News: Broad Run Graduates Get an Economics Lesson

Special to VivaLoudoun via Loudoun County Public Schools

(June 22, 2011) - Dr. Mark Calabria of the Cato Institute gave the 356 graduates of Broad Run High School a lesson in perspective on Saturday, June 18th, at George Mason University's Patriot Center.

Calabria said the economic situation today is much as it was when he graduated from George Mason in 1991.


“We are coping today with the aftermath of a housing bust, a financial crisis, high unemployment. I faced all of these things as I finished college, just as you are facing these things as you finish high school. If you look back in your history books in the late '80's and early 1990's we had another housing boom and bust – it was smaller – but we also had bailouts; we had to bail out the savings and loan industry at that time, which cost the American taxpayer $150 billion, which is about what we're spending now to bail out some institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“History seems to repeat itself in a lot of ways.

“My point is not to give you a dry economic history lecture. But my point is to say the options that you're going to face in life, despite your best efforts, which are absolutely important, are sometimes driven and determined by things outside of your control…

“This is not to say that your personal choices don't matter – it's quite the opposite. They matter all the more in the environment we're facing today. I know it sound cliché, but I truly do see challenges as opportunities in disguise. I think you should address them that way…

“Look at what you're facing in life in terms of the economy, not as a challenge, but as an opportunity; an opportunity to make you smarter and wiser.”

Principal Douglas Anderson spoke of the important rite of passage the graduates were going through.

“You have spent the last 13 years of your life doing an apprenticeship for adulthood. All of you sitting out there have met the requirements that the County of Loudoun and the state of Virginia say you need to move on with the rest of your life.

“In mathematics, the delta indicates a change in value. What will be the delta for the change in you when you're finished?

“You will more than likely walk out of here today and say ‘I don't feel any different.' Tomorrow you probably won't wake up and say ‘I'm an adult, my life has changed.' Change is more subtle. One of the reasons it is more subtle is that you have been changing ever since you came to Broad Run. You are a much different person than the freshman who walked in through our doors in 2007…

“The scary thing about change is that it breaks the normalcy of things…

“The exciting thing about change is that it presents an opportunity; an opportunity to grow. This might sound corny, my next statement, but when I look out at all of you, I see a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. You have changed over the last four years, you are emerging. You are about to embark on a new time in life; a life you have very little knowledge of…

“Your parents and the faculty of Broad Run have done their best to prepare you. Take advantage of this change. Take advantage of this opportunity… Be a participant in life; don't let life happen to you.”

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services Dr. Mary Ann Hardebeck spoke about the universal nature of graduation.

“It is a day that truly belongs to everyone; to you, the graduates, to your parents and your grandparents, to your friends, to the staff at Broad Run, to the School Board and to the community… Today is the day you officially begin to take your place as an adult…

“A graduation is one of those milestones in one's life when you have the opportunity to pause and reflect on your future. So as you prepare to take the next step in your lives, I hope you will take some time to reflect on what you have accomplished thus far and that you will use those accomplishments as a springboard to take you forward.”

The senior address was delivered by Tyler Daley. He spoke of the various colors the Class of 2011 had worn at Broad Run and of the ones they would wear in the future.

“We have grown so much this year as a school, as a class and as individuals. The path through Broad Run has been difficult at times, but the people along the way have always been strong in support. We have had excellent teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, sponsors, administrators and parents get us over these humps…

“Whatever the color of the path you choose, always remember the two that came first, the colors that unite all of us graduating today, maroon and gold. When you see them, always remember where you came from: a good time, a great lesson, a victory, a memorable person. We are Broad Run. We are the Spartans.”

Elise Lepe was the class valedictorian with a grade point average (GPA) of 4.61. Erik Romano was the salutatorian with a GPA of 4.55.

The top members of the Class of 2011 academically were:

· Anjana Radhakrishnan

· Jeffrey Hershey

· Vaishnavi Lanka

· Danielle Bruno

· Kelsie Hunnicutt

· Sarah Fisher

· Timothy Waterman

· Theresa Pazanowski

· Lindsey Purcell

· Kevin Chang

· William Rawson

· Victoria Dwyer

· Sarah Smaltz

· Lindsey Cherpes

· Mary Bobbitt

· Quincey Cuthbert

· Sayed Shah

Altogether, the Broad Run Class of 2011 earned $2.2 million in scholarships and grants.

One of the highlights of the graduation was graduate Sol Kim singing “I Believe I Can Fly.”

Attending the Broad Run graduation were School Board members Tom Reed (At-Large), Bob Ohneiser (Broad Run District) and Robert DuPree (Dulles District).