On May 29, at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s College of Maryland after four years, seemingly endless hours of homework, class trips, sports and hundreds of after-school activities Great Mills Seniors graduated amid pomp and circumstance and cheers of family and friends.

Not even a thunderstorm-created power outage could dampen the spirits of enthusiastic seniors during a brief time when the ceremony had to be illuminated by hand-held flashlights.

Many graduating seniors will go on to college and others to trade schools and into the workforce. All should feel proud of their years of academic achievement and in the fact that they have helped St. Mary’s County Public Schools move into one of the top school districts in the state.

SMCPS Superintendent, Dr. Michael J. Martirano issued the following statement about St. Mary’s graduating seniors, “This year is a monumental year in that it represents one of the largest graduating classes combined from all three high schools. By the end of the week, we will have graduated over 1,000 students from the St. Mary’s County Public School system. This was done at the same time the class of 2009 had to complete the state of Maryland mandated high school assessments. The class of 2009 is the first graduating class to have this requirement placed upon them and every student graduating this week has completed this requirement while completing 21 credits plus a 75 hour service learning requirement. 

"The class of 2009 is a very special group to me, personally. When they were freshman, I was a freshman, too. I began my superintendency in St. Mary’s County in 2005. This class is the first class that I have seen through to completion from their freshman year to their senior year.”

From everyone here at TheBAYNET.com, congratulations, Great Mills. Go out and make us proud!

Photos by John Douglass

List of Graduating Seniors