LA PLATA, Md. (May 30, 2009)—Charles County Public Schools Class of 2009 graduates Monday and Tuesday with more than $43.8 million in scholarship offers. There are 2,148 seniors who will receive their high school diploma, which is 118 more students than last year. Many of the Class of 2009 will receive scholarship aid, and this year's scholarship total increased roughly $16.6 million.
Each high school graduating class is led by a valedictorian and salutatorian, who were announced earlier this week at awards ceremonies. Students are selected by their grade point averages and represent the top academic achievers at their school.
The 333 graduates from Henry E. Lackey High School will be led by valedictorian Maya Kristen Davis and salutatorian Abigail Mae Willett. Lackey seniors were offered $8,133,019 in scholarships.
Davis, of Indian Head, plans to attend Dartmouth College in N.H. to study materials science engineering. Willett, also of Indian Head, plans to attend Liberty University in Va. to major in nursing.
The 351 graduates from La Plata High School will be led by valedictorian Victoria Weiss and salutatorian Marie Farley. La Plata's graduating class was offered $10,021,188 in scholarship money.
Weiss, of La Plata, will attend Villanova University in Pa. to study English. Farley, also of La Plata, plans to attend Christopher Newport University in Va. and has not declared an area of study.
Maurice J. McDonough High School's 278 graduating seniors will be led by valedictorian Nikki Laura Sanford and salutatorian Jordan Chalaine Stephenson. McDonough's Class of 2009 received $7,845,600 in scholarship offers.
Sanford, of Bel Alton, plans to attend High Point University in N.C. to study mathematics. Stephenson, of Port Tobacco, will attend Carnegie-Melon University in Pa. to study English.
North Point High School's first graduating class of 503 seniors will be led by co-valedictorians Travis M. Finkenauer and Patrick M. Gaume, and salutatorian Kelsey L. Pearson. The graduating class from North Point was offered $9,525,800 in scholarships.
Finkenauer, of Waldorf, will attend the University of Maryland, College Park to study computer science. Gaume, also of Waldorf, will also attend the University of Maryland, College Park to major in mechanical engineering. Pearson, of Charlotte Hall, plans to attend Penn State University in Pa. to major in microbiology and pre-medicine.
The 373 graduating seniors from Thomas Stone High School will be led by valedictorian Simon Jerome and salutatorian Courtney Flerlage. Stone's graduating class was offered $3,920,000 in scholarships.
Jerome, of Waldorf, will attend Columbia University in N.Y. to study Slavic language and linguistics. Flerlage, also of Waldorf, plans to attend Hollins University in Va. to study English and creative writing.
Westlake High School's graduating class of 310 seniors will be led by valedictorian Amy E. Rappole and salutatorian Tiphanie D. Gammon. These students were offered $5,330,977 in scholarships.
Rappole, of Waldorf, will attend the University of Maryland, College Park to study history. Gammon, also of Waldorf, plans to attend Stanford University in Calif. to study computer science.
The Class of 2009 has received the highest amount of scholarship offers in the past five years.
North Point will host its first graduation ceremony 7 p.m., June 2 in the school's gymnasium. All other ceremonies will be held at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro.
McDonough's ceremony is 9 a.m., June 1; Lackey's ceremony is 2 p.m., June 1; and La Plata's ceremony is 7 p.m., June 1. Westlake's ceremony is 9 a.m., June 2; and Stone's ceremony is 2 p.m., June 2.