001Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Good afternoon. Would you please rise and join me for the presentation of colors, the Star Spangled Banner, and the singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing. Daddy. Byebye. Oh, say can you see by the dawn Early light. What so proud we held at the twilight last gleaming who brought stripes and bright stars through the perilous. For the ramparts we watched were so gallently streaming. And the rockets regular, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave for the land of the free. and the home of the brave. Sing till earth and heaven ring ring with the harmonies of liberty. Let our rejoiceing rise high as the skies. Let it resound
002loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing the song full of the hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun of a new day beun. Let us march on till victory is won. Let us march on till victory is won. 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 Liberty and justice for all. Forward. Thank you. Excuse me. You may be seated. goodness. I am Kenya Massenberg and I serve as the principal of Richmond Community High School. It is with great pleasure that we begin this afternoon with the presentation of our stage participants. I ask that you hold your applause until each section has
003been introduced. Each stage participant is asked to stand as his or her name is called and to remain standing until the entire section has been introduced. And now it is my honor to welcome our superintendent Jason Cameras. He joins us to introduce the school board and division leadership whose advocacy and dedication has ensured our graduates have every resource needed to succeed in their next chapter. Good afternoon everyone. >> I know my hair looks ridiculous. I want to explain. I have been dying it in honor of every school that has a 100% graduation rate and Richmond Community is one of those schools. Congratulations. That's the blue, but we have Franklin this afternoon, which is the red. So bear with me. I am thrilled to introduce our honored guests today, beginning with the chair of the school
004board representing the ninth district, Mrs. Sio Fernandez. representing the second district, Miss Katie Ricard. We also have members of the leadership team here this afternoon. Dr. Leslie Wiggins, chief academic officer, Dr. Danielle Green Bell, chief engagement officer, and Mr. Herrell, chief operating officer. I now have the privilege to introduce the Richmond community stage participants. Miss Bernita Williams, school counselor for Richmond community. Reese K. Class of 2026 valadictorian Nathaniel Templeton, class of 2026 saludiatoran. Miss Heather Cone, English teacher, department chair, and sponsor for the senior class. Jasmine Lewis, our Maggie L. Walker recipient Leila Taylor. Our Scholastic standout, Sierra Potinope, senior class representative. Kimberly Bug, senior class representative. Again, please join me in recognizing these distinguished guests. Thank you. And you may be seated. We also have special guests in the audience that I would like
005to recognize at this time. I ask that the members of the Richmond Community Executive Board of PTSA, members of the advisory board, and all Richmond community alumni please stand to be recognized. Thank you. You may now be seated. All members of the Richmond Community High School faculty and staff, please stand so that we can show our appreciation to you for your hard work and dedication to our scholars. Thank you. It is my distinct privilege to introduce the class of 2026. The journey to this stage required true grit and today their hard work officially pays off. These graduates have shown us the true meaning of dedication and resilience. They have proven that excellence isn't just an act. It is their standard. Collectively, this senior class has earned over $7 million in scholarships and grants. Thank you.
006At this time, we will have greetings from our honorable Shiovanda Fernandez, 9inth district representative to the school board and chair, followed by a message from Dr. Danny Avula, mayor of Richmond. Good morning, everyone. Well, afternoon rather. Good afternoon. I'm joined by my colleague, Miss uh Ricard, and we are so honored to be here today to celebrate you. On behalf of the full board, it's my honor to celebrate the graduating class of 2026 for Richmond Community High School. One of my favorite quotes comes from Pablo Picasso that says, "Everything you can imagine is real." Graduates, today is a reminder of just how powerful imagination, vision, and belief can be. At one point, this moment was only an idea, a dream, a goal you hope to reach. And now, because of your determination and sacrifice, that dream
007has become reality. As you leave community high school, I want you to keep imagining. Imagine bigger possibilities for your life. Imagine yourselves leading, creating, building, and changing the world around you. Imagine yourself succeeding in rooms you never thought you could enter. Too often, people allow fear, doubt, or circumstance to limit what they believe is possible. But the truth is, many of the greatest accompl accomplishments in history began with someone who dared to imagine more. Every business started as an idea. Every movement started as a vision. Every success story started with someone believing their future could be greater than their present. And now it's your turn. Wherever life takes you, never stop dreaming beyond what you can currently see. Please do not shrink your shrink your goals to fit others people's expectations. Do not let setbacks
008convince you to give up on your purpose. And do not be afraid to imagine a future that is bigger, brighter, and bolder than where you are and where you started. To the families, teachers, administrators, superintendent, and loved ones, thank you for encouraging and supporting these graduates along the way. Your guidance helped turn possibility into achievements. Please give yourselves a round of applause. Graduates, today we celebrate not only what you have accomplished, but the incredible potential that still lies ahead of you. Keep imagining, keep believing, keep striving because the future belongs to those bold enough to dream of it first. Congratulations, class of 2026. We are proud of you and excited to see your dreams become a reality. Thank you. Hey, Richmond Public Schools class of 2026. It's your mayor, Danny. I'm not just your mayor,
009but I'm also a proud Richmond public schools dad. And I am so excited and honored to be celebrating you today, RPS graduates. You did it. Graduation is a huge milestone and I want you to know how proud I am, not just as your mayor, but as someone who believes deeply in the power of our young people. You've shown strength and determination and a whole lot of heart to get here. Through every challenge, every late night, every test, every new experience, you kept going and today you're walking across that stage as a graduate. That is no small thing. That is amazing work. Some of you have overcome big challenges, family struggles, health issues, school pressures, or just figuring out who you are and what's next. And yet, here you are. You didn't give up. You kept
010moving forward. And we see you. To the families, the teachers, the school staff, and everyone who supported you, thank you. It truly takes a village, and you have been that village for these incredible young people. Class of 2026, your future is bright. Richmond needs your energy, your creativity, your passion, and your voice. And whether you're headed to college, a career, the military, or something uniquely your own, I hope that you carry with you pride in who you are and where you come from. You are a part of the story of this city, and I believe in you with my whole heart. Congratulations, graduates. Go out and shine. Richmond is cheering you on. I would like for Sierra Parton to join me in giving a special recognition to the top 10 of the class. I would
011like to give a special shout out to my fellow pharaohs that represent the top 10 of our class. Please stand when your name is called and remain standing. Number 10, Kimberly Bug. Number nine, Cred Carile Garcia. Number eight, Jonah Daniel. Tied for number six, we have myself, Sierra Parts, and Zarya Cornelius. >> Number five, Janiah Dottton Carter. >> Number four, Leila Taylor. Number three, Jasmine Lewis. Number two, our saludiatoran Nathaniel Templeton. And number one, our validictorian Reese K. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. And you may now be seated. >> Hello everyone. How are you doing today? >> That's good to hear. Well, as I was writing this, I was thinking, what should I talk about today? Should I talk about our freshman trip and how the people at Shad came back smelling better than the
012people at Milbour even though they didn't shower or how absolutely nothing went wrong on our trip to Atlanta. But I quickly realized I wanted to talk about how great our class is. We worked so hard to get here to this place today. And even though our class may be small, we are mighty. We have gone through many things and persevered in many ways. Facing opposition in many forms, we have finally made it here today. And I want to congratulate the Richmond community class of 2026. And as you guys move on in life, you may not know where you're going. Remember that you will make it. If you have made it here today, how much more can you do? You see, it doesn't matter how you start a race, but how you finish it. Anybody can
013start a race. Start it fast. But what matters is that you finish strong. And as we finish this race, will you be ready for the next one? ready to step up for the challenge, to prove yourself, to show that you can do it and that you're ready. Because no one wants someone who's not ready to step up, someone who's unprepared, but someone who's ready to move forward, to take that risk and see the reward. So, who will you define yourself as as you walk this stage and as your whole life sits ahead of you? When I look at this class, I don't see losers. I see winners. People who are ready to push through, win the race. People who persevere even through everything they've gone through. People who keep their eyes on the prize even
014with all the chaos around them. And as you get your diploma today, remember it's not the paper that matters, but the 13 years of work, some of which you probably forgot that you've put be that you've gone through to get this degree. But now we finally made it and we are ready to show people what we are made of. And I know that everyone here will go on to do great things. And that even though you're going to make a ton of mistakes, you will fall. Just remember that there will always be someone there to pick you up. Remember that you are loved. You are chosen. There are so many people here who will give their all just to see you succeed. And that each time you feel like you can't make it, remember that
015there are more people for you than there are against you. And as you walk this new path, don't forget to keep your eyes on the one. Thank you. >> Validictorian Reese K. Good afternoon, family, teachers, staff, and most importantly, the class of 2026. My name is Reese Kay, and I am honored to speak before you all as valadictorian. As my classmates are well aware, I am a huge crybaby. So, I will try to get through this speech without shedding a tear, but I can give no promises. As I look out onto this room and I see all of these wonderful faces looking back at me, I can't help but be filled with hope for our future. I see so many future medical professionals, teachers, reporters, criminologists, engineers, and artists. When you all start generating large
016revenue, I hope you remember it out of the kindness of my heart. I gave you guys discounts on cakes and cookies. Whether you are going straight to college or trade school, jumping into your career, or taking a year to figure things out, I know that you will be successful because I have seen all of you accomplish so much, no matter the difficulty. When I look back on who I was when I first got to community, it is crazy to think how different I am now and how much I've changed. Over the years, I have made so many memories and learned so many lessons. Not just from my teachers, but also from my classmates. They have taught me and each other how to find happiness in hard times, the importance of our opinions on the world
017around us, how to rise above the challenges we face, and how not to use kitchen equipment. Circa 2024. What I mean by that is I hope none of you all blow up your rooms via microwave. I am so privileged to have spent the last four years with you all. I could not have asked for a better group of people to grown with to grow with. I want you to know that I am proud of every single one of you and I can't wait to see what you will do in the future. I would like to thank all of the teachers, family, and staff who have given us the opportunities and have pushed us to where we are today. All of you believed in us and stuck by us through the worst and I mean the
018worst. I would like to give a special thanks to my mom, dad, and brother who have stuck with me through all the phases of my life, even the ones that were not as pleasant as the others. Miss Humphre, who has kept me fed mentally and physically all of these years. And Miss Williams, who has always helped me in any way that she can, answered all of my questions and truly pushed me to into the person I'm becoming today. If it wasn't for her, I would still be standing in her office worrying about how to pay for my housing. If it wasn't for all of these wonderful people in our lives, the class of 2026 would not be the successful people that we are today. Finally, I would like to end off with a quote from
019my favorite song, Pretty Little Birds, written by Salana Ammani Row. You were but a phoenix among feathers. You're broken by the waves among the sea. And they'll let you die, they'll let you wash away, but you swim as well as you fly. You don't know how hard it was not to sing that. I wanted to end with this to remind you that no matter what hardships you face in your life, no matter how many oceans that seem too deep to cross or mountains that seem too tall to climb, you all know how to swim and fly. Because over these four years, I have seen every single one of you soar. Thank you for one final opportunity to grace the stage and to speak in front of you. Say it with me for the last time.
020We are stronger >> together. Class of 2026, my final message to you is this. You are now just moments away from holding your advanced studies diploma. Today is not just closing of a chapter. It is the beginning of a future that only you can write. You have absorbed tough lessons, created unforgettable memories, and unlocked a strength within yourself that would carry you forward. I charge you to find your voice and always show up with purpose. Dream big, embrace the risk, and meet every challenge with open arms. But above all else, stay true to yourselves and your core values. Never forget that your resume will never matter as much as your character. Let your kindness navigate your path, your courage be your shield, and let your grit be the engine that drives you forward when the
021world demands more from you. It has truly been an honor to serve as your principal. I wish you all the best. Congratulations, class of 2026. At this time, I would like to invite Superintendent Jason Cameras, members of the school board, and distinguished members of our superintendent cabinet to join me for presentation of diplomas, Superintendent Cameras, having met the high standards of scholarship and character required by the Richmond public school system and the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am proud proud to present the class of 2026 of Richmond Community High School. I verify that each student has completed the prescribed course of study and has earned the right to be awarded their advanced studies diploma. Should we make it official? >> Okay. By the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Richmond City
022School Board, and upon the recommendation of your principal, I accept your certification and officially recognize you all as graduates of the class of 2026. Congratulations, Brennan Barner Cther Tani Montasia Bloomfield, Sage Corali Brandon, Nia Elise Brooks, Kimberly Louise Bug Leila Ende Oshune Kyle Cord Tita Carlile GARCIA ANTHONY OMAR CARTER, Tasia Tamaya Chamblas. Zaryavia Amari Cornelius, >> Jonah Daniel, Janiah Datton Carter, Jeffrey Escobar, Cordona, Colin C. Ferguson, I'm done. right there, >> Raan Freeman, >> Jon Gyrie, Grady, Tyler Gray, >> Max Harris, >> Douglas MacArthur Hill III, Kyra Nicole Her, Leah Muel Johnson, Lasavia Lavell Jones, Reef Chandler K, Amaly Langan, >> Jasmine Lewis, Louise Miranda Estrada, Karen Mileen Marillo Cruz, Alice Ninjir, Yaya Thiarro Parish. Speech. Speech. Speech. Sierra May Pontinu Emerson Pellet, Serenity, Alysia Richardson, Anna Zoe Roberts, Mahogany Nanatia, Andrea Rogers, Sean Patrick
023Roots, >> Kayen Lamont, Sanders, Thomas, Patrick Matthew, Sapini, Hazel May SPYBE Jamila Leilani Taff Leila Khalif Taylor, Leananiel Templeton, Robert Darnell, Tennessee, Kayla D. Toiver, Raleigh Marie VAUGHN and London Win. God, At this time, I would like for Kimberly Bug to join me with leading the graduates in moving their tassels. Class of 2026, would you please stand with me? The turning of the tassel has become a more modern tradition used to signify our transition from candidate to graduate. At the high school level, the tassel is worn on the right side of the cap at the start of the ceremony and move to the left once diplomas are received. Richmond Community High School class of 2026, you may now turn your tassels from the right to the left. Congratulations, Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
024Heat. Heat.