More than 8,000 high school students and students in alternative programs are graduating and receiving diplomas from the Montgomery County Public Schools this spring. Twenty-eight schools have scheduled graduation ceremonies through June 12.

Commencement speakers include public officials, business leaders, journalists, educators, and scientists. The schedule of speakers is highlighted by General Colin Powell, who will address graduates at Damascus High School.

Among other prominent commencement speakers are two graduates of Montgomery County Public Schools who will speak at their respective alma maters. They are 1996 Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes (Gaithersburg High School) and actor Sean Whalen (Sherwood High School).

Elected officials participating in graduations include Delegate Mark Shriver (John F. Kennedy High School), Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz (Quince Orchard High School), State's Attorney Douglas Gansler (Rock Terrace School), and Congressman Steny Hoyer (Walt Whitman High School). Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend will speak at three graduation ceremonies (Bethesda Chevy Chase, Northwest and Walter Johnson high schools).

Other notable speakers include Dr. Aprille Ericsson Jackson, NASA aerospace engineer (Richard Montgomery High School), and Rear Admiral Susan J. Blumenthal, U.S. Assistant Surgeon General (Paint Branch High School).

Media representatives include Carol Costello, Channel 7 newscaster (Alternative Programs), Susan Altman, producer of "It's Academic" (Albert Einstein High School), Joe Madison, WOL Radio host and parent (Col. Zadok Magruder High School), Allison Seymour, Channel 5 news anchor (Mark Twain), and Jess Atkinson, CBS sports anchor (Montgomery Blair High School).

NOTE: A complete list of graduation ceremonies, with speakers, times, dates and locations, is available from the Department of Communications.