Class of 2003’s Jason Fraley can name any Oscar nominee or winning film of any year from the 1940’s to the present.

During the 2017 Distinguished Graduate assembly, Fraley received the Arts & Humanities award. Fraley works as an entertainment critic for WTOP.

Fraley has been a journalist at WTOP News since 2008 and a film critic since 2011. He keeps up with movies, theaters, and concerts. On Fridays, Fraley goes on TV on NBC4 and does previews for entertainment events around D.C. for the weekend.

“I love my job because I never feel like I am going to work a day in my life,” said Fraley.

After the ceremony, class visits, and luncheon, Fraley visited with Coach Conner, who was getting ready for state football competition.

Coach said, “Fraley was one of the more amazing student athletes I’ve ever coached. He was always 100% in and he never did anything without doing his best.”

Coach and Fraley reminisced about the 2003 run for the state title, which, ironically, started Fraley’s journalism journey.

During his speech, Fraley told a story from when he was a football player during his high school career. After losing the state game, a reporter from the Frederick News Post interviewed him, asked him about writing for The Lance, and offered him an internship at the Frederick News Post.

Fraley’s parents, Anita and Mike Fraley, said, “Growing up, Jason and his brother always made film spoofs. Their first film was a spoof on Home Alone called ‘Boy by Himself.'”

During his speech, Fraley reflected on the impact Linganore had on his pursuit of his career.

Fraley said the three most important things he learned from Linganore were “journalism, show business, and competition.”

Fraley gave three points of advice to incoming freshmen: “Put away your phone; push your comfort zone; and remember where you came from.”

Chris Rich, a 2006 Linganore graduate, is the 2017 Distinguished Graduate honoree in Public Service.

Rich was a four sport athlete while in high school, including football, basketball, track and field and tennis. His love for sports has helped to shape his career working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCA.

“I love sports, and, more than anything I love Jesus.  So, the opportunity to combine the two and share with others these two passions is a perfect fit for me!” said Rich.

After graduating from Grove City College in 2010, with a degree in Biblical and Religious studies and a minor in Communications, Rich went on to become the FCA area representative for Frederick County until 2011 when he became the area director.

Rich continued to move through the ranks with FCA. In 2014, he took on his current position as the first State Director for Pennsylvania. Rich is charged with the vision casting, fundraising and overseeing of the ministry in Pennsylvania.

Rich never imagine working with FCA. He dreamed of catching touchdown passes for the Dallas Cowboys or making baskets for the Washington Wizards.

“I always dreamed of being a professional athlete. I was a competitor with high aspirations.  I now get the opportunity to work with professional athletes and I love what I do. I wouldn’t trade it,” said Rich.

Laura Allnutt MacIvor, who is a Class of 1985 graduate, is the 2017 Distinguished Graduate Academic Honoree. She is a biology teacher and basketball coach at South Carroll High School in Carroll County, Maryland.  

MacIvor  was very involved in high school.  She played four years of field hockey, four years of basketball, three years of softball, and one year of track and field. Her family has always worked in schools, and being so involved in high school is what sparked her interest to teach that age group.

After her high school career, she graduated from Shippensburg University.  Her motivation to do well was always her parents.

MacIvor says, “I am probably most proud of getting my college degrees, none of my parents attended college so it was a big deal for me.”

College classes were not always easy, but she was persistent. She admits that chemistry was a challenge, but she stuck with it, re-taking the courses that were most difficult.

She continued to earn her Masters of Education at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland). MacIvor knew this school would provide many opportunities for her future.

“I learned that sometimes you have to work harder than you knew you could,” said MacIvor.

“This award was an unexpected surprise. It was really nice to get back to Linganore and see how everything had changed,” said MacIvor.

After the ceremony MacIvor visited a third period Earth/space science class and talked about events in her career that helped lead her to where she is now. 

“Ms. MacIvor shared some wise words of wisdom with us, which I will use during my years in high school, as well as when applying for my first job and beyond, “ said Ashley Walden, Class of 2021.

MacIvor’s advice to current students is to get involved and do something during high school.

“It makes the four years go by so fast and makes you want to be in school”, said MacIovor.

Family is the most important thing to MacIvor. She knows her husband, children, parents, and siblings will always be there for her.

Jeffrey (Jeff) Musselman graduated from Linganore in 1983, and is the 2017 Distinguished Graduate honoree in Business.

“I felt extremely surprised, honored, and blessed when I found out I was being recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. I was actually very nervous about coming back to Linganore after 34 years. Public speaking has never been my strong suit,” Musselman said.

He is the co-owner of his family business, Musselman Excavating Inc, an earth moving construction corporation located in Libertytown. They specialize in residential, commercial, and agricultural excavation, providing many services to Frederick, Montgomery, Howard, Carroll, and Washington County.

Musselman Excavating Inc. was founded by Earl Musselman, and he passed it down to his two sons, Jeff and Duane, who now co-own the company. “My parents have tremendously impacted our success. They started the company and built the foundation,” he said. “My brother, Duane, is also a huge part of the company’s success, and he is as deserving of this honor as I am.”

“My sister and I were not surprised at all when we found out that our father received the Distinguished Graduate Award. He works so hard and he deserves this more than anyone else,” said Jeff’s daughter, Jessica Musselman. Both of Musselman’s children graduated from LHS also, and his other daughter, Jennifer, is the Office Manager at Musselman Excavating Inc.

While at Linganore, Musselman participated in JV and Varsity football, JV and Varsity basketball, as well as Indoor & Outdoor track. He was also very involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The Musselman family has become a fixture at Linganore High School. There has been a Musselman at Linganore every decade since the 1960s. Musselman’s nephew, Ben, is currently a sophomore and plays running back on the varsity football team. His other nephew, Nathaniel, graduated in 2015 and currently plays football at Fairmont State University.

“When I’m not working, I really enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, hunting, and fishing, as well as riding motorcycles,” he said about his life today.

Musselman’s career history before co-owning his family’s company includes working at many excavating and construction companies based in Mt. Airy and Libertytown, where he took on the position of laborer, equipment operator, crew foreman, estimator, and project manager.

He also served as a Deacon, Trustee, Finance Committee Member, and Building Committee Consultant for three years at Bush Creek Church of the Brethren in Monrovia, as well as a Nonmember Volunteer at the Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department for fifteen years.

Musselman’s advice for graduating students is, “Try to be above average and excel in school. Put yourself forward and your academics first.”