Frederick grads prepare to head out into the unknown

In a humid gymnasium, members of Frederick High School’s graduating class of 2024 followed the directions of their teachers one more time.

The faculty and staff herded the class of 422 graduates into their lines to march into the arena at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg.

Photos: Frederick High School Graduation

On the microphone, one faculty member somewhat ominously reminded them to behave themselves during the ceremony.

“Remember, you haven’t graduated yet,” she said.

But once they were inside and seated, school system officials encouraged them to stay active in educating and improving themselves as they moved out into the world.

Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Cheryl Dyson told them they will be successful if they stay committed to personal improvement.

Learning is a lifetime pursuit, Board of Education member David Bass.

He encouraged the graduates to take a moment to appreciate the support they’ve received and to carry the pride of being a Cadet wherever they go.

The class of 2024 is made up of a diverse mix of entrepreneurs, researchers, athletes, and artists, “and most importantly, a group of beautiful souls,” said Sophia Parkins, a student speaker and graduate.

When they look back at their time together, they’ll remember the moments they shared more than the individual ones.

They’re not the same people they were as freshmen, partly because of how they’ve grown with the experiences they had together, she said.

“Growing up in high school was not a one-man project,” Parkins said.

Monday was a celebration of the support the graduates have received from parents, family, and others, David Franceschina, the school’s principal, told them.

Now, it is time to take the next step and serve, he said.

As he looked out at the graduates, he said, he was confident that the future is bright.

On Friday, the senior class was treated to ice cream from a truck outside the school after their final graduation practice.

As they waited in line, several seniors reflected on their time at the school and preparing to leave it.

Elwyne Wordlaw Jr., who is headed to Shepherd University to play basketball, said a lot of his classmates are eager to get out of school, but he is ambivalent about heading into the real world.

Transferring into Frederick for his junior year, Wordlaw said, he was struck by the family atmosphere of the school.

Wordlaw said he plans to major in health and exercise science in college and hopes to become a physical therapist.

Lily Culbertson said she’s also nervous about what comes next.

“I’m ready, but it’s also, like, the unknown,” she said. “It’s scary.”

She’ll attend Frederick Community College, then Salisbury University, she said.

Standing with Culbertson, Lindsay DeLauder will attend Hood College in the fall to study nursing.

DeLauder said she felt more emotional about leaving school at the beginning of the year, but now she’s mostly just ready to be done.

Tamara Brown said it hadn’t fully registered that her time at Frederick High had come to an end.

“It will definitely hit when I wake up in the morning on Monday,” she said.

Headed to Penn State University to study nursing, she said she’ll miss a lot of people at the school, including her friends in lower classes.

“It’s like a home to me, honestly, since freshman year,” she said.