@BroadRun: #RGIII, Please Come Back
Star NFL quarterback attended Spartan football game; Class of 2013 launches Twitter campaign to lure him to graduation.
Photos
[Broad Run High School provided this article.]
Broad Run High School’s Class of 2013 hit the Twittosphere this week in an attempt to lure Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III to the school’s graduation ceremony this spring.
Twitter users just might come across the message: “Spartans Caught GRIFFINFever! Won’t you B R graduationspeaker?”
Hundreds of seniors, along with faculty and staff, have been “Griffining” in
the stands of Broad Run’s stadium, the principal’s office, library, school store, gymnasium, cafeteria and on top of the hallway lockers, according to a message from the school.
RGIII left a huge impression on the Broad Run community in October when he made a surprise appearance at the Pink’d game sponsored by Broad Run DECA to benefit the Loudoun Breast Health Network.
Student Council Association President BJ Davis urged students to hit their Twitter accounts for the Pink’d invitation, which was led by senior Will Metzfield and junior
Emily Daley.
“I don’t think we really expected him to come,” Metzfield said in the message from the school. “I think it surprised the administration. The timing was perfect, really.”
Students and faculty were grateful for the appearance. Robyn Griffis, a social studies teacher who lives in Ashburn, said few professional athletes would take the time.
“Not many professional athletes are positive role models,” Griffis said. “RGIII is the exception … He always handles himself with grace and dignity. When my
kids got to meet him at the Broad Run football game, it was the highlight
of their year!”
English teacher Jo Ann Pearson, who has been at Broad Run since it opened, considers Griffin an excellent role model for high school students.
“He took time from his busy schedule to support a cause and a school,” she said. “He was unassuming when he came and demonstrated patience and grace in posing for pictures and signing autographs.”
Art teacher Deidre Knight called RGIII “a superstar athlete with a
realism that, in my eyes, is humbling.”
Griffin was the 2011Heisman Trophy winner, a first for Baylor University. He currently resides in Loudoun County and this year the Associated Press selected him as their 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Now stop reading, hit your Twitter account and cross your fingers!
eric Cuthbert
7:36 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Yes, will the problem with him showing up at the BR game. The students and parents mobbed him and acted liked a bunch of 12 year olds instead of respecting him and giving him some space. If I was RG III, I would avoid BR like the plague.
Melissa M
1:01 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
The Pink'd game is an annual charity event that Broad Run hosts for the Loudoun Breast Health Network. All of the students and parents were thrilled when RGIII showed up for the game. To say that the Broad Run community treated him with disrespect is a travesty. I was personally at the game and was so very proud of our students and parents for their appreciation for his attendance and willingness to donate to a local charity. As a survivor, I saw a great sense of dedication to both the community and the cause. A large amount of money was raised that evening. Let's focus on that.
Jim
1:06 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Well said Melissa and congratulations on being a survivor!
Dusty Smith
1:13 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
From the photos, it looks like he was all smiles at Pink'd. The annual event always gets praises. I suspect RGIII had some idea that there would be a bunch of fans at the game. Many Redskins players are willing to participate in community activities, and the community appreciates it. Some of the players' kids go to these schools.
Jim
1:04 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Eric,
I wouldn't think people being enamored by him will scare him away- he is a young guy who is enjoying (and appreciating) his celebrity. So far, it seems as if we have a gem on our hands in RG3- a great athlete who is grateful to have the chance and is involved in the community. It's hard not to get excited about that.
Donnmaria Tucker Killinger
12:25 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Too many athletes let their popularity go to their head and their common sense out the window and forget they are a role model for young people -from on and off the field.
RGIII hasn't let that happen to himself. If he is available and agrees to be the graduation speaker, I feel he will be able to deliver a very meaningful speech these young people will understand and know he is trying to start them on their journey as young adults and the future of our great country.