By Sara Kaplow (January 5, 2002)

Mason graduates from the class of 2001 returned to the school last night for a ceremony in which they were presented with IB diplomas and IB certificates. Diploma recipients were informed this past July that they were to receive the prestigious IB diploma and were invited back, along with students receiving individual certificates, to get their diploma as well as the Jonathan L. Olom Gold Medal. 

Among the attendees at the ceremony were Ms. Mary Ellen Shaw, the superintendent of Falls Church City Schools, Mr. Lou Olom, the founder of the Jonathan L. Olom Gold Medal, various city council members, as well as many Mason graduates. Mr. Brian Dickson, the IB coordinator for George Mason, spoke during the assembly, encouraging students to travel and observe other cultures, and congratulating them on meeting international standards of excellence. "By learning about different cultures," he said, "you learn about yourself."

Over half of the diploma recipients returned to Mason to receive their diplomas in person, and many certificate students also returned for the event. Following the presentation of the diplomas and medals, Mr. Olom spoke about his experiences working in Falls Church, particularly with the IB Program. He also included a few jokes about what people who do not participate in the IB program write in history essays, taken from a book on the subject.

Mr. Lou Olom, left presents 2001 George Mason graduate Daniel Clark with the memorable medal recognizing that Clark successfuly earned the full IB diploma

Mr. Olom created the "IB Gold Medal" program in 1996, inspired by the 1992 Olympic Games. The medal itself is named after his son who graduated from Mason in 1968 and had a short, but remarkable career as a lawyer before he died in 1984. In Colorado, where he worked as an attorney, the most prestigious award for defense lawyers is called the Jonathan L. Olom award, because of his work as an attorney and his reputation for defending the Bill of Rights.