June 9, 2009

Graduation celebration recognizes students who have faced cancer, sickle cell disease and hemophilia

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By Anne Buckley

The Class of 2009 stands proud with Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine at the graduation celebration in honor of those students who have managed their academic responsibilities while undergoing treatment for cancer or sickle cell disease. Photo by Melissa Gordon, VCU Communications and Public Relations.
The Class of 2009 stands proud with Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine at the graduation celebration in honor of those students who have managed their academic responsibilities while undergoing treatment for cancer or sickle cell disease. Photo by Melissa Gordon, VCU Communications and Public Relations.

Thirteen graduating high school seniors on Tuesday were honored at a celebration at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and recognized for the hurdles they have overcome in living with cancer or other diseases of the blood.

VCU’s Hospital Education Program, VCU’s Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic and the Association for the Support of Children with Cancer, or ASK, hosted the annual ceremony to recognize seniors who have managed their academic responsibilities while undergoing treatment for cancer or sickle cell disease.

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine addressed the graduates and referenced a biblical passage that says from weakness comes strength.

“My expectation … is that the experiences you have had would make you more able to reach out to the weak aspect in another person” and to better see the needs of others, Kaine said.

Kamar Godder, M.D., MPH, chair of pediatric hematology/oncology, told the graduates that their attendance at the ceremony represented “the success of research, the success of the program and the success of courage.”

She urged the graduates to go forward and become advocates of their disease and to be ambassadors for courage.

Of the 13 graduates, seven are oncology patients, four are sickle cell patients and two are hemophilia patients. 

Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine congratulates cancer survivor Jacob Eck at the 2009 graduation celebration. Photo by Melissa Gordon, VCU Communcations and Public Relations.
Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine congratulates cancer survivor Jacob Eck at the 2009 graduation celebration. Photo by Melissa Gordon, VCU Communcations and Public Relations.

The graduates from Chesterfield County are Jacob Eck and Marshall Gays of James River High School, William “Bucky” Matthews of Manchester High School and Janae Moody of Meadowbrook High School. Graduating from Henrico County are Jerica Archer of Henrico High School, Erin Bennett of Freeman High School and Wayne Phillips Jr. of Varina High School.

Also graduating are: Anthony Huckaby, Greensville County High School, Greensville County; Jacob Sellers, Lee Davis High School, Hanover County; Casey Graham, King William High School, King William County; Amanda Fitzgerald, Central High School, Lunenburg County; Jonathan Babcock, Middlesex High School, Middlesex County; and Lamont Banks, Thomas Jefferson High School, City of Richmond.

State Superintendent of Schools Marcus Newsome attended as did local school division representatives. Scholarships provided by ASK also were awarded.