Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1990 TAG: 9006130408
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MARGARET CAMLIN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Among the 143 teen-agers about to graduate was Missy Reed, a student with a hearing impairment so severe that she and her friends must communicate in sign language or in writing.
"I'm excited, but a little bit depressed," Reed told a reporter through her interpreter and teacher, Sheila Ratcliff, before the graduation ceremony.
Signing rapidly, Reed said she is excited about her plans to enter New River Community College's program for the hearing-impaired this fall.
But the sad part, she said, is, "I'll be leaving my friends and teachers."
Ratcliff gave Reed special instruction in English, science, math and social studies for the past three years.
"She's come a long way. She's a hard worker," Ratcliff said. "I'm very, very proud of her." Reed was not the only one with mixed feelings about leaving high school.
In the ceremony's welcoming address, co-valedictorian Daniel Mackler remarked that he and his fellow classmates were feeling sad, excited, nervous and relieved.
Mackler, WooFung Kwong and Chun Bo Whong shared the title of valedictorian, graduating with 4.0 grade-point averages.
In his brief speech, Kwong implored his classmates to look forward to bright possibilities. "Treasure the past, but remember it's only a building block for the future," he said. Kwong is entering Harvard University this fall.
Whong plans to attend Yale University and Mackler will go to Dartmouth College.
Mackler emphasized freedom in his speech, urging students to heed the words of Henry David Thoreau and "suck the marrow out of life." Young people should "search in the far-most corners of our minds for whatever gives us the most fulfillment," he said, while not forgetting to be generous, kind and loving.
In his speech, Whong told fellow graduates to go ahead and achieve power, riches and success if they can and want to. "But always be helpful and considerate toward your fellow man, because only then will you be a genuine success," he said.
Sally Sevareid, a news and public service director for K-92 FM Radio and a 1981 graduate of Radford High School, was keynote speaker.
Some teachers were a little worried about what Sevareid would say, she quipped. Referring to a promotional campaign for listeners at her radio station, "They were afraid that I would make you give me a `phrase that pays' before you could get your diploma."
Sevareid, whose late father, John Sevareid, was a member of the Radford School Board, told graduates not to be afraid of making mistakes. "It's better to make your own mistakes than let someone decide for you."
She also advised the students to not let others measure success for them. "Success should be a measure of what you do, and not how much you make for doing it."
Students receiving scholarships and awards included Lewis Ramsey, who will go to Wake Forest University on a football scholarship, and Beth King, who was awarded a tennis and basketball scholarship at St. Andrews College.
Mike Parks, Bryan Browning and Jamie Foster received athletic scholarships to Brevard College, Virginia Military Institute and Queen's College, respectively.
The $1,000 William Howell Award went to Casey Caldwell, who received another $1,000 and a silver cup with the James T. King Award. Tara Edwards also received the King Award.
The high school's Black History Club gave $200 each to Arthur Graves and Lamont Alexander. Tara Roseberry received a $500 Business and Professional Women's Club scholarship.
The Ruby M. Wade Award for excellence in English went to Lane Hatfield, and the C.E. Brady Trade and Industrial Award to Mark Waller.
by CNB