Schools
Brookwood Class of 2011 Graduates
The high school stadium, packed with proud family members and friends, was the scene of Brookwood's 30th graduation ceremony.
Under bright, blue skies, Brookwood High School continued the 30 year tradition of holding graduations in its community stadium. Some 754 students graduated, including 204 honor graduates on May 27.
“There’s not a more glorious site in all of Gwinnett County tonight,” said Dr. Robert McClure, chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Education.“You’ve left your mark ... a high mark,” he told Brookwood’s 2011 graduating class.
Debbie Dees, principal of Brookwood High, said “graduation is always beautiful in the Brookwood stadium as the sun is setting ... it’s a wonderful community event.
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Senior class vice president, Peter Kim, reminded classmates that the graduation is “two days late” due to a winter storm earlier this year, breaking into a rendition of “F-R-I-D-A-Y.” He recalled his class’ 2,340 school days during the past 13 years, along with their “2,340 moments of silence” when they reflected on their day, their activities and what they hoped to accomplish.
Justin Chang, Brookwood’s salutatorian, mentioned the “floods, droughts, and snowstorms” the class has experienced together and encouraged his peers to “continue to keep these days dear in our hearts.” He congratulated the class on winning state in both football and the science Olympiad.
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Entitled “An Ode to Joy,” Akshaya Suresh delivered her valedictorian address, defining joy as “intensely intimate, personal and universal.”
“We’ve stood on the shoulders of giants,” she said, applauding parents, teachers and classmates. “As I look upon my peers, I see not what I will lose, but what the world will gain."
Brookwood’s Teacher of the Year, Kim Hamman, told the class that she “will always remember how you encouraged each other during happy and sad times,” bringing to mind class member, Amanda Riley, who died of cancer last year.
She urged class members to go after their dreams and to embrace hard work. She reminded them that every journey “starts with a single step” and that “rainbows follow rain.” Hamman encouraged the class “to believe in others, but to believe in yourself...to prepare yourselves to change the world.”
As the stadium lights lit up the night sky, the proud graduates received their diplomas amid intermittent celebrating and camera flashes. Cheers resounded and the graduating seniors commenced a wave as Angela Lynn Zuardo, Brookwood’s last graduate, received her diploma.
