday, May 8, a crowd estimated at 600 convened at the Tredegar Iron Works to enjoy the music of six bands. At about the same time, a billboard bearing Nick’s smiling countenance appeared on I-64 just east of the Staples Mill Road interchange. It reminded westbound travelers to “Slow Down. Heaven Can Wait.” In the future, there will be other billboards. The message will remain the same.
Through a painful time, the class of 2004 remained strong, just as it has throughout its tenure at Collegiate. It’s boasted scholars and athletes. It’s boasted some of the most creative young men and women ever to walk our hallways. It’s boasted some of the coolest people you’d ever want to meet.
As they took their final bow, however, what stands out most prominently is their ability to find light in the darkness and to make each day just a bit brighter for those around them. That quality of character is what truly defines the Class of 2004.
(For more information about the Wish You Were Here Foundation, please visit www.wishuwerehere.org.)--Weldon Bradshaw wbradsha@collegiate-va.org
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