Radnor High School's Class of 2011 graduates

At ’s Pavilion on Wednesday night, there were many people recalling fond memories, while also looking to the future.  These people were the members of ’s Class of 2011, who graduated Wednesday night.

The class valedictorian was Marija Vasiljevic, who will attend Johns Hopkins University, and the salutatorian was Edward Lee, who will attend Harvard University.  Lee is also the class of 2011 vice president.

The evening’s keynote speaker was Charles E. Ryan, a class of 1985 Radnor graduate and former Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank of Russia.

Senior Class President Brian Garber addressed his fellow classmates.  He noted that there were several events throughout the Class of 2011’s high school career that effected and defined the students.

Some of the significant events that Garber spoke of included the construction throughout the Class of 2011’s three years at and meeting Radnor High School Principal Mark Schellenger on their first day of high school.

Garber also noted many of the accomplishments of the Class of 2011.  The students founded the Mr. Radnor Pageant, which has raised money for several charities, including Radnor A Better Chance and the Angola Foundation.  This past year, 400 students were involved and $3000 was donated to charity.

“We learned a valuable lesson about giving back to the community,” Garber said.

When contract negotiations and changes at Radnor affected the Lower Merion week pep rally this year, the Class of 2011 rallied to keep the tradition alive.  The students organized the spirit week, the t-shirt sales and the pep rally.

As Garber said, “Together we learned what it means to be Radnor proud.”

Garber noted that the students sitting at the graduation will always be connected by Radnor.

Class valedictorian Vasiljevic noted that the experiences of the Class of 2011 can only help them in the future.

“The years at Radnor High School have prepared us to step into the world and win,” Vasiljevic said.

That was very much true for the evening’s keynote speaker. Charles E. Ryan, 1985 Radnor alum, addressed the class.

“You draw strength from this community your entire life,” Ryan told the graduating seniors.         

Ryan’s advice to the Class of 2011- find something that fascinates you and pursue it. 

“The world is going to change in ways you cannot predict,” he said.

He gave a personal example; when he was a college student, he studied criminology and the Soviet Union.  However, when he graduated, the USSR was no longer in existence.

Ryan noted that he could not have predicted how the world would change and that neither can the Class of 2011.  They can, however, know that “the world really needs you.”

And no matter what, “Never forget how strong your Radnor roots are.”

Edward Lee noted that every single person in the graduating class has a different compilation of stories that makes up who they are. 

 These stories, Lee said, are “stories that bring us all together.”

He told three stories.  The first was of a man who immigrated to the United States from South Korea.  This man opened his own deli in Philadelphia and passed on his spirit and work ethic to his three sons.

The next was of an overweight child who came to Radnor in the third grade. This child had a “sense of determination.”

The third and final story was about a middle school boy who was “scared to be himself.” This child then watched the popular show the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, which taught him the importance of self-confidence.

These three stories, Lee revealed, were the stories of his life and what made him the person he is today.

And when Lee and his classmates reunite years after graduation, he says they will all ask each other “what is your story.”

“All of us have our own life stories to tell,” Lee told his classmates.

The Class of 2011 is optimistic about where life will lead them after graduation, but is also amazed at how fast graduation came upon them.

“It’s like a whirlwind,” said Gemma Duffy, who will attend Temple University in the fall. “I can’t believe I’m done.”

And what will Duffy miss most about Radnor? “The lunch ladies.”

“They always brighten my day.”

Duffy is excited to begin college.  “It’s going to be an eye opening experience,” she said.      

Fellow graduates Jarrett Banks and Kyle Opet echoed Duffy’s sentiments.

“It hasn’t hit us yet,” said Banks, who will attend Delaware County Community College and will be working at Vector.

Opet, who will attend University of Notre Dame, said that he is nervous to begin college, but “really excited to start the new chapter.”

As the graduates all take their own path in life, they will be still be linked by being members of Radnor High School’s Class of 2011.

In the words of Eddie Lee, “We have and always will be unforgettable.”