Families, friends, teachers and community members packed Trojan Arena in Kent County High School Friday, May 29 to celebrate the crowning achievement of the Class of 2026.
Principal Kris Hemstetter handed out out diplomas to the 120 seniors walking across the stage in their blue and gold caps and gowns, as they marked the end of one chapter of their lives and the beginning of the next.
"What a beautiful day to celebrate you, our graduates," Hemstetter said. "Today we gather in the Trojan Arena, surrounded by the people who have supported you, challenged you, encouraged you and loved you throughout your journey. They have watched you grow from nervous freshmen into confident young adults, ready to take on whatever comes next."
Hemstetter noted the many accomplishments of this year's graduating class, from state champions on the field to high academic achievement in the classroom — plus more than $3 million in college scholarships awarded.
She spoke about internships, Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment students earning college credits, Career and Technical Education students completing professional certifications, performing arts highlights, service learning hours and so many more accomplishments.
Each year, the high school creates a special send-off video for the graduating class. This year's video included fortunes of the future submitted by the adults who played significant roles in the students' lives. The fortunes offered reminders to dance to their own beat and to focus on making themselves proud.
"As one of your fortunes wisely reminded us: Don't plagiarize another person's journey," Hemstetter told the Class of 2026. "Your future belongs to you. Write your own story. Follow your own path and never be afraid to create something uniquely your own."
Christopher Gonzales Lopez, class secretary, and Kamari Hoxter, Minority Scholars president for the class, served as the ceremony’s hosts.
Lynden Saunders, class treasurer, performed the national anthem on the piano to help open the morning's ceremonies.
In her greeting, Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools, spoke about how life is an epic journey. She told the graduating seniors that they are the heroes of their own stories.
"The future does belong to you. And from this day forward, you will move from the safety and the love of our community into larger experiences of life as we have heard: the world of work, military service, college and travel," Dr. McComas said. "You have chosen your own adventure and it is about to begin."
in his message to his fellow seniors, Class of 2026 President Peter Sine used his time as a basketball player as a metaphor for life. He told his classmates that it is important to take shots, and to worry less about whether or not they might miss or even throw an airball.
"If there's one thing to take with you today, is to live by the mindset of, 'Why not? Quit hesitating and just go for it,'" Sine said. "Because now, it's not about the shots you have taken to get here. It's about the ones you are about to take next."
Valedictorian Alden Swanson spoke about how Kent County has the smallest school system in the state and the way that led members of the Class of 2026 to be inherently connected to one another. She told stories of the friendships she made along the way that she will carry with her for the rest of her life.
Swanson said many people talk about what's to come for the Class of 2026, and how the "important stuff" does not happen until they have become adults and are out in "the real world."
"But that misses the point — that we've won so much already. We're already people, with friendships to cherish and memories to share and stories to tell," she said. "I still don't know who I am. Not entirely, not yet. But as I walk off on stage today, I feel lucky and grateful to be a part of who we are."
Salutatorian Deliliah Markovic talked about how four years have passed since the seniors first walked into Trojan Arena as freshmen. She said there were moments that passed slowly, like taking the SATs, and others that went by so quickly that it seemed you could blink and miss them.
"But no matter how fast or slow the time has felt, four years have passed. These were full of education, effort, growth and achievement. We've had to learn that change is inevitable, whether positive or negative," she said. "And for this reason, no one who came here today is the same person they were four years ago. I hope you're proud of the person you've become."
This year's keynote address was given by Jill Bramble, a member of the Kent County High School Class of 1989 and president and CEO of the National 4-H Council.
"I remember walking these halls, laughing with my friends, sitting in these classrooms and sporting the blue and gold," Bramble said. "I've sure seen a lot of familiar faces today, which just underscores how much this community still feels like family to me. It feels like home, because it is."
In her message to the Class of 2026, Bramble spoke about how important adversity is to growing as a person, despite, as a parent, the inclination is to protect your children from it.
Her case in point comes from the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 project, billed as a "living laboratory" replicating different types of ecosystems.
Bramble said the Biosphere researchers found that trees in the facility were not growing to the full potential their species normally achieve. She said the scientists found one cause to be the lack of wind in the contained Biosphere facility.
"The scientists discovered that trees need the resistance, of wind, to develop deeper roots and harder wood," Bramble said. "Without resistance, the trees grew quickly, but not strongly. They became vulnerable because they never learned to adapt to the environment around them."
She quoted 4-H alum Dolly Parton, who said, "Storms make trees grow deeper roots."
Bramble said the most "difficult seasons" of her life — becoming a CEO, losing her mother, fighting cancer and training for a marathon — were actually periods of unexpected growth.
Bramble spoke about how the Class of 2026 has balanced academics, athletics, jobs, family responsibilities, leadership roles and challenges many people never fully see.
"And yet, you continue showing up for one another in this community. That looks like determination to me," Bramble said. "You looked adversity in the face and said, 'I think I'll keep going and growing.' And you did, and that's no small feat."
Following the speeches, Kent County Board of Education President Trish McGee certified the diplomas and the graduating seniors began to line up.
There were cheers as names were called out and Hemstetter congratulated each student. Some students crossed the dais with celebratory poses. Photos were taken and flower bouquets handed out as the ceremony continued.
There were also students who received their diplomas from a loved one who is part of the school system.
Lastly, Saunders was called back to the podium to cap off the school's 55th annual commencement exercises with a series of graduation traditions.
He led his classmates through the turning of their class rings and the tassels on their mortarboard caps.
And as Saunders congratulated everyone in the class on officially becoming Kent County High School alums, the seniors celebrated by throwing those caps high the air to the cheers of the crowd.
