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Befitting a graduation at a school in between the nation's capital and the state capital, Freedom High School's commencement Friday night included a little bit of Obama and a measure of Kaine.
The former came first when Principal Inez Bryant used President Barack Obama's campaign motto to tell the 345 graduates, "Yes, you can!"
The latter came from featured speaker Wayne Turnage, chief of staff for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
Turnage, who received his bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T State University and his master's from Ohio State University, said he was surprised by the invitation to speak. It's usually his boss who's asked to deliver commencement addresses, he said.
However, Turnage held his own at the lectern, repeating the sentiments of orators past and offering his own thoughts.
"Today is the first day of a new and more significant journey in your life," Turnage told the robed graduates: boys in black; girls in gold.
In a speech that mentioned Obama and Sonia Sotomayor, the president's Supreme Court nominee, Turnage encouraged the students to contribute to society.
Seeking a "life of service" helps one discover fulfillment that can't be found in a selfish existence, he said.
For Freedom graduates, whether that service means a government job like Turnage's remains to be seen.
But maybe Obama or Kaine should hire the students to raise money for future elections. They leave Freedom having earned $2.5 million in college scholarships, Bryant said.
Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.
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