Schools

Helping Others is Hallmark of Class of 2011

South River seniors talk to Patch about their high school experience and college expectations.

Classes are pretty much wrapped up. The prom is over. A serious case of senioritis has settled in. Still, a group of South River seniors sat with us recently to talk about their experiences as the "Class of 2011" winds down.

Senior class president Leah Levendusky said that their lasting legacy at the school will likely be that the students were very service- and community-oriented. Levendusky said that through various initiatives, students in the class worked hard to raise money for charity, to raise awareness of difficult issues and to try to help the community in whatever way they could.

One of those initiatives included this year's Harvest for the Hungry food drive. Statewide, students collect food and cash for the Maryland Food Bank. The drive typically takes place in the fall, and ends just before Thanksgiving.

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South River High students, for the second year in a row, collected more food and cash for the Harvest initiative than any other school in the state. In cash alone, they raised almost $40,000.

One of the ways they raised so much Levendusky said, was through their Quiddich Match, where different sports teams played each other in the Harry Potter-inspired game. They charged entry into the game and also allowed students to buy an opportunity to dunk teachers in a dunk tank.

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Levendusky, who is headed to the University of Maryland College Park, said that one of the adults who helped them reach their goals through all four years at the school has been South River's principal, Will Myers.

"It started when we were freshmen," Molly Marbut, class treasurer, said.

Joshua Vagts added, "he really gets into it. For Quidditch, he dressed up like Dumbledore."

Students also raised tens of thousands for the Polar Bear Plunge, which benefits Special Olympics.

Allison Olsen said that one of the reasons they were so successful in their charitable activities was due to fun rivalries that exist naturally among the sports teams.

But the rivalry turned to team spirit when cheering for each other at state and regional finals.

In fact, the students are leaving behind some pretty impressive numbers in sports.

Their unified Bocce team won the state title. The girls basketball team made it to regional finals. The boys baseball team also made it to regional finals. The boys lacrosse team is playing Wednesday in the state final against Linganore (from Frederick). 

In addition, the group boasted a large amount of AP classes over previous years and a good number of national merit scholars.

And while some, like Olsen, say they are scared to leave the comfort and familiarity of high school, others like Vagts are excited to leave behind the world of high school.

Vagts said that he has had a serious case of senioritis for most of the year. "But still, I'm afraid of not doing well," he said. Vagts is headed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Marbut, who is headed to LeMoyne University, is concerned that college courses will be difficult.

Kathryn Scruggs, who has been the Anne Arundel County Board of Education's student member for the past year, said that she is feeling scared about living in a dorm with a stranger.

Kailee Knight, who was a standout on the basketball team, said that she is concerned that her college nursing program at York College will be demanding with her basketball schedule.

Olsen, who will be attending Brigham Young University in Utah, is most concerned about missing her family because she will be so far away.

The students will say their final goodbyes to high school on May 31. The ceremony will be held at the Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.


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