The Middle School promotion ceremony took place on June 4, 2015 at Boggs Chapel. Principal Derrick Leasure greeted the families, faculty, staff, and students gathered and shared some information about the class: the average eighth grader had a 3.3 GPA in any given quarter; 100% of the students participated in an interscholastic sport this year; the class as a whole served over 800 hours of community service; and 90% of the class has taken at least one high school class at the R-MA Upper School. He also observed that the favorite phrase of the eighth grade class this year was: “Wait…what?”
After a few special musical performances, including a rendition of Beyonce’s “I Was Here” by Joseany Mbakassy (accompanied by Mr. Michael DeMato), the class heard from guest speaker Kyle McDaniel, R-MA Class of 2007. McDaniel is the Policy Director for a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He is a 2010 graduate from George Mason University and received a Master of Public Administration degree in 2012 from American University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in public policy at Virginia Tech. McDaniel has served or is serving on a number of boards. He is the Vice President of the R-MA Alumni Association and the President of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
McDaniel offered six pieces of advice to the 23 eighth grade students gathered at the ceremony.