ARLINGTON — The graduating class of Arlington High School earned $1.3 million in scholarships, said AHS principal Kurt Criscione during his humorous and tearful address to the graduating Class of 2009.

He pulled off his scholarly robe to reveal a T-shirt reading, “Just Donate” in honor of Jay Davis, a graduating student who has cancer.

Criscione attributed the success of the class to them being Eagles: E for their endurance, A for their amazing activeness, G for their giving and generosity, L for their leadership, E for excellence and finally S for their spirit.

Four of the six Arlington High School graduating senior valedictorians spoke to their fellow graduates at the Arlington High School graduation Friday, June 12, with senior class president Amanda Wregglesworth as master of ceremonies.

Tyler Gjersee, Kaitlynn Scott, Amy Smith and Alexa Soriano all shared their thoughts and feelings with the more than 300 graduating seniors, each keeping their messages short and concise.

Soriano concluded her speech by dedicating herself to compassion which, she said, she learned as a member of the Respect team.

“How about we ‘pay if forward,’” Amy Smith advised her fellow students after thanking her teachers, family and students.

“Thank you and good luck,” Smith said, concluding the speeches.

Two other valedictorians, Kelly Hamilton and Lucas Larson did not speak.

Graduating Jazzmine members sang “God Only Knows … what I’d be without you,” and the award-winning soloist Erica Ewell sang the Bob Dylan tune, “Times, they are a changin’.”

The non-graduating high school band members played “Pomp and Circumstance,” under the direction of John Grabowski, as the students walked across the football field in pairs in a slow and methodical beginning to a quick and to-the-point ceremony.

The Air Force JROTC program presented the colors, and the band played “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The retiring assistant superintendent Warren Hopkins was honored as were three foreign exchange students, from Belgium, Slovakia and Thailand.

AHS junior, soon to be senior, Andrew Smith handed diplomas to his fellow students as student representative to the Arlington School District Board of Directors.

For a comprehensive list of Arlington High School’s graduating seniors, the colleges they plan to attend, and the awards and scholarships they have won click here

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