As the 419 seniors of Marshall High School prepared to move onto to the next stage of their lives, Senior Class Officer Tatiana Brown reminded everyone of a former classmate who would not walk across the stage, but whose memory had inspired the entire class.
“In September of our sophomore year, we lost Luke McGuire, our beloved classmate. With many of us struggling to persevere on our own, we turned to each other. Inspired to remember and honor him, to live up to his standard of kindness, strength and grace that he set, our class has developed a bond stronger than anything I could have ever imagined. I can say with confidence that together, we have become something that he would have been proud to be a part of,” Brown said. McGuire passed away in September of 2013 after fighting Ewing Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, for three years. Teacher David Barkley, who gave the faculty address, commended the Class of 2016’s resilience. He recalled when the class organized an event to walk laps to the beat of Luke McGuire’s favorite playlist to honor him.
Marshall’s graduates donned light blue gowns and tassels at DAR Constitution Hall on Tuesday, June 21. The students chose light blue because of its gender-neutrality. Throughout their time in high school, acceptance and inclusivity have been hallmarks for the Class of 2016. As Tatiana Brown said, “Never hesitating to make our classmates feel comfortable, proud, and happy with who they are, we elevate one another.”
Commencement speaker Steven Culbertson, who is the president and CEO of Youth Service America, envied the graduates because of all the resources available at their fingertips. But he reminded them, quoting Spiderman, that, “With great privilege comes great responsibility.” Culbertson urged the graduates to embrace their responsibility and to take risks, and to have fun along the way, “because saving the world is actually a lot of fun,” he said.
Principal Jeffrey Litz presented the Statesman Award, given to one boy and one girl in the graduating class to Spencer Gilbert and Megan Kenny. Based on a faculty vote, the criteria for the award are academics, citizenship, activities, and service to the school and the community.