By Rabita Aziz (January 8, 2004)

Of the 22 George Mason graduates of the class of 2003 who earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma for their two years of hard work, 17 showed up to receive their diplomas and medals at the annual awards ceremony Tuesday night. 

In addition, nearly 50 percent of the 78 graduates who earned IB Certificates attended to receive their awards as well. IB Coordinator Mr. Brian Dickson reported that the turnout this year was among the highest, even though many of the graduates were not able to attend the ceremony because many universities started classes earlier than usual on January 5, due to missed class days caused by Hurricane Isabel.
 

The program consisted of words from Principal Robert Snee, Superintendent of Falls Church Schools Ms. Mary Ellen Shaw, and a guest presentation by English teacher Michael Hoover. After their words, the awards were given. Longtime Falls Church City resident Mr. Lou Olom gave the diploma recipients the Jonathan L. Olom Gold Medals for their work. Mr. Olom, who is known as the father of the IB in Falls Church, personally donated these medals. George Mason IB Diploma graduates are the only ones in the world who receive these medals, which have been called the "academic counterpart to the Olympic gold medal." Jonathan L. Olom is the late son of Mr. Lou Olom, and a George Mason High School graduate of the class of 1968. He was a prominent attorney in Colorado who passed away in 1984. In brief remarks, Mr. Olom paid tribute to Dr. Nancy Sprague who recently died.  Olom recalled how Sprague had been instrumental in starting the IB Program 23 years ago.  Olom also voiced his hopes that the Falls Church School System will someday adopt the IB Program for both elementary schools and the middle school

Mr. Lou Olom presents the Jonathan L. Olom  Gold Medal to 2003 Mason graduate Stacey  Redick in recognition of her IB Diploma. Olom  presented 17 medals to graduates at the annual  IB Awards Ceremony Tuesday night at the high school. (Photo by Andrea Genovese Soares)

It was an important day for the International Baccalaureate program, with the annual IB Forum occurring on the same day. Nine graduates from the classes of 2003 and 2001 shared their advice about their experiences with the IB Program with sophomores and juniors. The college graduates gave students advice about everything from the basic mechanics of the IB program to their personal experiences, regrets, and benefits.

Christina Sedney, who is attending the University of Virginia, advised, "You shouldn’t just take the (IB) classes for the credit." All the graduates emphasized the benefits of the IB program, such as gaining time management skills, writing lengthy essays with ease, and being greatly prepared for college. David Gould, 2003 graduate and current student at Virginia Tech, said, "If I hadn’t taken IBH English with Dr. Defazio, I wouldn’t know how to handle all the reading in college." 

Mason graduate Cieron Rockwell, 2001, said, "I have all the same academic preparations as my friends who went to private school." Gould added, "If you really want to do all those fun things in college, manage your time now." All of the graduates agreed that the best way to learn how to manage your time in college was to participate in the IB Program. Graduate Emma Bellamy, now attending Kenyon College, said, "I get more sleep now than in high school." 

After hearing three graduates say they "just got the certificates," Mr. Dickson assured them "just" was not the right word for receiving IB Certificates. He informed the students in the audience that 70 percent of IB graduates earned certificates, while only 20 percent earned the diploma. He also informed the audience that the three aspects of achievement of the IB program are, in order, "organization, motivation, and academic brilliance." 

When asked if he had any parting words about the IB program, Gould said, "Do it."