Valedictorian

martinsburg@herald-mail.com HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - High school students in Berkeley County who will be sophomores in the fall will not have a class valedictorian because the county's Board of Education voted Wednesday night to eliminate the valedictorian/salutatorian system in favor of an honors system. As is done at most colleges and universities, certain students will be recognized as summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude, depending on their grade point average. Jefferson County also uses an honors system.

charlestown@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Berkeley County Board of Education member made an unsuccessful attempt Monday night to save the school system's valedictorian system. The valedictorian is the student who usually has the highest ranking in that person's graduating high school class. Last June, school board members voted to eliminate the valedictorian format in favor of an honors system, which allows for more students to be honored for academic achievement.

When his time came to speak during Friday's Smithsburg High School graduation ceremony, Valedictorian Abdul R. Latif chugged some water and grabbed the microphone. Nine minutes later, he had received two standing ovations for a sharp, punchy monologue filled with inside jokes, advice and a tribute to a classmate who died - all delivered without notes. Near the end, he zipped through a one-minute rap-style chronology of the Class of 2012's high-school career. It was a lively sendoff at The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown for a class that has experienced both significant successes, through its athletic teams, and the loss of a friend - Mitchell Akers, who died in April after an accident at Municipal Stadium.

For details about the U.S. Air Force Academy, go to www.usafa.af.mil . CLEAR SPRING - Growing up, Nick Smith said he would modify paper airplanes to make them faster and better. Now a teenager, he's working with electronics and car engines. Nick left Wednesday for the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he will pursue his passion for flying and an engineering degree. Nick, 17, graduated from Clear Spring High School this year as the school's valedictorian.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - The award for perhaps the most captivating opening line of a valedictorian speech goes to the top graduate at St. Maria Goretti High School, who opened his address Saturday afternoon with this line: "Hello. My name is Dane Schiro and I am not wearing pants right now. " Schiro, who was wearing a kilt and white socks pulled nearly to his knees under his gown, focused his speech on the disastrous effects mankind can have on nature.

As Ed Gainnes watched his grandson line up for St. Maria Goretti High School's graduation, he imparted a few words of wisdom. "Today, most of these kids probably aren't thinking about the great education they received or some of the friendships they'll leave behind," he said. "They're just happy to be out of high school. " But fast forward 20 years from now, he said, and this will be a special time in their lives. On Saturday afternoon, 45 students walked into St. Ann Catholic Church as seniors and walked out as graduates of the class of 2009.

HAGERSTOWN marlob@herald-mail.com Pam Harbaugh knew when she brought her newborn daughter home from the hospital that she was deaf, even though the doctors weren't so sure. "She didn't startle," Harbaugh said, noting that sudden, loud noises that would make her jump had no effect on her daughter. Though there is no argument that this hearing loss has affected Jennifer Timmons' life, both her mother and grandmother believe that in the long run, Jennifer has overcome every hurdle in her 18 years.

A rocket scientist for NASA, a master control operator for C-SPAN, a high school math teacher, moms, dads. These are just some of the ways to describe the valedictorian class of 1999. It's been 10 years since they graduated at the top of their classes. We wondered, What are they up to now? We attempted to track down valedictorians from Washington County schools to see if they would share their stories. For the most part, we were successful. We found 11 valedictorians willing to update us on their lives since high school, including three co-valedictorians from Williamsport High School.

McCONNELLSBURG, PA. -- McConnellsburg High School Salutatorian Jordan Bohrer turned to her fellow graduates on Thursday evening and encouraged them to "don't stop believin.'" At her prompt, the 64 graduates of the Class of 2009 broke out into Journey's 1981 hit by the same name. Their musical introduction kicked off a ceremony in which graduates received diplomas and thousands of dollars in scholarships. Some of the young men and women said they were nervous for graduation.

KNOXVILLE, TENN. - A Destination Imagination team representing Hagerstown's St. Mary's School placed first Saturday in the event's Global Finals. Winning team members are Alexandra Bartha, Mary McGinley, Courtney Peterson, Caroline Rosenthal, Isabella Schiro, Emily Steiner and Justin Winslow. "They were great," said Bernadette Winslow, who flew home from Knoxville early Saturday so she wouldn't miss the graduation of her other son, Paul, as valedictorian from St. Maria Goretti High School.