James Madison High School Seniors Become Warhawk Alumni

James Madison High School's Class of 2011 sat among classmates, faculty and staff as seniors for the last time on Friday at their commencement ceremony at Robinson High School.

Before they became Warhawk alumni, the 469 graduates were offered words of wisdom from one of their own: John Brenkus '89, the original “Mr. Madison” and Vienna native who is now the co-creator and host of the Emmy Award-winning show “ESPN Sports Science.”

“I come from Vienna, Virginia, I [was] sitting exactly where you were 22 years ago,” said Brenkus, who also created the now-annual “Mr. Madison” contest, in which students auction themselves off to raise money for the student government.

Brenkas reminisced with seniors about what it took for him to go from a Vienna teenager to the host of a show on one of the most popular sports television channels in the world.

“Perfect practice makes perfect,” Brenkus said. “You could be doing all kinds of things, and if you’re doing them wrong as you’re practicing, you’re just getting worse as you go. You want to find what you really want to do. You’ve got to do something that you absolutely love, because if you love it, then all of that practice pays off. Passion rules the day.”

2011 was a remarkable class for Madison, administrators said. One hundred and three graduates earned grade point averages higher than 4.0 during their high school careers, graduating with honors.

Michael Land, one of those honor graduates, received one of Madison's highest honors at the commencement: the Faculty Award. Noah Jackson Lubert and Kathryn Seymour Hahne were given PTSA citizenship awards for their efforts in the community.

Speakers noted the senior class also stood out for its creation of , which gained notoriety across Northern Virginia during the winter basketball season.

Halfway through the ceremony the traditional graduation, beach balls emerged from the graduate section, evoking laughter and dismay from teachers and faculty.

The James Madison High School Orchestra played “Jupiter from the Planets,” and graduates Melissa Murray and Lauren Stonerock showed off their songwriting skills with their original tune “Sunset.”

Kira Osborn, an editor of the student newspaper, was the student speaker for the commencement.

“We set AP exam pass rate records, the women’s crew team won states for the first time in school history, the girls lacrosse team went undefeated this season and our senior boys created the sixth man,” Osborn said.  “This community has supported us and nurtured us over the course of our high school careers. Now we’re on our own and its time to pay it forward.”

As Principal Mark Merell officially declared them graduates and teary-eyed parents snapped pictures, the seniors –now alumni –  walked out of the Robinson gymnasium and into their futures.

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