Latest news with #CatoctinHigh
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Catoctin High School graduates look to take on risks in spite of fears
Lillian Holden used her graduation speech on Wednesday as a case in point. "Throughout high school, there have been countless moments where we've all felt fear," Holden said to thousands of people in Knott Arena. "For example, I get really bad anxiety when it comes to public speaking. Ironic, I know." She added that learning from mistakes got her Catoctin High School classmates to the precipice of receiving their diplomas, with such a diverse set of skills and interests. Photos: Catoctin High School Class of 2025 "What's incredible is that those moments of risk — those moments of fear — have been the ones that have shaped us the most," Holden said. She referenced Thomas Edison's famous quote about successfully finding 10,000 ways a light bulb would not work, rather than being paralyzed with fear. "Are we going to be the people that play it safe — stay in our comfort zone — or are we going to take risks? Do the hard things and learn from our failures?" Holden asked. Holden was one of 194 Catoctin High graduates in the Class of 2025, according to a Frederick County Public Schools spokesperson. Principal Jennifer Clements said the graduates were "each a unique and special combination of skills, personality and interests." "Use those to your benefit and to benefit others," Clements said. "Look at each new step in your journey as an opportunity to use your powers for good." Frederick County Board of Education member Colt Black read Linda Ellis's poem "The Dash Between," encouraging graduates to make the world a better place. "Your legacy is your choice," Black said. The graduation ceremony at Mount St. Mary's University's gym featured the national anthem performed by graduates Shea Long on saxophone and Kaitlyn Bartlett on guitar. Also as part of the event, Joanna Genemans played the flute as Erin Miller performed an interpretive dance. Blaine Marshall, 18, of Thurmont, spent an earlier portion of Wednesday taking steps toward his professional future at the Glen-Gery Rocky Ridge Plant. Marshall said he took a drug test and performed a strength test, lifting weighted boxes, to make sure he could stack bricks at the plant where his dad works. While he said he would miss his friends and favorite teachers, he also was excited "to live in the real world." Aleena Wright, 17, of Lewistown, also has taken steps toward her future, having completed a year of classes at Frederick Community College online during her senior year at Catoctin High. Wright said she expects to transfer to a four-year college after next year, but was not sure where. She has been studying social sciences and thinks she might want to major in psychology. Austin Miller, 18, of Rocky Ridge, said he might also want to go to FCC and is also considering the police academy. Miller has been working at Giant Food. He said he would like to apply what he has learned there as far as leadership toward service through law enforcement. Chloe Wiles, 17, of Thurmont, said she is graduating a year early, having taken classes online this last year. Wiles said she is "excited for what's next," which she hopes will build on her current coaching of 2-year-old gymnasts. She is looking for internships to begin training for a career in early childhood learning to work with infants. Chris Pineda, 18, of Frederick, said he is looking to join the Air Force and will start boot camp in July. Pineda said he has been a "fanatic of aviation since I was a kid," when he "walked into a cockpit and got amazed with everything." He said he has taken test flights with instructors at Frederick Municipal Airport. Kendall Caballero-Zuniga, 18, of Frederick, said he will attend Towson University in the fall, looking to study English. Caballero-Zuniga is working on a short story about a knight in love with a queen set to marry a far-off prince. He hopes to sell it to literary magazines. He said he likes how Stephen King can tell compelling stories while keeping him "actually horrified while reading."
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
School notes: Maryland School for the Deaf student wins national literacy competition
A student at the Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) was named a grand prize winner of the 10th annual National Literacy Competition hosted by Gallaudet Youth Programs. Oluwatobiloba "Tobi" Awe, a junior at MSD, is one of two national grand prize winners for his entry "Haunted House." He also earned first place in the High School ABC/Number Story category. "Haunted House" is an American Sign Language (ASL) number story using numbers 1 through 20. A number story uses ASL signs for numbers to tell a narrative. Awe won a $500 gift certificate, a $1,000 scholarship to attend Gallaudet, a Gallaudet sweatshirt and a free trip to the university for a summer program. "I felt really good when I found out I won. I was so surprised!" Awe said in a press release. "I learned a lot through the signing process, especially how valuable feedback can be when developing a story." In total, 11 students from MSD's Frederick campus were recognized in the competition. ASL literature teacher Sara Lee Herzig said Awe has always been "an expressive storyteller." "This year, he dedicated significant time and effort to developing his story," she said in the press release. "He challenged himself to take risks and push past his comfort zone, and the result was something truly special." Higher education 2025 commencement speakers Hood College and Mount St. Mary's University announced commencement speakers for their 2025 graduation ceremonies. Tamelyn Tucker-Worgs, associate professor of political science at Hood, will speak at the college's undergraduate ceremony on May 17. Cheryl Dyson, superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, will speak at the graduate ceremony. Mount St. Mary's alumna Gracelyn McDermott, who serves as the vice president for marketing, sales and business development at Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, will speak at the university's commencement on May 10. She will also be honored with a doctorate of humane letters. FCPS students compete in national robotics competition Students from FCPS competed in a national For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas, from April 16 to 19. Team 686 Bovine Intervention, which has spent 25 seasons competing in FIRST Robotics, is a community-based high school-level robotics team from Frederick. The team is composed of students from FCPS in addition to other schools and counties. The team members who traveled to Houston to compete and their schools are: * Ben Harbaugh, Catoctin High * Shanmuakha Pothukuchi, Oakdale High * Siddhartha Pothukuchi, Oakdale Middle * Lucas Errett, Brunswick High * Ethan Hively, Walkersville High * Issac Hassett, Walkersville High * David Ofori, Catoctin High * Jaxon Witherspoon, Maryland International School in Howard County * Laedon Wolgemuth, South Western High in York County, Penn. The team members who did not travel to Houston are: * Donald Brooks, Catoctin High * Brady Perkins, Linganore High * Praneel Pothula, Linganore High * Aidan Somerville, home school The competition's theme this year was Reefscape, and game pieces and elements were given names to reflect the ocean theme. The team designed and built a 115-pound robot with the ability to run tasks using sensors and autonomous programming. Team 686 Bovine Intervention is one of 112 teams registered to the Chesapeake District. In March of this year, the team competed in two district competitions and earned a spot at the FIRST Chesapeake District Championship earlier this month. The team members' combined performance at the competitions helped Team 686 Bovine Intervention get to the championship. At the championship, the team earned the title of Johnson Division finalist. Team 686 Bovine Intervention is planning a 25th anniversary celebration on June 5 at Mount St. Mary's University's Frederick campus. FCPS all-county fifth grade chorus For the 38th year, FCPS on Wednesday is hosting the All-County Fifth Grade Honors Chorus Concert. The concert is scheduled to take place at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick starting at 7 p.m. The chorus is composed of 125 elementary school students from across the county. Alaina Swartz, the director of education and community engagement for the Bach Choir of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, is scheduled to be the guest conductor. Fifth grade students were selected through an audition process, and will meet and rehearse for one day before the concert. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Attendees who are 60- years old or older, 4 years old or younger, or who are FCPS staff members and bring their badges can attend for free. Send school-related news to Esther Frances at efrances@
