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As graduation approached for Friendly High School senior Edgardo Macabulos, he got more and more nervous.

As the 18-year-old Fort Washington resident sang the national anthem at his class' graduation ceremony May 25 at Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, he said he was "shaking at the knees."

Macabulos was one of about 370 students to graduate, comprising 97 percent of seniors and the largest graduating class in the Fort Washington school's history. Last year, the school had a graduation rate of approximately 94 percent, compared with the countywide rate of about 84 percent.

Regina Owens, the senior class advisor, said this year's graduating class has been unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that 24 more boys than girls donned the cap and gown.

"Usually it's the other way around," Owens said. "This was the first year I've seen the attitude [members of this class had] where it was apparent that nothing was going to stop them from graduating."

Owens attributed the class' success and determination in part to the school's initiatives to keep the class academically focused. First-year principal Raynah Adams held mandatory study halls for athletes, as well as "zero period," where students would come in at 7 a.m. and study before the school day officially began at 7:45.

Graduating senior Milan Mobley, 17, of Fort Washington, who will be attending Bethune-Cookman University in Florida to study sports management and communications, attributed part of her class's determination to the faculty and administration.

"They yelled at us, they pushed us," she said. "They just did everything possible to motivate us."

Shalaan Powell, 17, of Fort Washington said he is on his way to Frostburg State University in western Maryland to study mass communications. His dream is to become a film director.

"I just like the idea of being able to tell a story," he said. "I particularly want to do it from a different point of view or perspective."

Shalaan's mother, Christol Powell, 43, said she was relieved to finally see her son and his friends graduate. She said the graduating class was unusually active and involved in the school.

"The school was not ready for how active and productive they all would be," Powell said. "They blossomed into all aspects of life and careers. And you can see that in how they all seem to know each other, even though the class is as big as it is."

Macabulos said he will be attending Bowie State University in the fall to study nursing. He's already considering getting a master's degree to become a nurse practitioner, and he said nursing runs in the family.

"My grandmother was a nurse, and my whole family is sort of medically inclined," he said. "And my mom's a nurse too."

Asked whether he would continue to pursue singing in college, Macabulos said he hadn't really thought about it.

"Maybe," he pondered. "At any rate, it's going to be on YouTube."

ewagner@gazette.net