May 25, 1995|By JONI GUHNE
If you felt a sudden rush of air today, it was probably the giant sigh of relief coming from Central County's graduating high school seniors. Today is the last day of high school for hundreds them. They're going to take a break from studying to celebrate the fact that nobody is going to yell at them for not doing their homework for at least three months.
* Broadneck High's seniors clean out their lockers for the last time today. Their graduation ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
* Severna Park High's seniors also shift into the summer mode today. They graduate at 7 p.m. June 2, at UMBC.
NASA astronaut Capt. Kenneth S. Reightler Jr., who happens to be a second cousin of Julie Campbell, a senior, will fly in from Houston to be guest speaker for graduation. Captain Reighter is a 1973 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
* Old Mill High's seniors say, "Adios," today. Their graduation is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at UMBC.
* Chesapeake High's seniors say farewell to high school today. They've opted to stay close to home for graduation. The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the school stadium. If it rains, the ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday.
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While everyone else is at the beach, Severn School seniors will be sweating over exams. They won't graduate until 9 a.m. June 10. But they will have the pleasure of listening to Arthur Egeli talk about his career in film production. Mr. Egeli, a member of the class of 1982, has been distinguishing himself in the film industry. He just received a Gold Award for best feature film at the Houston Film Festival.
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The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce and merchants in Severna Park are offering some incentives to shop late on Thursday nights.
Chocolates from the Heart will hold a tasting from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight. Stop by for a taste of the confectionery's new Flavor Burst soft-serve ice cream.
Vera's on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard will have a dinner and Christian poetry reading with local authors tonight. Susan Eckman, author of "Ripened Words," and Janet Hoyt, author of "Legacy," will read from their works. Dinner and poetry readings are planned each Thursday evening. The cost is $8 per person. For more information, call 647-2033.
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Spring dance recitals at Chesapeake, Old Mill and SPHS, presented by the Carter School of Dance, will feature four dancers who have won some impressive dance scholarships.
Suzanne Bryant, 18, daughter of Jim and Helen Bryant of Crownsville, will perform a pas de deux with her partner, Michael Biggers, 18, of Fairfax, Va. They will perform Saturday at Old Mill High School and June 16 and June 17 at Severna Park High School.
Ms. Bryant studies with the Carter School and the School of Washington Ballet's early release program. She is a senior at Old Mill and has received the Presidential Academic Scholarship. She will attend Towson State University in the fall on a dance scholarship. Mr. Biggers, a senior at the Virginia School of the Arts, is an apprentice with the Washington Ballet.
* Kellie Shanahan, 13, daughter of Tom and Kathy Shanahan of Pasadena, and Leah Smearman, 15, daughter of Werner and Patricia Smearman of Severna Park, have received scholarships to study with the School of Joffrey Ballet in New York City. Ms. Smearman also received an advanced-level scholarship from the Cecchetti Council of America for two weeks at the National Conference on Classical Ballet in Holland, Mich.
* Alicia Pettit, 12, daughter of Bob and Sharon Pettit of Severna Park, will attend the Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio, for three weeks in June.
All four dancers study with Barbara Hottel Willis and Colette Shrimpton at the Carter School, which is sponsored by the YWCA. For recital information, call 410-626-7800.
