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Never let those around you dictate who you are and what you want to be because your uniqueness makes you you. Before you leave here today, I have three pieces of advice to take with you onto your next chapter. First, lead your life with compassion for others because empathy goes a long way. In fact, a simple smile or kind gesture can mean more to someone than you may know. Second, enjoy the simple things because life is fragile. As my father always tells me, you only live once. Therefore, don't forget to take a step back and enjoy the beauty in everything. And finally, stay true to who you are because individuality will take you so far. Embrace your differences and don't let the fear of judgment of others because you are you and that's enough. Your teachers, family, and friends are all so proud of you and you should be as well.
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And now a a published author as well. Um >> [laughter] >> I think as as of yesterday is that is it yesterday officially? Yep. Yeah, last night we had the launch party. It was a blast. Congratulations. Congratulations. So gentlemen, just the format here since this is different than the way I usually do it. Um I'm going to start us off when we've got three guests. We're going to have a couple questions and then uh I blatantly stole something from Jonathan uh where we'll go into a lightning round type of experience. Um first thing that comes out of your out of your minds and and uh when I ask you some of these questions >> I know, isn't it? That's exactly what I said. So uh So let's launch away, gentlemen. And uh you know what? Whoever wants to jump in first, we'll we'll start there.
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To conclude my speech, I'd love to share a quote I found extremely touching from a former from a fellow classmate. It reads, "Don't let anybody ever tell you you're not going to do anything because you all are. You all are going to do something wonderful. Congratulations, graduates, and best of luck on your future endeavors. Thank you. >> [applause and cheering] >> Next, we'll hear from our valedictorian, Lily Arnold. Lily, please come to the stage to accept your award and give your valedictorian speech. >> [applause] >> Graduates, faculty, family, and friends, welcome and thank you for all being here with us today. My name is Lily Arnold, and I'm honored to be speaking as the class of 2026 valedictorian. I would like to open today with a quote from singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Everything you lose is a step you take. As we step into our new chapters, we are losing Columbia High School.
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Um but uh actually I'm going to I'm going to throw a curveball at you cuz I sent you a couple questions, but I'm going to I'm going to ask you a different one. Um What do you notice now in like when you're looking at a city council meeting >> [snorts] >> uh that you probably wouldn't have noticed 5 years ago now that you've had a chance to interview and talk to all these different public sector leaders? What are those little small things that you think other people might miss? Hm. Who Who wants to jump in there? I think for me I'll I'll jump in here guys. It's not a small thing necessarily, but I've learned how vital a city council and their ability to get along matters to the health of a city. Like it's funny my team knew nothing about municipal government before they started working with me.
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However, the relationships we have and the people we have become do not have to be lost. On the other side of that, if you are looking to reinvent yourself, you now have the opportunity to. We have been greatly shaped by our peers, families, teachers, and friends, but that does not have to define us. In a small town, it can be hard to break out of how people view you, but we all now all have the opportunity to become whoever we want to be. No matter what your next plans are, future institutions and employers are all lucky to receive this class and their talents. Athletes, many of them being state champions, singers, competitive scholars, musicians, many of them regionally or state recognized as well. Advocates, artists, actors, photographers, Blue Crew fans, and many other demographics make up who we are as a class and what our legacy will be at CHS.
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I knew nothing about it before we started doing this work. And it's really funny to me that like we're all looking at different places we might want to live and the first thing we're looking up is city council. We're like how do they get along? How do they cooperate? Cuz a council doesn't have to agree on everything, but they have to agree on how they're going to go about disagreeing. And that ability to just have civil conversations to set the tone for the city. You know, do they support the staff? Do they support the city manager? That kind of stuff is just vital because all it takes is one or two council members that don't believe in staff, that don't believe in city council, that don't believe in you know, decorum. It wrecks everything and all of a sudden you have a city that can't seem to get things done.
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However, we are more than just our past and who we are now. While all of those names define who we were, we can find new ones that will soon serve us better. Nurse, teacher, police officer, accountant, lineman, barber, parent, lawyer, soldier, and engineer will all be titles that we will proudly hold in the future. As we take our next steps into that future, I encourage you all to explore the impacts you want to make and take any opportunity you can to grow as a person and grow the good in the world. I would like to end with a Bible verse from Colossians chapter 3 verse 12. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, heartfelt and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Whether you are religious or not, I invite everyone to seek these fruits in their future endeavors as we grow in Talladega.
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And I've just learned how vital that is and that's like the first thing we're looking up now when we look at a new city to live in is how do they get along? Can they at least have a conversation? Do you see them joking before the city council meeting? It's always those signs like when we facilitate a retreat when I walk in the room and there's jokes happening all over the place and people taking selfies with each other. I'm like okay, this is a good team. When I walk in and it is dead silent, I'm like ah, we got work to do. And I think city councils are the same. If they're joking and talking to each other and smiling and laughing, I'm like okay, they there's some connection here. There's some relationship. And I think that relational piece man, it's everything. So it's I don't know if that's a small thing, but that is definitely something I am always conscious of now is how does the city council get along?
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Congratulations and thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> Our final speech will be given by our class of 2026 salutatorian, Jonah Velanoski. Jonah, will you please join me? Good afternoon. My name is Jonah Velanoski, and it's an honor to speak with you today. But before I get too far, on behalf of all my classmates, I'd like to thank everyone who has helped us get to this point in our journey. To our teachers, our staff, our friends, and our family, we appreciate all you have invested into our growth and success. I think it is fair to say that our lives would be less rich without you. But before I begin, let me tell you, I do not have the answers. I have no idea what our future is hold. I can merely observe and speculate as to what comes next. I searly do not have any of my own advice to give.
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Cuz it matters. Yeah, yeah. And when you say support, I was going to ask you, you know, what does that mean exactly in your words? You know, support. And if you're talking about that informality, you know, When I think about city council, are you talking about like supporting staff? Yeah, yeah, when you mentioned that. Yeah, so I think city council supporting staff is pretty vital because if they're part of the same organization, they they serve two different roles. And for me what support looks like is a city council that understands their role and their lane and they trust the staff to be in their role and their lane. And it's when I see city councils get down in the weeds, when they start questioning little decisions, when they get too deep into it, just it doesn't work because it's not designed to work that way.
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But what I can tell you are things that I've experienced first hand. Things that we have all done and been a part of that led us here today. Since I only have 3 minutes, I chose three to share. Number one, learn from your mistakes. We all make mistakes, but mistakes are followed with a simple opportunity. You can let them define you or use them as an opportunity to grow. Do you want to be defined by your lowest moments or your most triumphant ones. Persistence through the face of failure is the only road to success. So, make mistakes, then succeed. Two, be curious. If you don't understand something, learn about it. Question it. Some things in life don't make sense because we simply do not understand. Other things are just wrong. Your curiosity, your ability to question things is the only way to distinguish between the two.
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Their job is policy, their job is vision, where are we headed, what are we doing? The city's job is to then execute on that vision. And if you get into execution from a city council level, you're creating so much stress and that's what I don't think they understand. It's like every email, every text message, heart rates are instantly going through the roof, even if it's a oh hey, just checking on this thing. You're just sending a text. The staff is freaking out a little bit and so that that connection is often missed and so I think support looks like allowing them to do their jobs and trusting them and not not looking for things to be wrong, not trying to to prove the staff wrong and I've seen some situations where there was some genuine incompetence at the staff level that needed to be figured out.
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We are stepping into a challenged world, and our ability to change it for the better is knowing the difference between fearing the unknown and recognizing the unjust. This is our future and our world, and it will be what we make it. Three, you are not alone. As a community, we owe it to each other to be present for one another. Present without prejudice. Present without expectation. Present and affirming. Believe that. So, when we leave here, keep learning. Keep discovering your passions. Keep making mistakes and keep learning from them. Keep being curious. Keep questioning you know, and keep questioning what you don't. Keep knowing you are in community and keep sharing that community with others. There is a whole world out there waiting for us. Let's go and make it our own. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you all for your speeches. At the conclusion of each school year, the faculty and staff at Columbia High School nominate and select one graduating senior for the Outstanding Senior Award.
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It's insanely rare. Most city staffs are some of the most creative, competent, smart people you're ever going to meet. Let them do their jobs. I think that's what it looks like to me is is hands-off, we're going to set policy, long as y'all are meeting the metrics and doing thing, go, have fun and what can we do to help you do that better? I think that's what support looks like. Interesting. You know, especially noticing some of those smaller indications that that that's happening. Seth, Jonathan, what what about you? Do you do you see a similar or do you look for similar things in city council meetings or is it something different that you're that you're looking at now? Well, I I think our relationship is is very important and the first thing when you ask the question that that kind of came to me was uh what's the the the regime or faction?
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The student is selected based on their academic achievement, but more importantly by the content of their character, strong work ethic, and overall dedication to the total school program. This student epitomizes our core values and integrity, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, and kindness. This year's recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award, as selected by the faculty, is Elena St. Clair. >> [applause] >> And now, for the moment we've been waiting for, the presentation of diplomas to the class of 2026. So, please give us a moment to get set up. And if you see any white papers flying out, it's okay. The actual diploma's not in there. Don't worry about it. All right, Ms. Oberle, if you want to get them ready. >> Colton Wyatt Aguiar Harvey Malcolm Albert >> [cheering] >> Justice Scott Albers Landon Lockland Albright Maxwell Pierce Anderson Avery Claire Aranda Jaden Christopher Armendariz Lillian May Arnold >> [cheering] >> Anthony Joseph Orr Quinn, Lodge, Bayhan.
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Sometimes you have council members that were elected at a certain time, there was something going on and there was a push from the community to get something achieved, whereas there could be an an older guard that had a different view on that and seeing how that interplay happens. And then the the other thing, maybe the the inverse of that is when a council has a lot of longevity when they that continuity can be very important for for getting things done. So I love to to take a look at when and why the council were elected and how long they've been um been serving because you you start to to learn some things even just from from the the work I do in my day job. I've seen certain things. Well, their council elections are are coming up this November, so this housing deal is trying to get hurried up and and get through because there could be a new regime coming in.
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>> [cheering] >> Casey, Taylor, Barnard. Charles, Owen, Bass. Addison, Reese, Batson. Aiden, Nicholas, Bauer. >> [cheering] >> Kabor, Jordan, Bergman. Ava, Grace, Birkseker. Caleb, Evan, Blair. Ava, Marie, Blaskowitz. Andrew, Michael, >> [applause] >> Lila Jewel Diane Bridges. Connor John Bryla. Landon Alan Brown. >> [cheering] >> Evan Arthur Burns. Carley Grace Chambers. Kyle Raymond Chudd. Lincoln David Corbin. >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Ava Noel Crabtree. Maya Nicole Crabtree. Austin Daniel Crawford. Kennedy Lauren Crowder Katie Marie Colon We love you Katie. Mason Alexander Cunningham Ella Magdalene Daley Kennedy Lee Daniels Caroline Ruth Denny Max Richard Dreher Ashton D Dunlap Skyler Adeline Durban >> [screaming] >> Avery Lynn Ellner Aiden David Elridge >> Jackson, Hunter, Ferris, Matecki. Natalie, Rose, Lynn, Fiorelli. >> [cheering] >> Sydney, Pauline, Fitch. Cooper, James, Fox. Brody, Alan, Furlow. >> [applause] >> Charlotte, Lucille, Garcia. Carson, Jewel, Grissom. Ethan, Robert, Habermehl. Dalton, James, Harvell. >> [cheering] >> Audrey Grace Hawkins Jocelyn Lee Helfer Chase Lee Hendrickson Lauren May Hildebrand Emerson Ray Homan Landon Edward Holt Isabella Etter Horner Grace Kaylin Hunsucker >> [cheering] >> Alexander James Hurst Kate Lynn >> [cheering] >> Kinley, Graham, Janney Cambry, Rose, Johnson Lillian, Elizabeth, Johnson Austin, Joseph, Young Olivia, Grace, Kerr Cruz, Romanos, Corey >> [music] >> Maura, Elaine, Kohlenberger >> [screaming] >> Hunter, Richard, Corvus >> [screaming] [screaming] >> Brody, Jared, Longshore >> [cheering] >> Samuel, Thomas, Lowry >> [cheering] >> Rowan, Quinn, Lee, Lewis >> [cheering] >> Grace Ann Lubbers Lindsey Renee Maloney >> [screaming] >> Ava Diana Matthews >> [screaming] >> Cheyenne Alexis May Cole Robert Marr Molly May McClain Austin Quinn McLaren >> [screaming] [cheering] [applause] >> Madison Nicole McClain Maya Lynn McTurnan >> [cheering] >> Abby Lynn Mankey Owen Sean Mankey >> [cheering and applause] [screaming] >> Olivia Grace Mercer Jamison Russell Myers >> [screaming] >> Holden Dean Mollenkamp Darrell Joseph Morack Addison Ray Muir Micah Myers Genevieve Elizabeth Najecko >> [cheering] [applause] >> Elliot Robert Nelson >> [cheering] >> Gabriel Harris Nelson Jace McLain Nelson Sophia Ann Nelson >> [screaming] >> Mason Thomas Nabozny Hannah Marie Nowak Levi Kiral Nowak Alia Addison Nygard >> [screaming] >> Rain Tyler O'Daniel >> [cheering] >> Megan Sophia O'Leary Lilly May Prater Michael A.
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So I do think both that that tenure and the the I mean I can't think of a better word but regimes or schools of thoughts in certain council members really play how policy is is pushed and what is important and is pushed by their constituents. Yeah, that's a that's a good point. What about you, Seth? Well, I think Chad and Jonathan have have brought up things that are my mind goes to first and I think are super helpful and and serious for both sides, staff and council. Here's here's something that's I'm going to take us out of even right field, maybe over to the across the street to the hockey to the hockey right. >> Okay. This is this is odd. Bruins are good. Yeah, right. Exactly. W- when we I I interviewed Mike Winder who's the city manager in Mill Creek, Utah and we talked about his uh town hall and what they're doing with it.
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Ragsdale Cale Ethan Raines Isaac Thomas Raines Molina Rae Robertson Dylan Alexander Robinson >> [cheering] >> Kai G. Sanchez Booker Lee Schmidt Riley Renee Schrader Hope Rebecca Schwartz Eddie Smite Ethan Carl Smith Gabrielle Marie Smith Philo Vincent Spikinger Valerie Corrine Sparacino >> [cheering] >> Craig Joseph Spizzirri >> [screaming] >> Elena Marie Saint Clair >> [cheering] >> Gavin Robert Steel Cameron Samuel Steel Addison Kathleen Tarr Isabella Maxine Fair Gabriel Michael Tibo Heinrich Noor Tice >> [screaming] >> Jersey Nicole Thompson Keegan Michael Thompson >> [cheering] >> Jonah Thomas Wolnowski >> [applause and cheering] >> Mackenzie Ryan Voss >> [cheering] >> Sophia Irene Walters Kelsey May Ward. Natalie Margaret Webb. Cooper Joseph White. Sean Ryan Woodcock. >> [cheering] >> Grace Elizabeth Yerian. >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Way to go, Gracie! At this time, I present to you the Columbia High School graduating class of 2026. Thank you for joining us today.
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And it brought to mind something that I think uh it is someone outside of local government, we don't realize that the place of government is intimidating. And maybe I I see this because I live in Olympia, which is the capital city. And if you've ever been to a a capital building, it's intimidating. If you've ever been to Washington, D.C., it's intimidating. It makes the common person uh who goes there feel out of their league and already sets you in a position of fear and emotional kind of trepidation. And I think capital buildings are supposed to do that. Are town halls, I'm not sure. And I bring this up because Mike Winder in West uh in Millcreek, Utah, they built a new town hall that's basically the bottom floor is their their town farmers market. The top floor is basically like their meeting space for meetings that overlooks these grand mountains.
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