001Anybody? There she is. Good morning. Is that for you? Can you find it? Oh, there you go. your mom with you. My mom's up there. Okay. Coming Thank you. I thought that I was Because where I sat right there, we were so close to hospital. Heat. Heat. Heat. Come on. Hey. Hey. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Thank you. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Here we go. Woo! Heat. Thank you everybody. Heat. Heat. Come on. Come on. You may now be seated. >> Good afternoon, teachers, parents, staff, and most importantly, the class of 2026. For those who don't know me, my name is Addison White, and it has truly been an honor to represent you all for the past three years. First and foremost, I want to start off by saying
002to my fellow graduates, we did it. We have spent roughly 720 hours of our lives here at Liberty High School. All leading up to this one moment where we receive the ultimate reward, a piece of paper and a nice sweaty handshake from the one and only Dr. Sawyer. I'm just kidding. Kind of. But really, high school gave us so much more. It gave us laughter, tears, and yes, a whole lot of questionable cafeteria food. But most importantly, it gave us each other. It gave us friends who became our safe space. the ones who made us laugh on our hardest days and turn ordinary moments into memories we'll carry with us forever. Looking back, we didn't always realize how meaningful those moments truly were. From being freshmen wandering through a maze of hallways, still not totally
003sure which buildings they and see, to somehow making those hallways feel like ours, we grew up here. Now we're stepping into unfamiliar places. We'll meet new people and discover new versions of ourselves. And that's exciting, but a little scary. None of us got here alone. Over the past four years, we've had people who showed up for us, who supported us, and who believed in us, even when we didn't always believe in ourselves. For me, that person has always been my mom. I've never actually watched Gilmore Girls, but I came across the line from a show that reminded me of her. the dazzling woman for whom I received my name in life's blood. My mom taught me that even when things don't always go as planned, we will find a way to grow and keep moving
004forward. Class of 2026, in the days ahead, things won't always go as planned, but keep moving forward and keep growing into who you're meant to be. When we leave here today, we'll all go our separate ways. But before we do, I want to leave you with this. In the words of Phoebe Brides, "Anyways, don't be a stranger. Be the friend who reaches out when life gets busy. Celebrate the wins and be there for the losses. Because even as we move forward, what we will take with us are the people and the memories we made here." Class of 2026, this isn't the end, it's just the beginning. Go out and be brave. Be kind. And Asher Woody always says, "You've got a friend in me." Thank you for the best four years. Congratulations and I love
005you all. As my papa would say, see you later alligators. And lastly, you guys know I love taking pictures. So, everyone look up here for one last senior class photo. Ready? One, two, three. Thank you. Serving our country as a first responder or member of the military is among the most honorable decisions a citizen can make. At this time, we invite graduates who are planning to become a first responder or member of the armed forces, as well as those who have served or are actively serving to please stand and be recognized. As you are able, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Now we
006will have the playing of our national anthem by the Liberty High School band. Heat. Thank you. You may be seated. The Liberty High School class of 2026 has distinguishes distinguished itself with many honors and it is now my pleasure to recognize graduates who have earned an honor chord or stole. Graduates, as your chord is called, please stand and remain standing. Audience, please hold your applause until all chords have been announced. Gold cords are awarded to high honors graduates with a GPA of 4.0 and above. Please rise. Silver cords are awarded to honors graduates with a GPA of 3.75 to 3.99. Please rise. White stoalls are awarded to members of the National Honor Society. Please rise. The turquoise cord is awarded to graduates of the Governor's School. Please rise. Blue and white cords are awarded to
007graduates of the Early College Program. Please rise. Black, red, and green cords are awarded to graduates of the Rowan Oak Valley Governor School. Please rise. The orange cord is awarded to students who have completed a sequence of career and technical education courses. Please rise. Purple and gold cords are awarded to students who have completed a sequence of courses at Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center. Please rise. Blue and gold cords are awarded to members of the International Thesbian Society. Please rise. A medallion signifies the International Thesbian Society. Please rise. The multicolored cord is awarded to members of the National Art Honors Society. Please rise. You may be seated. It is an honor to be joined by members of the Bedford County School Board and Bedford County Schools Administration. At this time, I invite the
008members of the school board and schools administration office to stand and be recognized. Finally, please join me in honoring the administration of Liberty High School. Thank you all for being here to celebrate with us today. Now, please join me in welcoming our principal, Dr. Ernie Sawyer. Good afternoon, parents, families, faculty, staff, honored guests, and most importantly, the Liberty High School class of 2026. Today, we gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone. Graduation is always a moment of pride, reflection, anticipation. But this class makes today especially meaningful. You're not just graduating. You're closing a chapter defined by resilience, adaptability, and determination. If I had to describe the class of 2026 in three words, they would be these: adjust, persevere, and overcome. From the very very beginning of your secondary school journey, change was the only constant. From
0096th through 9th grades, you experienced a school change every single year. New buildings, new hallways, new teachers, new expectations. For many students, that level of transition would be unsettling. But for you, it became formative. Instead of resisting change, you adjusted. You learned how to walk into familiar spaces and make them your own. You built relationships again and again. You learned that comfort zones are temporary, but character is lasting. When adjustment alone was not enough, you persevered. You showed up. You stayed committed. You kept pushing forward even when things were difficult, uncertain, or didn't go as planned. Perseverance is not about avoiding adversity. It's about continuing despite it. This class embodied that truth. And because you adjusted and persevered, you overcame. You overcame history. You helped break a 37game losing streak for Liberty football. Proving that
010progress is built on one step, one play, and one belief at a time. You claimed a region championship in girls basketball. demonstrating excellence, teamwork, and determination at the highest level. You earned a state runner-up finish in Scholastic Bowl, showcasing not only intelligence, but preparation, discipline, and confidence on a statewide stage. Beyond athletics and academics, you earned scholarships, college acceptances, job offers, accomplishments that make every member of the Liberty High School staff incredibly proud. These accomplishments are impressive, but what matters even more is how you achieved them. You achieved them together. You lifted one another. You believed in yourselves and in your school when it mattered most. Class of 2026, you're leaving behind more tro more than trophies, banners, and records. You're leaving a legacy. A legacy of resilience. A legacy of belief. A legacy that
011reminds future Liberty students that circumstances do not define outcomes. Character does. As you leave Liberty High School and step into the next chapter of your lives, whether that leads you to college, the workforce, the military, or another path, you will face new challenges and new changes. When you do, remember what you have already proven. You know how to adjust. You know how to persevere. And you know how to overcome. That is the Minutemen way to rise, to lead, and to succeed regardless of the circumstances. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration of Liberty High School, thank you for the mark that you've left on this community. We're proud of who you are, proud of what you have accomplished, and confident in who you are becoming. Congratulations, class of 2026. Go Minutemen. This year's commencement
012theme stems from the following quote written by Meister Echart. And suddenly you know it's time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings. It is an honor to introduce the speakers for Liberty High School's class of 2026. sharing reflections on the moment and suddenly you know Grayson Elizabeth Andrews reminding us to cherish the significance of the moments we are living right now. Landon James Pard encouraging us to embrace the courage it takes to begin again. Grace Elizabeth Stevens and speaking on the beauty and magic found in new beginnings. Victoria Paige Kohl's Good afternoon. My name is Grayson Andrews and I'm delighted to be given the chance to speak today. And suddenly, you know, it's strange how something can feel endless while you're living it, only to realize later how quickly it disappeared.
013For years, high school felt permanent. We thought there would be another football game, another spirit week, another Monday morning we didn't want to wake up for. We assumed there would always be more time, more lunches with friends, more or more more ordinary moments we barely noticed because we thought they would keep repeating forever. But somewhere along the way, those moments became our last. And most of us didn't realize it at the time. There was the last first day of school, the last bus ride home, the last time sitting in a classroom waiting for the bell to ring, the last pep rally, last dance, last game, last walk through these halls as students instead of visitors. The strange thing about lasts is that they rarely announce themselves. They happen quietly, hidden inside normal days we don't
014think twice about. Then suddenly one day we look back and realize the moment has already passed. And suddenly you know you know that the people around you helped shape who you became. You know that the memories you built here, even the small ones, mattered more than you expected. Because high school was never just about grades, schedules, or assignments. It was about the moments in between. The conversations before class started. The inside jokes that somehow lasted four years. The teachers who believed in us when we didn't believe in ourselves. The friendships that made hard days easier and good days unforgettable. Some of us found lifelong friends here. Some of us found confidence. Some of us found our voice. And some of us were simply trying to find where we belonged. But no matter what our high
015school experience looked like, we all shared this place, this time, and these memories together. And now for the first time, we're facing one final last as a class. This is the last time all of us will be together in one room like this. Not divided by friend groups, sports, activities, or schedules, but united as the class of 2026. That realization feels impossible and overwhelming at the same time. Because for so long, graduation felt far away. It was something we talked about, counted down to, dreamed about. But now that it's here, I think many of us wish we could pause for just a little longer. Not because we're afraid of the future, but because we finally understand the value of what we had. The laughter in the hallways, the familiar faces, the routines we once complained
016about. The moments that seemed ordinary but became memories before we even noticed. And maybe that's what growing up really is. Learning that the little moments are the big moments. As we leave this chapter behind, those memories will come with us. They'll follow us into new cities, new schools, new careers, and completely different lives. Years from now, we may not remember every assignment or every test, but we will remember how this time has felt. So today is not only an ending, it's also proof that we were here together during a chapter of life we will never experience again. And suddenly, we know just how much it meant. Good afternoon everyone. My name is Landon Pard and I am so excited to speak for our graduation. It's time today. Those two words carry a heavier weight than
017we ever imagined. For years, we have been waiting for this time to come. For years, we have been counting down the semester, then the quarters, the weeks, the days, the hours. But now the countdown has hit zero and the air feels a little bit bittersweet. We've repeated the words it's time to ourselves countless times in our high school careers. Waiting for the clock to hit 3:45, waiting for a practice to end or waiting for summer break. But now more than ever, it truly is time. Being here today is by no means a stroke of luck. It is a result of the hard work that we have put in every year. Behind our caps and gowns are hours of studying, late nights, earlier mornings, and a mutual persistence to make it through high school. We didn't
018just sit in class to learn formulas or historical dates. We learned how to navigate challenges, how to work together, how to succeed, and how to fail, and how to stand back up. Everything we've done up to this point is just the prologue for the chapters that are yet to come. If high school is the first chapter, then graduation is the little page break before the next one. 12 years, 12 pages, all ending with a tiny period at the end of our senior year. From now on, there's before graduation and there's after graduation. Before we had the routine 8:45 to 3:45 that we got so used to. On the other hand, is the unwritten script, one that we get to write ourselves. Crossing this stage today signifies leaving the familiar behind. The hallways, the faces, and
019the comfort of knowing exactly where we belong. It's a bittersweet separation, but it's a necessary one. This moment represents our first step into being independent. We aren't going to have a syllabus handed to us. We get to write it ourselves. We become the authors of our schedules, our decisions, our mistakes, and our remedies. It's intimidating, but it's also the most freedom that we've ever had in our lives. For once, we don't have to be the passengers. We are the ones driving the car. I encourage each and every one of you to look around. For years, you've been surrounded by these people, but chances are that's coming to an end. Take this moment in time to just take everything in. See the pride in your peers faces. Feel the energy in the room. Hear the people
020cheering as we turn our tassels in a moment. Sure, we've been counting down the days to get here, but now that we've finally arrived, take some time to live in the moment. Set aside the stress and just be here in the room with the people who have supported you since day one. These seconds are fleeting. And while we're eager to move on to the next chapter, there's something profound about just being here in the space between who we were and who we are yet to become. Finally, it's time to celebrate the accomplishments of today. You have earned the right to be here right now. We've survived the exams, the stress, and the uncertainty to be able to stand here right now. So, as we prepare to move forward, let's do so with a spring in
021our step. So, it's time to start preparing and start doing. It's time to take everything that we have learned and see what the rest of the world has to offer. Congratulations, class of 2026. It is our time. Hello everyone. My name is Grace Stevens and it's an honor to have been chosen to stand here with you all this afternoon. It took many stressful, memorable, and often exhausting days to get to this one moment. Today is the day our lives finally begin to diverge. For four years, we've been on our own separate paths, intertwining many times, yet in some cases never crossing once. We all share a massive sigh of relief today. But the truth is, our path started pulling in different directions long before the ceremony. We felt that shift the moment some of us
022headed off to CBCC, to Susie Gibson, or to Governor's School. For years, we've already been practicing the art of starting something new. We've learned how to find our footing in different buildings and different communities, all while still calling Liberty home. But as we sit here today, the scale of that something new feels different. For some of you, it looks like a university across the country. For others, it's the military or going straight into the workforce. Somewhere in this room, there is a future doctor, a lawmaker, or maybe even a future teacher who will walk these same halls at Liberty High School. But I also want to speak to those of us who don't have a four-year plan or a dream job waiting on the other side of that door. If you don't know exactly what
023your something new looks like yet, I want you to know that it's okay. In fact, it's more than okay. Don't feel like you're falling behind. The reality is that many of us are just winging it. And that's actually the exciting part. Being undecided isn't a failure. It's an openness to possibility. We are choosing more than our careers today. We're choosing who we want to be. We also have to acknowledge the people who helped us get to where we are today. The teachers and the staff members who helped push us to our full potential even when we didn't think we could. The parents and the family members who were there for us during our late night breakdowns or struggles with homework. The truth is our futures are built on the support of those sitting in the
024audience today. Without your guidance and your patience, the paths we are taking would likely be much narrower and far more uncertain. Without them, we might not have had the confidence to even think about something new. Life after graduation won't always be easy. There will be times when we feel lost, when doubt says we aren't enough, and when life feels heavier than anything we've ever carried. But look at what we've already conquered. We've survived the splits and the shifts of the last four years. One of the most important things we've learned the last four years is this. We aren't defined by the weight we carry, but by the courage we have to keep starting over. Class of 2026, I can't wait to see where our unique paths take us. Trust yourselves and finding your own new
025beginning. Thank you. Hello, class of 2026. My name is Victoria Kohl's, and I am so grateful to stand before you on a day we've dreamt about for such a long time. When we were kids, we believed magic was all around. Our imaginations ran wild. The days felt endless. And anything seemed possible. Graduation was something that existed in the faroff future. Something that happened to other people, but not us yet. I want to be honest with you for a second. Today, we embark on our next adventures. And as exciting as that is, there's also something terrifying about it. For the first time in our lives, no one is handing us a schedule. No one is telling us which hall to walk down or which seat to sit in. The structure we've known since we were 5
026years old ends today. You're captaining your own ship now. And that feeling, the mix of excitement and fear and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. That feeling is the magic of a beginning. For some of us, our next step is college. For others, it's trade school, the military, or straight into the workforce. And some of us honestly aren't totally sure yet. Actually, I don't think any of us have it totally figured out yet. And that's okay. We're standing at the edge of something we haven't started yet. You don't have to know what's next, but know that something good will come. The magic isn't in having the answer right now, but instead knowing that you are capable of figuring it out. We've spent so much energy trying to figure everything out before we begin.
027What school, what career, what city, what versions of ourselves we're supposed to become. But here's what I've learned. The magic only works before you have all the answers. The moment you map everything out, it becomes a plan rather than a beginning. And life, as we've already seen, doesn't always follow the plan. What life does give you, if you pay attention, are moments. The small conversations that turn strangers into family, the weekly late night study sessions, the learning curves when your tire goes flat in a parking lot, the Friday nights that you'll somehow remember forever, and the failures that redirect you somewhere better than where you were headed. Those are where the magic truly lives. So, class of 2026, this is the last time we will all be in the same room. These are the people
028who live this chapter with you. The people who sat beside you in class, the people who parked in the spot next to you, and the people you passed every day in the hallways. And now, together, we're stepping into our next chapter. So, in a little bit, when you walk across the stage and into whatever comes next, take chances. Trust yourself. When things feel uncertain, when the new feels overwhelming, and when you're standing on the edge of something unknown, don't wait until you're ready. The truth is, being ready is a myth. Begin anyway and believe the magic of what comes next. Congratulations, class of 2026. We are just getting started. I love you all. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and administration of Liberty High School, it is our privilege to
029present the class of 2026 candidates for gradu graduation. Sebastian Michael Knox Abraham, >> Janiah Dana Austin, Skyler Ryan Amos, Nika Shaquay Anderson Thompson, High honors graduate Grayson Elizabeth Andrews. Honors graduate Jonathan Scott Arrington Jr. Sarah Elizabeth Arrington, Christian Matthew Anie, Robert Kedrick Baker, Joseph William Bland, Nicole Nvea Blickenship Stuts >> Austin Wayne Bour Noah Allen Boynot Jeremiah James Bondant, >> Autumn Patience Brockman, Shaniah Desane Brown, Devin Nathaniel Bryant, >> Mason Thomas Bernett, >> Melanie Marie Burton, Addison von Carman, >> Jackson Scott Carter, >> Brooklyn Meadow Childris, James Ethan Clark, Honors graduate Jaden Leah Coleman Gross. High honors graduate Victoria Paige Kohl's Dominic Austin Collings >> Autumn K. Cooper >> Taylor Jaliss Cooper Honors graduate Aiden Christopher Katrrol. High honors graduate William Christopher Coughlin. High honors graduate Jade Mills Cesy Augustus McCrae Croft Aaliyah Len Cunningham
030James Braden Darnell, >> Mason Dean Davidson, >> Noah Andrew Deus, Stacy Lee Delp, Chica Alejandra Diaz, >> Ava Lani Douly, Damen Noah Douly, Landon Carrie Douly, Gwendalyn Marie Dumbar, >> Jonathan David Evans. Gia Riley Fedoric, >> Carmelo, Shawn Figareroa, Katie Rose, Marie Forester Lloyd Nelson Fau Jr. Bryson Paul Joseph Gardner Marie Gave Bryce Edward Goff Olivia Jana Golf, >> Trevor Alexander Goff, >> Spencer Douglas Grant, >> Julian Cecil Gray, Jaden David Greer, >> high honors graduate. Claire Suzanne Greno, >> Tristan Michael Hammond, >> Brooke Leanne Harrison, Gerilyn Paris Hartburgger, Nathaniel Thomas Hec, >> high honors graduate. Tyler Matthew Hill, >> Kayen Nicholas Pullman, Alexi Dorton, >> Jacob Lewis Huffman, >> Accasacia Lenai Hurt, Ryan Davon John Jackson Dakota Allen Gerald Elisha Reed Geralds Dallas Mariah K. Johnson, high honors graduate. Jacob Arthur Johnson, Aviana Ala
031Jones, Reagan Lynn Jones, >> Tiara Gil Jones, >> high honors graduate, London Parker Link. Gabriel Lucas Lincoln Hooker, honors graduate. Morgan Reese Laddermilk, Uriah Dion Lions, Kaylee Marie Manley, >> Colton William Manning, >> Joshua Allen Markham Jr. Nathaniel Trent Mason, >> Hannah Marie Matheni, >> Justin Carl Mardo, Lillian and Grace McCricer, Leighton Ryder, McDonald, >> Emma Paige Meet, >> Kayn Faith Meadow, Milani Noel Marcato, >> Samuel Thomas Merritt, Jordan Bradley Miller, Caitlyn Marie Miller, Matthew Samuel Miller Jr. Landon Eric Moore, >> Brady Matthew Murphy, >> Owen Harlon River Nichols Kale Ellis Null, >> honors graduate. Dana Rose Northrup, Caleb Moses Oldham, >> Abigail Dawn Over Street, Miles Austin Overreet, Samuel Thomas Overreet, >> Sebastian Alexander Palasios, Honors graduate Emma Grace Parker. >> Tragan Brody Parker. Gabriella Elise Pawa, high honors graduate. Kaden Maddox Perry, Payton
032Nathaniel Peters, Samson Iris Penins High honors graduate Landon James Pard Raul Porus honors grad. graduate Jack William Powers. High honors graduate Keer Lane Putney, Autumn Grace Renfro, >> Carter Andrew Robertson, Leila Deay Robertson, >> Noah William Rodney, Hayden Grant Severs, Liam Nicholas Shut honors graduate. Tiffany Autumn Skilton, Maya Renee Smith, >> Payton Elizabeth Smith, >> Owen Porter Stanley, Gary Jana Staples. >> High honors graduate Grace Elizabeth Stevens, >> Samuel Truman Stoddard, Ka Renee Marie Tanner, >> Tanaya Sierra Tanner, >> high honors graduate, Kanan James Thompson, Riddick James Ty, >> high honors graduate, Barity Shay Tomkins, Kase Thomas Toms, >> Jodie Madison, Tribillion, >> Kaden Alves, Trigg, >> honors graduate, Megan Michelle Walker, Honors graduate Jacob Wesley Warner, Addison Lynn White, honors graduate David Ray Wilkinson, Randall Monroe Williams, Logan Allen William Will Willis, >> Levi
033Thomas Wilson, Taylor Glenn Wingo, >> Lillian Faith Wit, >> Aaron Chase Wood, John Matthew Wood, >> Benjamin Isaiah Yates, >> Timothy Warren Yates, Jordan Isaiah Yeder, >> Dustin Michael Y, Elijah, Allan, Hans, Zobel, Yeah. Before I do the most important part, I'd like to thank y'all for those ducks down there. >> Will the Liberty High School class of 2026 please rise? By the power vested in me by the Virginia Department of Education and the Bedford County School Board, I now pronounce you graduates of Liberty High School. Minute man, you may now turn your tassels. As the band performs, the Liberty High School alma mater and our faculty begins coming forward. Please join me in congratulating the newest alumni of Liberty High School. This comes out. Heat.