138 at George Mason High in Graduation

City of Falls Church Police Officer Steve Rau was selected by a vote of the senior class to be the keynote speaker for the annual George Mason High School Commencement ceremony at the Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., yesterday. Rau is the school resource officer at the high school, and took leave during part of 2003 having been called up as an U.S. Army Reservist to help train troops at Quantico.

One hundred thirty-eight graduates received diplomas at the ceremony.

Rahul Gupta and Joseph Mauro were the two of 17 valedictory scholars selected by their fellow students to speak at the Commencement, as well. Valedictory scholars are those who attained a 4.0 or better grade-point average all four years at the school.

An All-Night Grad Party for graduates began following the ceremony last night at the Washington Sport and Health Club in Tyson's Corner.

Earlier in the week at the high school, the Senior Baccalaureate ceremony followed by the senior dinner was held Sunday at the school's Mustang Cafe. It included a series of senior presentations introduced by Greg Corbino.

Nate McFarland and Zack Barrett performed "My Friends," Matt Peetz and John Falkey "Then," Mary Ryan, Rachel Leonard and Joseph Mauro did "Colorblind," Camille Christophel "Through the Lens," Whitney Lemke, Colin Ehmer, Annie Wanlund, Anya Solovieva, Luke Rabin, Rwaida Alshagra and Jessica Piscopo did "Teenagers are Amazing," Joseph and Lou Mauro did "On the Street Where You Live," Arya Namboodiri and Christina Heupel did "And Now," Greg Corbino and Katie Bernhart did "I'd Give It All for You," Teddy Smith presented the senior slide show and Kaitlin Bottock and Orie Bumbarner concluded with "Goodbye."

Last week, a special ceremony marking the retirement of 8th Grade social studies teacher Andy Taylor, a retired Lt. Colonel, and Lucia Arenas, retiring after completing 25 years as a custodian.

Monday, a reception and ceremony honoring retiring Falls Church School System Superintendent Mary Ellen Shaw was held. Shaw is leaving after 34 years in the Falls Church School system, beginning as a teacher at Mt. Daniel Elementary in 1970 and concluding with seven years as superintendent.

Tuesday, George Mason Middle Schoolers participated in a "Moving Up" ceremony marking their advancement to the high school. Eighth grade class president Ewan Oglethorpe presided.

Many photos of the GMHS Commencement and Middle School "Moving Up" ceremony will appear in next week's News-Press, as well as a listing of all GMHS Class of 2004 grads with their plans for the fall.