@BroadRun: #RGIII, Please Come Back

[Broad Run High School provided this article.]

Broad Run High School’s Class of 2013 hit the Twittosphere this week in an attempt to lure Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III to the school’s graduation ceremony this spring.

Twitter users just might come across the message: “Spartans Caught GRIFFINFever! Won’t you B R graduationspeaker?”

Hundreds of seniors, along with faculty and staff, have been “Griffining” in
the stands of Broad Run’s stadium, the principal’s office, library, school store, gymnasium, cafeteria and on top of the hallway lockers, according to a message from the school.

RGIII left a huge impression on the Broad Run community in October when he made a surprise appearance at the Pink’d game sponsored by Broad Run DECA to benefit the Loudoun Breast Health Network.

Student Council Association President BJ Davis urged students to hit their Twitter accounts for the Pink’d invitation, which was led by senior Will Metzfield and junior
Emily Daley.
“I don’t think we really expected him to come,” Metzfield said in the message from the school. “I think it surprised the administration. The timing was perfect, really.”

Students and faculty were grateful for the appearance. Robyn Griffis, a social studies teacher who lives in Ashburn, said few professional athletes would take the time.

“Not many professional athletes are positive role models,” Griffis said. “RGIII is the exception … He always handles himself with grace and dignity. When my
kids got to meet him at the Broad Run football game, it was the highlight
of their year!”
English teacher Jo Ann Pearson, who has been at Broad Run since it opened, considers Griffin an excellent role model for high school students.

“He took time from his busy schedule to support a cause and a school,” she said. “He was unassuming when he came and demonstrated patience and grace in posing for pictures and signing autographs.”
Art teacher Deidre Knight called RGIII  “a superstar athlete with a
realism that, in my eyes, is humbling.”

Griffin was the 2011Heisman Trophy winner, a first for Baylor University. He currently resides in Loudoun County and this year the Associated Press selected him as their 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Now stop reading, hit your Twitter account and cross your fingers!