Great Valley Grads Leave 'Hogwarts'

Families, faculty and graduating seniors gathered on Great Valley High School's football field Friday night to honor the class of 2011. The school's 49th Annual Commencement celebrated the graduation of 313 Great Valley seniors.

According to Superintendent Dr. Alan J. Lonoconus, preliminary findings estimate that the graduating class received approximately $1.2 million in college scholarships this year.

After a traditional processional and the National Anthem, students sang the Great Valley High School Alma Mater and Student Council president and graduating senior Ray Li introduced the evening's four commencement speakers, all graduating seniors.

The four seniors, salutatorian Alison Roberts, valedictorian Terrance Liu, Rahul Raina and Tiancheng Sha, all drew inspiration for their speeches from books, representing the next life chapter the young Great Valley alumni are about to begin.

In her commencement speech, Roberts considered a few lessons from Harry Potter, particularly the experience of Harry, Ron and Hermione as they embarked on a new journey their last year in school.

"Today we leave the safety of the Weasley house … we can no longer go back to Hogwarts," Roberts said. "After six years of Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and Hermione had to step out on their own too, and complete their seventh year, the final chapter, far from home."

"Granted," Roberts said, "we've only had four years—but I think we're ready."