SMCM Bids Graduates Farewell And Honors Four Area Educators

Nearly 500 students received their degrees during graduation ceremonies Saturday at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

The school also awarded honorary degrees to the co-founder of its Oxford program and three people who have promoted the education of inner-city high school graduates.

Sandra Feneley, co-founder of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies in Oxford, a study abroad program in England, received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree.

Reginald Ballard, former principal at Cardozo High School in Washington, received an honorary doctor of education degree.

Frazier O'Leary, who teaches Advanced Placement English language and literature at Cardozo and worked with Ballard, received an honorary doctor of philosophy degree in humanities.

Elias Vlanton, a history teacher at Bladensburg High School in Prince George's County who worked with St. Mary's to send Bladensburg students there, received an honorary doctor of letters.

Cardozo High School's relationship with St. Mary's took root in 2000, when several students learned that college scholarships they had been promised while attending Bruce-Monroe Elementary School in the District had evaporated after the funding organization went bankrupt.

Jane Margaret "Maggie" O'Brien, president of St. Mary's College, heard about the situation and offered the students full scholarships to the school or assistance in finding other colleges.

O'Brien began a relationship with educators at Cardozo, including Ballard and O'Leary, to prepare students for college. Since then, more than 20 Cardozo graduates have attended the college in St. Mary's City.

Ballard was principal of Cardozo from 1995 to 2006 before going to work for D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee.