CMES 5th Grade Promotion

Graduating 5th grade students ask parents “Do I Make You Proud?”

With cameras and flowers in hand a crowd of parents and other family members packed the Crofton Meadows Elementary School cafeteria on Tuesday morning. The group, beaming with pride, were there to celebrate the 5th grade promotion. The ceremony began promptly at 8:30 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the students singing “American Beautiful." Principal Janine Robinson handed out numerous academic and achievement awards, including Band Achievement won by Caden Brian and Faith Madeoy-Gault. “It seems like yesterday that we just started. I can’t wait until middle school. I have already met the band teacher at Crofton Middle School,” said Brian. His teacher, Dawn Ciancaglini said “These are very unique kids with great …

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AHS Grad Ready to Sail with the Coast Guard

Stephen Kidwell is one of just a few hundred students in the nation accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He said he was drawn to the Coast Guard's humanitarian mission.

Stephen Kidwell has always enjoyed being part of a team. As a wrestler, he helped lead the Arundel High squad to a top-ten finish in the state. He also played a key role for the Arundel lacrosse team this year. Kidwell, who graduates from Arundel on Wednesday, will now be joining one of the elite teams in the world, after gaining acceptance into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. “I really wanted to be one of those guys that sacrifices, and puts themselves on the line for some greater cause of honor,” Kidwell said. Indeed, Kidwell was always drawn to the notion of attending a service academy. He was leaning toward either the U.S. Air Force Academy or U.S. Military Academy at West Point, but the Coast Guard became a serious …

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Croftonite Excels in Annapolis High IB Program

An International Baccalaureate student from Crofton shines among the Annapolis High School Class of 2011.

A Croftonite shines brightly among the 372 graduates of Annapolis High School's class of 2011. Leia Gu, 17, of Riva and Naomi Cole, 18, of Crofton were both nontraditional Annapolis High students. Both were drawn to the school for its International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP). They are among the 69 IB DP students graduating as part of the Class of 2011. Gu, this year’s valedictorian, would have gone to South River High School and Cole spent her freshmen year at Arundel High School in her home district before transferring to AHS. Both girls have some difficult studies ahead of them—Gu is headed to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on a scholarship to study neuroscience and possibly pre-med, while Cole has …

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AHS Graduate Focused on West Point Future

After receiving overtures from the Coast Guard and Columbia University, Arundel High senior Joe Kopp has decided to attend the U.S. Military Academy.

There was never any question in Joe Kopp’s mind that he’d serve his country in some capacity. It just took a little while to sort out all of the options. The Arundel High senior will graduate Wednesday with his classmates, and has committed to attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. It was a decision he made after weighing offers from both Columbia University and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.  At first, Columbia was at the top of his list, as he received an offer to play football there. But then he received an acceptance letter from the Coast Guard, causing him to re-think his decision. Another change of heart came a week later, when the Army sent its own letter of acceptance. “At first, I was like, alright, Coast Guard!...then …

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AHS Senior Ready for Merchant Marine Academy

Arundel High Class of 2011 Senior Cody Madison has been accepted into the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York. He hopes to play soccer, then possibly serve on active duty in the military.

Cody Madison isn’t going to get much of a summer break. In fact, he won’t get much break at all for the next year. That’s part of the commitment he made when he accepted an offer to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The Arundel High School senior will receive his diploma Wednesday and then heads out on July 7. Because of the academy’s trimester system, he’ll essentially be there all the way through middle the end of next June as well. But that’s just the start of the journey, as his acceptance into the USMMA includes a requirement of five years of active military duty or eight years in the Navy Reserve. “It’s a big commitment, it definitely is,” Madison said. “But I’ve talked to a lot of people who have graduated, and they …

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South River High Graduation: Class of 2011

South River High Graduation in Photos

Crofton local editor Nicki Mayo snapped these photos of the South River High Graduation Tuesday morning at the Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.

About 440 students marched across the stage earlier today to pick up their diplomas and officially graduate from South River High School. Alex Newton, class valedictorian, addressed the assembled crowd of thousands. South River senior and Anne Arundel County Schools student board member Kathryn Scruggs gave an address on behalf of the Board of Education. The underclassmen at the school all got the day off. Congratulations to our newest crop of graduates. Great work everyone!

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Nicki Mayo

11:27 pm on Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Very true Maryellen, I think so many of us have been inspired by the Class of 2011 and the continued academic strides.   more ›

South River High Graduation May 31

Class of 2011's 440 students will receive diploma at Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro.

The South River High School class of 2011 will officially graduate on Tuesday at the Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. In total, 440 students will graduate. Of those, the top five students were named last week, including valedictorian Alex Newton, salutatorian Angela Parentoni, Sean Krauss, Kathryn Quinn, and Kathryn Scruggs. Newton will give the valedictory address to his fellow students. Kathryn Scruggs will speak on behalf of the Board of Education. Scruggs is the county's student member of the board. Each student received nine tickets for family and friends. The Equestrian Center holds a capacity crowd of 4,500. The boys will be wearing powder blue; the girls will be wearing white.

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