AHS graduates for Class of 2026 walk stage together
A small sea of red-clad graduates filled the front rows of the University of North Texas Coliseum on Sunday evening, ready to receive their diplomas.
Aubrey's Class of 2026 and their loved ones were welcomed by Senior Class President Isabella Duncan, who opened the event with an invocation.
'Tonight, we thank you for every lesson learned, every friendship made and every person who helped guide us to this milestone,' she said. 'Thank you for being with us through the challenges, victories and memories that shaped us into who we are today.'
In the prayer, she also asked for her fellow graduates and her to be given 'the courage to chase our dreams, the strength to overcome obstacles and the kindness to make a difference wherever life takes us.'
Senior Class Vice President Makiah Radick followed her to the stage.
' Although this is the last time all 274 of us are in this room, this isn't the end,' she said. 'It's just the beginning of a new chapter.'
She touched on May being mental health awareness month, encouraging her fellow graduates to prioritize their own mental health.
'Lean on the people who care about you, support one another and remember that your mental health matters just as much as any success or achievement,' she said.
She led the graduates and crowd in the pledge and then acknowledged the veterans and future military members throughout the Super Pit, then introduced Aubrey High School Principal Dr. Vanessa Zavar.
'To the Class of 2026, your talent, character, hard work and efforts have made this year a delight and have left a positive impact upon your alma mater,' Zavar said before calling Salutatorian William Gunner Simon to the podium.
Simon spoke about the value of repetition to build their skills and capabilities that 'turned us into who we are today.'
'Some days it feels like you're improving, but others can feel like you're just getting worse,' he said. 'But eventually, those early mornings make the warm-up mile a little bit more manageable. And those long days lead to seeing Mr. Noyes smile every now and then.'
He also reminded his fellow graduates that while some might have their future fully planned, it's not a requirement.
'The important thing is that we have all finished this chapter of our lives, and that is worth celebrating,' Simon said. 'As George Gershwin once said, 'Life is a lot like jazz. It's best when you improvise.'' Simon then turned the podium over to the valedictorian, whom he called 'my good friend Cade Smith.'
Smith spoke of 'high school years of procrastination, caffeine and telling our teachers that we'll do the assignment at home when they knew that we wouldn't.'
He, like Simon, reminded his peers that it's OK if they do not yet have their entire lives mapped out.
'Even with our lives pushing forward into unknown grounds, our high school experience will never be forgotten,' Smith said. 'The teachers who worked extremely hard over the past four years to make learning fun and teach us new things that we would have never ever thought we needed. The parents who made so many sacrifi ces over years, even decades, so that they could see their precious children walk this very stage. The friends you are sitting next to who've pushed you forward when you couldn't push yourself.'
He then quoted 'Closing Time' by Semi-Sonic, saying, 'Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end,' before calling back Zavar, 'so we can finally get our diplomas.'
The graduates then filed onto the stage to shake hands with the school board trustees and Superintendent Dr. Shannon Saylor to obtain their diplomas.
Some took a moment to show their personality.
Others hugged the school board members and district employees who have made a big impact on their lives, including two children of school board members who received their diploma holders from their parents, Duncan and MaKenzie Temple.
Still others searched for their families in the crowd to show off their accomplishment and their love at once.
After the final graduates filtered through, Senior Class Secretary Carmela Castiglione offered the benediction.
'Though the journey was not easy for many of us, we made it here today, and that alone is something to be proud of,' she said in prayer. '... Every obstacle and victory shape the people we are becoming. Without you, none of this would be possible.'
She also asked for her classmates and her to be guided 'in moving forward with wisdom, integrity and compassion.'
'May we continue to grow, pursue each of our individual dreams with determination and use what we have learned to make a positive impact on not only ourselves but [also] others.'
The band played the school song as the graduates held up their hands and sang.
'As we prepare to turn our tassels, know this is a rite of passage closing one chapter and the start of your future endeavors,' Castiglione said.
A few red caps flew into the air after the tassels were turned from right to left, and the collection of red-clad graduates left the floor for the final time as a group.
