Future First-year Hornstine Skips Own Valedictory Address

After taking her school to court to make sure she would be the only valedictorian standing at graduation, Blair Hornstine—spotlight-burned and “traumatized,” according to her lawyer—declined an appearance at her high school’s concluding ceremonies last Thursday.

Hornstine, who plans to enter the Class of 2007 next fall, won her federal court case and thus was expected to make the valedictorian speech at graduation.

But amid rumors that classmates would boo or turn their backs on her if she attended the ceremony—as well as widely-publicized reports that she had plagiarized stories she wrote for her local newspaper—Hornstine decided not to come at all.

The Moorestown High School graduate had brought suit against her school system when she learned that she might have to share the title of valedictorian despite her best-in-class grades. The high school was considering naming multiple valedictorians because of complaints that Hornstine, who is disabled and took her classes from private tutors, received unfairly inflated grades.

Paul A. Kadri, the school’s superintendent who was one of three targets of Hornstine’s suit, said this week that he was disappointed the graduation did not meet perfect attendance.

“I always get very sad when people don’t go to their closing ceremonies, and I hoped 100 percent of students in Moorestown would come to their graduation,” Kari said.

In absence of their most famous graduate, proceedings went on without disruption despite the significant media presence, said salutatorian Kenneth Mirkin.

“The whole ceremony went more smoothly than I could have imagined,” he said. “With all the hype surrounding it, you almost expect there will be some distractions.”

Mirkin, who also plans to attend Harvard next fall, had entered into the legal fray with a brief in support of the side of the school system. Although the federal judge already issued her opinion in the matter of who should be valedictorian, the suit remains in litigation.

Hornstine could not be reached for comment. A family friend who has said he speaks for the family had no comment.

In the past, Hornstine’s defenders have emphasized the distress she has undergone since filing her suit.

She has received death threats, and her home has been vandalized on multiple occasions.

Two of the speeches delivered at last week’s Moorsetown ceremony were presented by incoming Harvard students.

David M. Toniatti said he discussed his elementary school love life. Mirkin said his speech was about nostalgia.

Both said they did not mention Hornstine or the lawsuit.

—ELIZABETH W. GREEN