Schools

RHS Graduates Brave the Heat for Their Diplomas

A total of 225 graduated.

It was about 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Rockville High School Principal Eric Baim was surveying the courtyard staging area for the graduation ceremony.

The water was in place and Hometown Buffet had just committed to donating 400 pounds of ice and enough cups to go around.

He was expecting the worst.

"It's hot out there," he said.

But he wound up getting the best.

Yes, the temperature was still in the high 90s when the 137th commencement exercises kicked off at Rockville High School on Wednesday evening. And to a thunderous applause, the sound of the traditional graduate music and the hum of industrial fans, members of the Class of 2012 looked like they were barely breaking a sweat and they marched forward to accept their diplomas.

Baim delivered a spirited charge to the graduates. His address was followed by inspired speeches by Student Council President Shannon Lipe, Salutatorian Jennifer Mears and Valedictorian Chelsea McDonnell.

Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway, flanked by state and local officials, also addressed the grads.

In all, 255 students graduated, and Tyler Green was recognized for seeing every single day of the Class of 2012's four years with perfect attendance.

Grads, friends and family kept cool with a water station supervised by the town's Emergency Services Department.


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