In 1901, Yale University's band played March No. 1 of Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance during the school's graduation ceremony. The music is now so closely associated with such proceedings that it's often simply called "the graduation song."
But what does that title mean? Originally taken from a line in Shakespeare's Othello, both "pomp" and "circumstance" are words that suggest formality, splendor, and magnificence. And that's just what The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School offered to its graduating class on June 8, 2006.
Held in Heinz Field, with Pittsburgh's skyline and three rivers in clear view, the ceremony brought together 190 students from a graduating class of 376. The evening included comments by the late Pittsburgh mayor Bob O'Connor, a taped presentation by Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, musical performances coordinated by the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, and a speech by graduating senior Jenna Knopsnyder, the current Miss Teen Pennsylvania International.
Many families had never been to Pittsburgh before, and some had driven most of the day to participate. "Absolutely worth the trip!" said Rhonda Sharif, who had just traveled from King of Prussia with her daughter Sherrima. The two were waiting in line so Sherrima could get her photo taken before the ceremony began, and neither seemed to mind the crowd. "It's great to be here with everyone," said Sherrima, who will attend Temple University next fall to study accounting and international business. "I had a really positive experience at PA Cyber, and I wouldn't have missed this day."
Families gathered before the ceremony to meet with Instructional Supervisors and hug favorite teachers – the important people they had come to know very well but had likely never met face to face. Students also greeted those they had met through virtual classes, and connected with friends they already knew from their hometowns.
Christina Grant waved to fellow graduate Pearle Johnson over the crowd; the two are in the same church group back in the Philadelphia area. And Pearle's beaming mother, Diana Blackerby, said her only regret about sending her daughter to PA Cyber was that she hadn't done it sooner. "Pearle spent just her senior year in the school, and it was such a positive experience for her," she said. "The teachers were so dedicated, so involved. This really is an interesting community."
A few feet away, Instructional Supervisor Eric Woelfel was surrounded by members of the Rosenbauer family who presented him with a gift. "This is too much, too much," he said, shaking his head. But senior Rebekah Rosenbauer, who has three younger siblings still attending PA Cyber, replied, "No, it's not. You've been amazing to us!"
Graduating senior Amanda Wenrich admitted she had not planned to make the trip to Pittsburgh, but after attending several friends' graduations, she realized she might regret passing up the momentous occasion. She had called her Instructional Supervisor, Nicole Cherico, just days earlier, and Nicole made sure Amanda could take part.
"I have the gown, I have the gown!" Nicole said as she hurried through the crowd to meet Amanda for the first time at Heinz Field. Nicole handed her a brilliant blue garment wrapped neatly in plastic and said, "I ironed it for you!"
Above and beyond the call of duty, perhaps, but when asked about the gesture, Nicole said matter-of-factly, "Well, I couldn't have one of my students all wrinkled, right?" The two then chatted like old friends, and before the ceremony had even begun, Amanda said she had made the right decision to attend.
After more than an hour of these happy meetings, the graduates lined up and began their procession. As the students took their turns crossing the stage, a member of PA Cyber's staff announced their names and hometowns. PA Cyber CEO Dr. Nick Trombetta then shook each student's hand as the speakers said a few words about the graduate's accomplishments. And those words – about black belts in karate, completed mission trips, national rankings – were enough to reveal the amazingly broad qualities of the members of the Class of 2006.
"It was such a big day," said PA Cyber's Director Robert Babish, "a big day for the students and for our school. Graduation marks an ending, for sure, but the ceremonies are called commencements because they are also beginnings.
"These are kids we can be proud of," he continued. "They amaze me, they really do. I have such confidence that we will hear great things about them in the future."
The graduating seniors had enrolled in PA Cyber for many reasons, but all saw the school as a way to tailor an education to meet their individual needs. Perhaps the best part, however, is that all those individuals had a need to meet together in one place, wearing the same gowns and tasseled caps, to commemorate the "circumstances" of a very important day.