Principal Mitzel: Class of 2011 'Going Forth to Meet Challenges'

At Pikesville High School's graduation ceremony at Towson University on Wednesday, Principal Edmund Mitzel gave the Class of 2011 some solid advice for life after high school.

Quoting author Robert Fulghum's All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, he advised them to "share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. ... Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. ... Live a balanced life … Watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together."

Mitzel also encouraged the students to return and reconnect with their alma mater.

"Like many of your parents who are Pikesville High School alumni, you will be drawn back to Smith Avenue," he said.

Pikesville Patch talked to some of the seniors as they waited before the ceremony. Their plans vary, but they all have fond memories to take with them.

Bria Washington said she looks forward to finding a job, but will miss the good friends and good teachers at Pikesville High School.

"There are a lot of good people who were here with me," Washington said.

She plans to find a job in the childcare field, and will remain in the Pikesville area at least "for a little while."

Isaiah McNeil said he'll miss the "sociability" of his high school days "and everyone here, especially the teachers and the basketball team."

He plans to study computer engineering at Community College of Baltimore County, and plans to later transfer to Bowie State University.

Among his fondest memories are eating at Miller's Delicatessen after school, when seniors who had all their credits got out of school daily at 10:30 a.m.

Kion Wright said he plans to play football at Wesley College in Delaware, a Division III school.

He said he'll mostly miss the teachers and the football coaches "because they care." He mentioned assistant coach John Fontinell and head coach Jamie Willis, among others.

On the evening of graduation, Fontinell helped guide seniors through the ceremony process.

"The Class of 2011 is a special group of kids. We've seen them grow and we are proud to see them graduate and get on with their journey," he said before helping two late arrivals find their temporary seats in the room.

For about an hour, half of the Class of 2011 waited in a large, muggy room with a large fan blowing. They waited for the ceremony to start at 7:30 p.m., mingling and talking, but most often just sitting, apparently deep in thought, or listening to the occasional instructions they were given.

Lashelle Washington and Nicholas Washington, who are not related, nor are they related to Bria Washington, are good friends who "had a lot of classes together," Lashelle said. Now they find themselves on different paths.

While Lashelle plans to attend University of Maryland Baltimore County to study law and finance, Nicholas will attend UTI Trade school in Philadelphia, where he plans to study to be an automotive technician.

Tobias Vogelstein said he has several plans.

After graduation he will travel to Israel. Then, he'll attend the Helen Keller National Center in Long Island, NY. Vogelstein has visual impairment.

After that, "my teacher will be 'The University of Roam the Earth,'" he said.

During the ceremony, Mitzel thanked the parents and grandparents who sacrificed to contribute to their children's success.

And he congratulated the graduates who are "going forth to meet the challenges of colleges, the world of work or the military."

All told, the class brought in $3.84 million in scholarships or awards, and have been accepted to 136 institutions of higher learning.

"This event is the culmination of your high school experience, and the commencement of your post-secondary lives," Mitzel said.

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