HERNDON - Line Mountain High School Principal Jeffrey Roadcap described the 2011 graduation class with a quote by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf: "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy."
"This class was sometimes without strategy, but it certainly had character," he added.
The class of 71 students was always something special to Roadcap. It was the freshmen class when he began as principal. "This was a unique group," said Roadcap. "Small, tight, and loyal to one another.
"That made them survivors. They can count on one another as they go into life. They all had an incredible sense of humor and made a difficult year enjoyable."
Roadcap then quoted President Dwight D. Eisenhower: "A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done."
He said that out of the 71 graduates, 24 were honor students for all four periods their senior year, and 40 were awarded the Presidential Educational Award for achieving an overall 90 percent or better grade point average.
The success wasn't limited to academics either. Roadcap cited the musicals, art, and many accomplishments in athletics this year as the graduating class "leaving an indelible mark on the school."
In closing, Roadcap quoted Robert Townsend: "True leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not the enrichment of the leaders." "This class embodies that statement," he said.
'Don't tickle the dragon'
Valediction Courtney Scott kept in character with her speech that was "short, sweet, and to the point." Scott said that she had a long speech intended for Thursday's ceremony, but decided to change it at the last minute to save her class from the sweltering heat that evening.
"Eventually, we will adapt to the heat and the pressure, and we will be able to fulfill our dreams," she said. "The only inspirational quote that I could find on Google today involving heat was: 'If you can't take the heat, don't tickle the dragon.' I'll let you figure out how to apply that to your life."
The guest speaker for the graduation was a 1996 graduate of Line Mountain High School, Brandon Carson.
"I'm not a man of great wisdom, just a man who once sat in the same seat that you're in right now," he said. "I'm not going to lecture you with life lessons, just the lessons that I've learned from the decisions that I've made."
He said in a world as unpredictable as it is today, you can only control certain things. Make the most of life and treat others how you would want to be treated. Always acknowledge the positives, and learn from the mistakes.
"Understand that life is hard, but we are all in this together," he said.
The graduating members of the Line Mountain Area Class of 2011 are Andrew Allen Adams, Jeremy Allen Aurand, Heather Nicole Bachert, Zachary John Barker, Matthew Hunter Bitting, Timothy Allen Botkin, Dana Kristine Brown, Kyle James Byers, Tasha Le-Ann Campbell, Victoria Lynn Candelora, Jacob Benjamin Carta, Timothy Lee Clouser, Schylar Joanna Cook, Jonathan Frank Davis, Adam John Deeben, Jonathan George Derck, Jena Marie Dittus, Kyle Joseph Dyer, Margaret Mae Fessler, Dylan Michael Forry, Andrew Phillip Foulds, Michelle Giordani, Coral Skye Goodrich, Benjamin Anthony Harner, Nathan Donald Hatzel, Brandi Lynn Heim, Michael Warren Hinkley, Kramer E. Hovenstine, Joseph Michael Hukill, Alexandra Marie Johnston, Kelsey Lyn Lagerman, Tyler Lee Lahr, Jacob Andrew Land, Sophie Lynn Lansberry, Bridget Mae Laudenslager, Brittany Mae Laudenslager, Kelsey Christine Lenig, Michael Robert Marciniak, Bryce William Martz, Mitchell Robert Martz, Virginia Mae Moyer, Laura Ann Novinger, Joshua John Pickett, Courtney Renee Reaser, Casey Loren Renninger, Trent Garrick Roach, Colton Louis Sadowski, Tyler James Sandefer, Courtney Paige Scott, Cody Gavin Selig, Micaela Jean Shervinskie, Coal Jay Shingara, Octavia Leigh Shingara, Amber Elizabeth Shrawder, Charles Stacy Shrawder II, Spenser Robert Snyder, Samantha Jo Strohecker, Sean Allen Strohecker, Paige Sarah Swineford, Callie Lane Umholtz, Amanda Marie Updegrave, Jordan Eugene Welker, Dillon Lee Whitcomb, Logan Scott White, Sara Elizabeth Whitsel, Benjamin Ryan Williard, Christina Denise Witmer, Tiffany Elizabeth Wolfe, Courtney Lynn Woodward, Trae Alexander Wren, and Jessica Cheryl Yost.