It was a double celebration for at least one family during The Linsly School's 2009 graduation ceremony held Sunday at the Stifel Field House.

Among the 76 graduates of the Linsly Class of 2009 were twin sisters Ariel Eve Pollock and Netanya Isabel Pollock who served as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

They are the daughters of Dr. Jon Pollock and Dr. Marjorie Moolten of Wheeling. The twins have attended Linsly since the fifth grade. Both graduates will attend Columbia University in the fall.

Ariel is a member of the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society. She is a Wheeling Judicial Scholar, a Wheeling Youth Leadership participant and was named the Elks Lodge Most Valuable Student. She was named a prefect her junior year and has maintained that position throughout her senior year. She received the distinction of being named an AP Scholar with Honors and a National Merit Finalist. She is on the Linsly varsity soccer and varsity tennis teams and was a member of the Cotillion.

Netanya is the president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Latin Honors Society, a Wheeling Judicial Scholar and a Wheeling Youth Leadership participant. She earned the title of prefect her junior year and continues to hold that position throughout her senior year. She received the distinction of being named an AP Scholar with Honors, a Presidential Scholar semifinalist, and a National Merit Finalist Scholarship recipient. She plays varsity soccer and varsity tennis.

The graduation day also marked the end of a long career at Linsly for Headmaster Reno DiOrio who will assume other duties on the campus. In his final speech as headmaster, DiOrio addressed the graduates, reflecting on those principles inherently instilled in each graduating senior from their "Linsly Experience" - honesty, tolerance, humility, courage and self control. He reminded seniors that it is always important to do the right thing, even when no one else is looking.

Major awards handed out during the ceremony included:

• The Headmaster Award, given to that member of the senior class who acted as a model for all Linsly students, was presented to Allie Elizabeth Hundley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phil and Kim Hundley of St. Clairsville.

• The Hofreuter Award, given to that member of the senior class who has been exemplary in her service to his school and community, in the tradition of Dr. Donald H. Hofreuter, was awarded to Maria Elizabeth Evelyn Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Todd and Patti Miller of Wheeling.

• The Guenther Award, given to those members of the senior class who exhibit outstanding leadership, citizenship and character, was awarded to Lauren Michele Joseph, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Vickie Joseph of Wheeling, Kaitlyn Nicole Pytlak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lou and JoEllen Pytlak of Glen Dale, and Vincent James Tennant, son of Mr. Donald J. Tennant, Jr. Esq. and Dr. Kate F. Tennant of Wheeling.

• The Theodore Scott Owens Award, given to those members of the senior class who exhibit the qualities of determination, seriousness, and persistence respected by all, was awarded to Matthew Carl Giesmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. John and Susan Giesmann of Bethany and Rebecca Rose Olsavsky, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John and Judi Olsavsky of Wheeling.

The following students received their diplomas as part of The Linsly School's graduating class of 2009:

West Virginia: Wheeling: Dallas Michael Amico, Brenna Marie Burkhart, Megan Elizabeth Byhanna, J.D. Eddy, Ethan Maxwell Jones, Lauren Michele Joseph, Christopher James Kiedaisch, Bryan Michael Kovalick, Jennifer Lee Leech, Maria Elizabeth Evelyn Miller, Troy Nicholas Miller, Patrick O'Neil Milton, Venkatesh Musunuri, Rebecca Rose Olsavsky, Alexis Nichole Penz, Ariel Eve Pollock, Netanya Isabel Pollock, Michael Paul Sacco, Leah Kaye Santorine, Nathaniel Micheal Sturm, Vincent James Tennant, David Andrew Thieroff, James Ellison Turak, Kevin Michael VanKirk, Anthony Ira Werner, Jr., Elliott Hoge Wright, Frederick Hayden Wright, Robert John Zaleski, II; Triadelphia: Caleb Jeffrey Dodd, James George Jirak, Joshua Andrew Lechner, Justine Marie Lechner; Bethany: Matthew Carl Giesmann; Glen Dale: Kaitlyn Nicole Pytlak; Short Creek: Shelby Kate-Lynn Burwell; Moundsville: Tucker Edward Hitt, Anna Celeste Simmons; Dallas: Cara Allison Hagan; Morgantown: Stephanie Elaine Johnstone; Elkins: Michael Alan Cashell.

Ohio: Bridgeport: Ashton Eric Fatula, Paraskevoula Fragou, DeMarr William Moulton; Martins Ferry: Sarah Rose Chesnick, Matthew Ryan Jennings; Bellaire: Shane Douglas Antonik; Shadyside: Matthew William Fahey; St. Clairsville: Natalie Louise Belton, Chad Evan Chervenick, Allie Elizabeth Hundley, Samantha Jo Riel; Rayland: Ethan Drew Fithen; Barnesville: Sameer Gupta; Woodsfield: Jennifer Colleen Kachel.

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh: Sonika A. Aggarwal, Taylor McKenzie Davis, Nicholas James Ohrman; Mt. Lebanon: Hannah Elizabeth Rice; Wilkinsburg: Whitney North Young; Coraopolis: Dina Tsybina; Whitney: Alexander Thomas Kozusko; Waynesboro: Jordana Liane Lipsitz.

Outside the tri-state area: Oakland, Md.: Edward Alexander Holloway; Chester, N.J.: Jordan Christopher Medley; Falls Church, Va.: Anastasia Lucrecia Solis.

International Graduates: Korea: Hyuk-Jin Choi, Ji Hye Han, Hyea-Bin Im, Caleb Jeong, Minkyoung Kim, Sung Duk Lee, Won Joon Lee; Turkey: Can Erdogan; Mexico: Natalia Gomez Navarrete; Costa Rica: Justin Randolph Sandquist; Rwanda: Eyuel Kidane Tesfagiorgis.