Graduations Begin May 29, Feature Noteworthy Speakers
The 2024 high school commencement season is set to begin on Wednesday, May 29, and will end Wednesday, June 12. Graduation ceremonies will take place on individual high school campuses, at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., and on the campuses of Mount St. Mary’s University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. More than 11,000 students are expected to receive their diplomas.
The ceremonies will include an array of commencement speakers, including TV reporters, politicians, educators, MCPS staff members and others.
Among those who will speak: Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, who will speak at Thomas S. Wootton High School; Aruna Miller, Lt. Gov. of Maryland, who will speak at Northwest High School; David Vanterpool, assistant coach of the Washington Wizards, who will speak at Montgomery Blair High School; Dr. William Dunn, president and founder of the Dunn Foundation, will speak at Paint Branch High School; and Mike Sacks, author of 10 comedy books, frequent contributor to The New Yorker and Winston Churchill High School alumnus, who will speak at his alma mater.
Other speakers include:
- John Ross, the executive director of Nourishing Bethesda, who will speak at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
- Monique Ashton, Rockville Mayor, who will speak at Richard Montgomery High School.
- Danielle Williams Eke, fashion designer and James Hubert Blake High School graduate, who will speak at her alma mater.
- Charlene Thomas, author and Gaithersburg High School graduate, who will speak at her alma mater.
- Vaughn Stewart, District 19 Maryland State Delegate, who will speak at Rockville High School.
- Henry Johnson, Acting MCPS Chief of Staff, who will speak at Northwood High School, where he previously served as principal.