By: Natalie Reich

Sentry Staff Reporter

With the all the new construction that has happened in the past year, there have also been some exciting additions and changes to old traditions. The Hall of Fame and Inspiration, a place of recognition for particularly successful alumni, was moved to the wall outside of Patriot Hall and fresh plaques were hung up next to the previous “hall-of-famers”. It might be a surprise for many students to see the Hall of Fame, but it has existed since the first induction in 2004. It was just renewed and moved to Patriot Hall. In both 2004 and 2008, a total of nineteen notable graduates were selected for this inspiring honor. On January 25 2014 at 5 pm, a group of nine hand-picked individuals gathered in Patriot Hall for a third round of inductions into the Hall of Fame and Inspiration.

The ceremony was led by the chairman of the committee for the 2014 inductions, Charlie Clark, who graduated in 1971. He was accompanied by original faculty member, biology teacher, and athletic director Jim Allen (1960-1995), Director of Student Activities, Michael Creupheld, senior Molly Mosher and George Varoutsos (1966), who make up the Committee for the 2014 Inductions, and chose the inductees. To start off the night, Clark welcomed everyone to the ceremony and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said a few inspirational words. Principal Dr. Raymond Pasi made some thoughtful remarks, followed by Allen amusingly recollecting on his time at school. After this, the inductions commenced.

The 2014 inductees were entrepreneur and inventor of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the world’s first unconstrained natural language speech recognition tool, and software that became the basis of Apple’s Siri, Jim Baker (Class of 1963), self-taught painter of historical and nature scenes, with paintings in the collections of presidents Reagan, Clinton and Bush and other well-known athletes and celebrities, Paul McGehee (Class of 1978), legislative staffer, speechwriter and spokesperson for the Kennedy family, Melody Miller (Class of 1963), President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, Chris Nassetta (Class of 1980), acclaimed actress and D.C. performer over 30 years, Nancy Robinette (Class of 1969), Medical Director of Virginia Hospital Center’s Joint Replacement Center, Dr. David Romness (Class of 1977), familiar radio voice in Washington area since 1974 and host of rock shows at WASH-FM, David Swerdloff (Class of 1967), famous judge and son of South Vietnamese diplomat who became Virginia’s first Asian American judge, Judge John M. Tran (Class of 1977) and army surgical nurse and veterans advocate whose memoir captured societal divisions of Vietnam war, Lynda Van Devanter (Class of 1965). All of these people have or had one thing in common; they achieved in any field of endeavor that has brought credit to the school and they can serve as an inspiration to current students. They can be living or dead, nationally or locally famous, but must have achieved something that represents the school in a positive fashion.

These successful graduates had to have started somewhere, and that somewhere happens to be right here, at 5200 Yorktown Boulevard.  They have taken with them valuable experiences and information from Yorktown that have helped them become incredibly successful.

“The big thing about Yorktown was that there was always a group of people who would support you… No matter what you were doing you could find another group of people, and that was tremendous. Nobody was looked down upon,” says Swerdloff.

Miller, who was a part of the founding class and actually had the opportunity to select the school colors, name the newspaper and the yearbook, and much more, fondly remembers her high school education.

“The one thing I took away from Yorktown was an extraordinary education. I wrote a tougher term paper here than I ever did in college. The education served me in everything it did,” Miller said.

With her 1963 class ring dangling around her neck, she added,

“There was also this great school spirit. When we played Washington Lee High School for the first time in football… WL was the defending state champion [in football], and we beat them six to nothing.”

While the education and inclusive student attitude is fondly remembered, the successful alumni did not forget to mention the wonderful faculty and staff.

Featured image by Libby Boda

“… The teachers listened to the direction that my interests were taking me [with artwork]. They really helped to nurture that,” said McGehee, now an acclaimed painter.

The Hall of Fame and Inspiration will remind students who walk by the plagues of these graduates everyday that wonderful achievements are possible for anyone through hard work and dedication. Make sure to swing by and check out these encouraging individuals, who will always be proud to be Patriots.