Lankenau High’s class of 2011 has its big day

Roxborough’s Lankenau High School held its graduation ceremony on Monday. It was held at The New Covenant Church of Philadelphia in Mt. Airy. Seventy-eight students graduated, 90 percent of whom plan to attend college in the fall. 

Omar Shakoor of the Concerned Black Men Association spoke to the graduates about maintaining values of respect for others, integrity of character, and the importance of academics. Shakoor and other members of The Concerned Black Men Association have mentored and worked with male members of the student body for the past two years. The valedictorian and Class Treasurer Mado-Sue Dembele also addressed the audience and her fellow graduates. She will be attending Howard University in Washington, D.C this fall. 

Principal Jacqueline Bentley told NewsWorks she was proud the class of 2011 as they were “very close knit group” that rose and met “our expectations for them.”In January, the Philadelphia School District awarded Lankenau its Keystone Achievement Award, which is given to schools that make Adequate Yearly Progress two years in a row.

Lankenau High School has nearly 300 students and is located in the hills of Upper Roxborough on a scenic campus at 201 Spring Lane.