Grads

Emily Marie Hornbaker of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., a graduate of Berkeley Springs High School, was among the graduate and undergraduate students recognized at Frostburg State University's Honors Convocation in May. Hornbaker, who received departmental honors in music, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in K-12 music education, with an emphasis in clarinet. She has been actively involved in FSU's Wind Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Marching Bobcats and University Chorale.

McConnellsburg High School on Thursday graduated a small, but mighty senior class that was active in academic organizations, athletics, charities and musical pursuits. Middle/High School Principal Todd Beatty reminded the 54 graduates of his words to live by - respect, responsibility, accountability and self-discipline. “I could not let you go without hearing them one last time. Congratulations,” he said. The graduates sang “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue and received awards amid speeches from the students with top academic standing.

When Gaelle B. Hadjia-Kamga moved to the United States after spending the first 11 years of her life in Cameroon, Africa, and began attending school in Montgomery County, Md., she felt left out as a sixth grader. Hadjia-Kamga said she felt that way because she did not speak English. “Can you remember the first time you were ever left out because you didn't know anyone or anything? That was the feeling I had all the time,” Hadjia-Kamga said. Hadjia-Kamga not only ended up mastering English, after finishing her required course work at Washington County Evening High School, she was one of two student speakers during the school's 24th annual commencement Thursday night.

With two National Merit Scholarship finalists among them plus $3 million awarded in scholarships, the Hedgesville High School Class of 2012 had a good year. The school's commencement was held Saturday morning at Shepherd University's Butcher Center, where the class of 344 students received their high school diplomas. The class included 60 summa cum laude, 55 magna cum laude and 51 cum laude graduates, Hedgesville Principal Ron Lyons said. “This class is very academically oriented,” he said.

Musselman High School principal Holly M. Kleppner had “two pieces of advice” for the Class of 2012 before graduates received their diplomas Thursday night in the Butcher Center at Shepherd University. “No. 1 is to communicate,” Kleppner told members of the graduating class, her first as principal. “No. 2, surround yourself with positive influences.” Kleppner also encouraged the graduating class of 317 seniors to persevere, a characteristic of the group that she said she found to be “most exceptional” about them.

Celebrating her graduation from a psychology program at the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown on Tuesday, Danielle Donovan said she liked the university's “small-town feel” and affordability. Donovan, 23, a Williamsport High and Hagerstown Community College graduate, said she considered attending Shepherd College, but found the West Virginia school too expensive and its classes too sporadic. Studying psychology through the Frostburg State University program offered at the downtown Hagerstown USMH campus allowed her to live at home and work two part-time jobs, including one at Brook Lane Health Services that gave her practical experience, Donovan said.

Shippensburg University sent 1,095 newly minted college graduates out into the world at its undergraduate commencement Saturday before a packed crowd of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends at Seth Grove Stadium. “I'm so proud of him,” Diane Hewitt of North Wales, Pa., said of her son, Alex Andrussier. “He's worked so hard. He's graduated magna cum laude. He has two majors, two minors. He's a really good kid.” If that weren't enough, Alex's grandfather, Robert Hewitt of Blue Bell, Pa., added that his grandson already has gotten a job in his field with a multinational corporation and has traveled much of the world.

Ian Boyer had much to tell all his Facebook friends about on Wednesday night. He told a tale about having a fried-chicken dinner with a group of people he didn't know, even though they had a lot in common. He received more handshakes, backslaps and hearty “thank yous” than he could count. It was the ultimate small town experience. Still, he was confused. His friends were envious. “I'm just doing my job,” said Boyer, a Smithsburg graduate. “It is overwhelming when I come home.

It's an idyllic setting for an artist's working studio - a century-old building overlooking the Hudson River. Here, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, large windows provide the perfect natural light while the streetscape below offers a treasure trove of inspiration. There are iconic buildings, to be sure. But there also are personal discoveries - an arch of a bridge, the sleekness of a column of steel, the tautness of a cable. Eric Ryan Jones might live in New York.

Washington College student Brittany Weaver, daughter of Curtis and Dawn Weaver of Williamsport, recently attended the Public Leadership Education Network's Women and Public Policy seminar in Washington, D.C. The leadership program provides programs for college women interested in careers in public policy and law. The weeklong seminar included numerous speakers and trips to various governmental agencies with opportunities to network with some of...