Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Celebrates Class of 2011

The atmosphere at the Patriot Center in Fairfax was serious, yet festive on Saturday evening as 428 graduating Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) seniors marched across the stage to collect their diplomas.

Surrounded by their peers and with family and friends in the stands, the students listened to a handful of their classmates reflect on their time at TJ and heard inspirational speeches from Principal Evan Glazer, alumnus Yohannes Abraham and keynote speaker Steve Case, co-founder of AOL [Disclosure: Patch is an AOL company].

Student speaker Nathan Hamal spoke about his thoughts leading up to graduation, wondering if there might be another President Barack Obama, Bill Gates or Steve Case in their class. "We're certainly a talented group of people. Who among us will become famous?” said Hamal, a sentiment later  echoed by other speakers in their remarks.

Anna Burke, another student speaker, described how she found a second home and second family in the drama club. "Our second family was unique, a remarkably accepting and diverse group of kids who taught us innumerable things,” said Burke.

Looking to the Future

Glazer said the class of 2011 "captured the attention and hearts of our entire community, especially yours truly" and complimented them on their sense of social responsibility, demonstrated by volunteering over 8,000 hours of service in the past two years to help others in need. He added that students should be aware of unfamiliar opportunities so that they could "explore life to its fullest extent."

Glazer also shared five recommendations for the class to consider as they begin college in his remarks. "Live a balanced life, use your science and technology background regardless of your major or career, show others how to be kind, be inventive and inspire others,” Glazer told the graduates.

The Three P’s

Student Graduation Chair Chris Gibson introduced Case, calling him “tech-savvy,” “business smart,” and a “good philanthropist”. Before his speech, Case asked the students to stand up and then wave so that he could take a picture of them to post on Twitter and Facebook, demonstrating his commitment to interactive communication with technology. [Read Case’s tweets and see the photos he took during the ceremony on his Twitter account.]

Case described how he started the company that became America Online and urged the graduates to use their skills in science, math and technology to innovate, stressing the importance of entrepreneurs who have created "new products and services that have changed the world."

"The lives of successful people often take unpredictable twists and turns and you sometimes have to fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride,” said Case. “Indeed it is often good to be forced out of your comfort zone as that may open up new vistas of possibility."

They key to success, Case explained in his advice, is to focus on the three P’s: people, passion and perseverance.

"No matter what you do in life, your ability to succeed will largely be dependent on your ability to work with people,” Case said. “Indeed, it is often said that what you do is less important than who you do it with; that the people you surround yourself with, will ultimately be the principal determinant of the course your life will take. So as you embark on this next phase of your education, and the continuation of your professional life, build a network around you that can help sustain your creative drive.”

Additional words of advice were delivered by class of 2003 TJ alumnus Yohannes Abraham, who encouraged the graduates to “read amazing books,” discuss them with their peers and develop their own thinking on the topics and maintaining their TJ friends. Abraham grew up in Springfield and joined then Senator Obama’s Iowa Caucus campaign five days after graduating from Yale with a degree in political science. He worked on President Obama's 2008 campaign, and later at the White House. He will join President Obama's 2012 campaign team.

Following the traditional cap toss, the graduates exited to the recessional, “Sine Nomine” by Vaughan Williams.

A photo gallery from Saturday’s ceremony will be up later this morning.