Students, staff, and faculty had been anticipating Saturday's last hurrah for at least a week. The closing ceremony is always difficult, but I can't believe how fast it snuck up on us.
Before the closing ceremony, however, there was a score to settle. During activity time on Friday students had about an hour to construct boats out of cardboard, duct tape, and garbage bags for an RA on their floors. On Saturday, students filed into the rec center pool area to watch the RAs race in their creations. Most boats survived the races, though a couple RAs ended up swimming to the finish line.
Team Holly Jackson and Olivia won first place for the girls, while Steve Robison took home the gold for the boys.
After the short, but exciting, races, students had time to get ready for the closing ceremony, which began at 5:30 pmThe ceremony began with a welcome by assistant academic dean Robbie Brown and a short speech by faculty member Hank Hampton. In his speech, Hank encouraged students not to "carpe diem" but rather to "carpe veritas," or "seize the truth," and achieve their potential through intellectual inquiry and hard work. After his speech, the Academy was invited to seize the buffet-style dinner and congratulatory cake. Meanwhile, a slide show began playing to showcase over 1,800 pictures from GHA.
After dinner was served, students were called up to the stage in alphabetical order to receive their completion certifications, or "diplomas," and shake hands with Director of Governor's Schools Sherry Keffer and Dean Saralyn Dague. This intern snapped a picture of every student's graduation as well (you can find pictures from the closing ceremony by clicking here).
Although there were some tears during the closing ceremony speeches by Saralyn, Sherry Keffer, and Thomas Knotts, spirits lifted when Thomas announced that it was time for the "turning of the name tag" ceremony; students, who have been badgered for the past three weeks to wear their name tags, were given finally permission to take them off. Students did so and went one step farther by joyfully tossing them in the air! Afterwards, students helped to clear the tables from the floor in order to get the party started. Because what better way is there to send everyone off than with a dance party?!
After the dance, Thomas Knotts took the stage one last time to announce the winners of the day's elections for GHA representative. For the boys, Matthew Artimez of John Marshall High School was elected, and for the girls, it was Dana Holmstrand of Wheeling Park High School. According to Thomas, the vote was extremely close. Congratulations and good luck to the new representatives!
This year's Academy has been amazing; I know that I speak for a lot of people when I say that our eyes have been opened to so many new people and possibilities because of the opportunities that GHA offered this summer. This year's students have been truly inspiring, and I can't wait to see what they do in the next year and beyond.
Stay tuned for one last post by Dean Saralyn Dague!
