BY MATTHEW E. MILLIKEN
mmilliken@heraldsun.com; 419-6684
DURHAM -- The man who helped the Class of 2010 begin their careers at Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School nearly four years ago was on hand Thursday to usher them out the door.
Nicholas King, the first principal of Early College High and now chief academic officer with the Northampton County school system, reminisced about how the students had endured full-tilt air conditioning when they arrived at the school in 2006. He also quoted singer Lee Ann Womack's standard "I Hope You Dance," urging listeners to retain a sense of wonder and an openness to faith and love.
The main commencement speaker was Florida attorney Willie Gary, who called upon the graduates to declare "I am somebody!" The rest of his address had a similar commanding, motivational tone.
"Dream! The sky's the limit," the NCCU law school graduate said. "Just set the goals and believe. But you gotta believe, you gotta have the fire in the belly."
"Think you can? Think you can't? Either way, you're right," Gary said moments later.
He called upon graduates to better the nation and to keep God in their plans.
Graduate Daniel Fraser II delivered a jokey, low-key address. "You probably don't have to ask me how my day is," he said. "I'm valedictorian."
He also explained his class' attitude.
"We're incredible," said Fraser, who is headed to Yale on a full scholarship. "I mean, we're arrogant and we brag all the time, but maybe deservedly so. We're the Class of 2010. We're spectacular."
On a slightly more serious note, he thanked classmates for forging lasting friendships and making great memories.
Early College High is located on the campus of N.C. Central University, where commencement was held. Graduates reflected NCCU's color scheme with their maroon gowns and maroon and gray tassels.
ECHS students took courses at Central, earning up to two years of college credit. Principal Kendra O'Neal-Williams said that one graduate is going to the military, but the 65 other Class of 2010 members are headed to such colleges as NCCU, East Carolina, Wake Forest, Elon and Howard.
Aspen Dudley is headed to the Army, but he'd like to earn a bachelor's degree at NCCU and become a career officer.
"Everybody here is tight with each other, so I'm really happy about that," he said of the Early College student body. "Everybody [is] like family. Everybody hangs out with each other on weekends."
"I think it prepared me for a college setting," Blessing Nwanguma said of ECHS. "I'll know what to expect when I get to college."
She did not wish to publicize which university she will attend.
Ronnie Perry, self-described class clown, will study biology at Central. Fittingly for the Eagle he was and will be, he was soaring Thursday.
"Best moment of my life," he said. "I'm so happy."
