Schools

Wheaton High School Graduates Overcome Language Barriers

The Class of 2012 graduated Wednesday morning at DAR Constitutional Hall in Washington, D.C.

Many graduates in the Class of 2012 arrived their freshman year speaking little or no English, Principal Kevin E. Lowndes said at Wednesday's . 

Lowndes shared the story of one student who had worked at McDonald's after school each day to send money to his father in Guatemala to buy cows. Now Cristian Velasco was crossing the stage at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

Ashmina Shilpakar, the student speaker and class valedictorian, said that the ESOL teachers at Wheaton made a big difference in her education. Shilpakar was born in Nepal and moved to Maryland in 2008. She spoke about how her teachers helped and encouraged her every day. Next year she will attend the University of Richmond on a scholarship of $51,000 per year.

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In total, Wheaton High School's graduating class received more than $4.5 million in scholarship offers, according to Lowndes.

Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, in his address to graduates, emphasized the importance of education to the American dream. He was inspired by his father, who was born in Cuba and raised in Jamaica in poverty, but who became the first in his family to get a college education and become a doctor.

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Brown, whose own daughter graduated from high school last week, encouraged the Wheaton students to pursue their passions and give back to the community.

"It's your responsibility to take that education and make a contribution to the world we live in," Brown said.


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