001by the what's so proudly we hailed at the twilight's >> [singing] >> last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, o'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? [singing] And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, >> [singing and music] >> gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? >> All right. >> Let every mortal tongue to sing with the harmony >> [singing and music] >> of liberty. Let our rejoicing rise [music] the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought Facing the rising sun of
002our new day begun, let us march [singing and music] on till victory is won. >> Audience, you may be seated. >> Good morning again, families, friends, faculty, and most importantly, the class of 2026. I am Crystal Palty, and I'm so proud to be the principal of this graduating class. It is my great honor to welcome our superintendent, Jason Kamras. He joins me to introduce the school board and division leadership team, whose advocacy and dedication have ensured our graduates have every resource needed to succeed in their next chapter. >> Good morning. Please join me in recognizing my esteemed colleagues joining us today, starting with our school board chair, Mrs. Shavonda Finley. Please join me in welcoming them today. You may be seated. Behind them are members of the RPS leadership team, beginning with Dr. Green Bell,
003our chief engagement officer, Dr. Leslie Wiggins, our chief academic officer, Ms. Renisha Parks, chief wellness officer, Dr. Willie Bell, principal director for high schools, Mr. Tykeen Cooper, executive director of the RPS Education Foundation, and Mr. Patrick Harold, chief operating officer. Please show them some appreciation for being here today. Thank you. >> On my left, our TJ leadership and school counselors, Mr. Claude Hathaway, Jr., assistant principal, Mr. Anthony Elliott, assistant principal, Crystal Jordan, assistant principal, and Shy Jackson, class salutatorian. Please give them another round of applause. You may be seated. Seated in the audience is the amazing faculty and staff of Thomas Jefferson High School. Please stand and be recognized at this time. You may be seated. And now, I introduce to you the phenomenal, unstoppable, undeniable class of 2026. You [cheering] may stand and be
004recognized at >> It is my esteemed pleasure to once again welcome you and the class of 2026 to the 95th commencement of Thomas Jefferson High School. Today is the beginning of the next chapter in your amazing journey. You are closing this door and opening the window of opportunity to post-secondary education, the armed forces, and the worlds of work. Class of 2026, all the places you'll go. As you move on, don't forget to pack your patience, respect, and humility. Patience to endure when times are difficult and you are unsure of which fork in the road to to quickly follow. Patience to wait when it seems that your wants and desires are not being fulfilled at your rate. Remember, a delay is not a denial. In this next chapter of your life, you must learn to play
005chess instead of checkers. Chess is a game of true patience and skill to make calculated moves. Secondly, respect will take you far as you move through the pages of your next chapter. I know you've heard the phrase, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Never let your words or quick actions cause your opportunities to fly by. People may not remember your name, but they'll remember your words and your actions. Class of 2026, if you take nothing away from this day besides your diploma, please remember to hustle hard, but stay humble. Surround yourself with people who will uplift, challenge you, and give you a much-needed reality check. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. This school year has been a series of ups and downs for various reasons,
006but you made it. Some of you had to pray to the English and Econ and personal finance God. Some of you also prayed to the God of seat time, but you made it. Some of you also need to thank Ms. Anderson for introducing you to the world of CLEP. Yes, thank you. Be proud of yourself, class of 2026. You will truly be missed for your vocalism, your playful nature, your compassion, and for just who you are. Each than where you've been as to where you're going. Remember to never stop looking ahead. That's why the windshield is larger than the rearview mirror. The world ahead of you has much to offer you. Take advantage of every moment. Regardless of images and propaganda on social media platforms, know that you are enough. Not only are you enough,
007you are inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective members of the class of 2026. Keep a positive attitude when times get tough. Respect and appreciate those that are in your corner. Know that we love you here at 4100, and you will always be welcomed home. And remember this, once a Viking, always a Viking. We will now have a greeting from the honorable Shavondra Fernandez, ninth district representative and school board chair. After the greeting and There we go. My name is Shavondra Fernandez. I am chair of Richmond Public Schools. I am joined by my fellow colleagues if they could stand. Vice chair Percival who represents the honorable T.J. Vikings, Mr. Ricard and Mr. Hedgepath. Thank you. On behalf of the Richmond Public Schools School Board, it is truly an honor to stand
008before you today as we celebrate the incredible Thomas Jefferson class of 2026. I want to start off by acknowledging the outstanding leadership team, administrators, instructors, counselors, staff, and Superintendent Kamras here at Thomas Jefferson and beyond. Thank you for creating a space where these amazing students could thrive. I also want to acknowledge the parents, caregivers, relatives, siblings, and friends here today. Your commitment, patience, encouragement, and belief in these students have helped make them and make this moment possible. This moment is extra special to me because I am also a graduate of Thomas Jefferson. Go Vikings. Years ago, at the age of 16, I sat where you are sitting today. Full of dreams, questions, excitement, and some uncertainty about what the future would hold. And now, standing here this Each of you has a story. Some of
009your journeys were smooth while others required you to overcome obstacles people may never fully understand like mine. Yet this morning, every challenge, every sacrifice, every late night, even when you hit the snooze button and didn't want to wake up, and every moment you wanted to give up, it led to this time on your on the stage. Today is not just about receiving a diploma. It's about celebrating perseverance. Graduates, right now it may feel like you have endless time ahead of you, like there are more far more days in front of you than behind you. And while that may be true, I want you to understand something. Life moves quickly. You will blink and this moment will become a memory like it was for me. The friendships, the laughter, the lessons, the struggles, the victories, one
010day you will look back and realize just how fast it all passed. So don't take today's So excuse me. So don't take your days for granted. Don't rush through life trying to get to the next season without appreciating the one you're in right now. Whatever you do, be present. Value the people who love you. Take chances. Learn from your mistakes. Make memories. Dream boldly. Stay humble. Work hard. And never, ever forget the strength that helped you bring you this far. Congratulations, Class of 2026. And remember, once a Viking always a Viking. Thank you. >> Graduation is a huge milestone. 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
011and determination and a whole lot of heart to get here. Through every challenge, every late night, every test, every new experiment, 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 moving 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
012career, 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. >> Good morning. At this time, I would like to recognize the top 10 students of the Thomas Jefferson High School class of 2026. These students have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, dedication, perseverance, and excellence throughout their high school journey. Their hard work and commitment have truly set them apart as leaders among their peers. As I call your name, please stand and remain standing so that you may be properly recognized. Parents and guardians, we ask that you please stand as your child's name
013is called so we may honor your support and commitment as well. Audience, we kindly ask that you hold your applause until all names have been announced. Number 10, Kizzy Bryant. 4.05 GPA. Attending Hampton University. Number nine, Natalia Pitts. 4.12 grade point average. Attending Reynolds Community College. Number eight, Mckayla Brown. 4.21 points. 2.1 Attending North Carolina A&T University. >> [cheering] >> Number seven, Alexander Hardy. With a grade point average of 4.29, he will be attending William and Mary, the College of William and Mary. Number six, James Clayborne. With a grade point average of 4.32, he will be attending George Mason University. Wayne Taylor. With a grade point average of 4.5, he will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University. Number four, August Diego Franco. With a 4.71 grade point average, number three, Eric Mitchell Texan. With a 4.77
014grade point average, number two, Shy Jackson. >> [cheering] >> With a 4.88 8 GPA, she will be attending North Carolina A&T University. And coming in at number one, Tyvelle Bailey. With a 4.96 grade point average. He will be attending James Madison University. Congratulations to you to the students and the families. Thank you. >> [cheering] >> You all may be seated. Finally, we would like to recognize our four students that graduated from the Early College Academy from Reynolds Community College on May 12th with an associate's degree. This program is a collaboration of Richmond Public Schools and Reynolds Community College that gives students the opportunity Wayne Taylor. >> [cheering] >> Job well done. You may be seated. We are also proud to recognize three brave and courageous students who have chosen to enlist in the armed services.
015Their decision reflects honor, sacrifice, leadership, and a commitment to serving something greater than themselves. Will you stand when your name is called? Elisha Frederick. Ayanna Harris. Zaymar Willis. We thank you for your willingness to serve our country and commend you for embarking on this admirable path. Please join us in congratulating and celebrating these outstanding students for their courage and their dedication. Thank you. You may be seated. I would like to have a few moments to highlight some of the many accomplishments of this wonderful group of seniors. These outstanding scholars have bright futures ahead filled with endless possibilities. As I look across the room, I see future doctors, lawyers, nurses, politicians, teachers, and so much more. Under the enrollment category, we have 22 students who will be attending a two-year college to pursue their associate degree.
016While 54 students will attend various colleges and universities to pursue their bachelor's degrees. Additionally, four of our students will be entering local apprenticeship programs to begin skilled career pathways. Collectively, this senior class has earned over $436,000 in scholarships. That's over $436,000 in scholarships. Among these achievements, three students were awarded prestigious provost scholarships from their universities and four students earned full presidential scholarships. We are also proud to celebrate two students who secured full-time employment opportunities immediately following graduation. So please, join me in in congratulating the most incredible class of 2026 for their hard work, their perseverance, and their remarkable accomplishments. We love you. We look forward to all the many places you will go. Congratulations. >> Good morning. I'm Shay Jackson. When I first started at TJ in 2022, I did not know a single soul.
017But today is bittersweet because I'm leaving what I now know to be my second family. We all go to school trusting that we're going to get an education, but TJ has given us so much more. In addition to taking our high school classes, some of us have earned college credit through the IB program, and some of us are transitioning to college with an associate's degree. The Early College Academy surely granted my ECA peers and me the opportunity to gain autonomy, leadership, and a sense of freedom. Not too much freedom because Ms. DuPree and Ms. Gibson made sure we stayed in line. Speaking of Ms. Gibson, she and Ms. A have not only been guidance counselors, but motivators when we were tired, encouragers when we had doubt, and mentors when we needed support. I hope from
018this day forward we have the privilege of calling them Ms. Posey and the rest of our faculty and staff our friends. As we prepare to go off into our next season, we're going to need all the life advice we can get. So I asked around and I wanted to share my top five with y'all. Number five, not every opportunity is meant for you. It's okay to say no. Number four, failure is normal. It's not the opposite of success, it's part of the process. Number three, your reputation will travel faster than you do, so protect it. Number two, don't spend money you don't have buying things you don't need trying to impress people you don't even like. And number one, you don't have to have your whole life figured out at 18. Most adults are still
019figuring it out, too. So to the class of 2026, even though we are still figuring it I'm beyond proud of us. We did what we set out to do, and we did it well. I hope we all savor this moment and let it overwhelm us with a joy and gratitude. So, wherever life leads you, whether it's college, a trade school, the military, or straight into the workforce, be proud of the person you are becoming, and even who you became. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever." Thank you. >> Choirs at this time, you may take your place with your fellow choir members for your one last song as a Viking. >> I've got evidence. I've got confidence. I'm a conqueror.
020I know that's how it is. I know who I am. [music] It is written in the plan for me. Oh. >> [music] >> My name is victory. [singing] Oh. My name is victory. Quarantine is nothing compared to the never coming >> It is in my destiny. I know I will overcome. I know I've already won. It is in my destiny that my name is victory. [singing] >> I know who I am. [music] It is written in the plan for [singing] me. Oh. My name is victory. Oh. My name is victory. >> [singing] >> I know my identity. My name is victory. I know my >> [singing] >> identity. My name is victory. I know my identity. My name victory. I know >> [singing and music] >> my identity. My name victory. >> [music] [singing] >>
021Who is this guy? Is this really the valedictorian representing the entirety of the 2026 senior class at Thomas Jefferson High School? Yes, and trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are. I've always been here, sitting in a library, sleep half the time after trudging through assignments, but I was here. You've probably seen me, I think. Back in February when Ms. Gibson sat me down in the library and told me that I was valedictorian, I said to her as there as if there had been a slip-up in calculating averages. Sure, I played it off all cool when she talked to me, but immediately after she she left, I searched up, "I just got elected valedictorian. I am very nervous. Please help me." into Google. And honestly, high school was not always the kindest to me.
022I was isolated and bullied on numerous occasions during my time here, but being alone with my thoughts and earning this position taught me that popularity does not always equal success. Staying true to who you are and persevering through tough times guarantees your success. Yeah. Here's a personal saying that I've lived by for most of my life. You can fall 10 times, 50 times, 99 times, but the moment you get up that 100 time, all the 99 of those previous failures are merely fleeting memories. You have gained experience, and you are now more ready than you have have ever been before. This speech goes out to everyone in the audience, but especially to those who are quiet, shy, and timid. No matter how hard we try to hide it, we have all felt this way. Popular
023or not, you see, being quiet does not make you insignificant. Being shy does not make you any less important than the person sitting next to you. These characteristics of yours show that you are observant and have been growing exponentially in ways never seen. You can be successful and make an impact without being the most talkative. High school makes us feel that our value is tied to raising our hands the most in the classroom, how many friends we have, talking the loudest, and being the most outgoing. But here's the thing I've realized, our impact matters more than our voice. And every single one of you here has made an impact. Some of you made an impact through kindness, holding a door for others, making staff smile, and showing small acts of kindness that you've never realized
024made a person's day better. Some of you made an impact through simply coming to school despite all the challenges that you've had this year. That resilience matters more than you think. So, what does all mean? It means that today is not about awards, academic success is a showing of perseverance, persistence, and survival. Most important above all else is that we overcame the challenges as collectives. I want all of you to maintain your strength and pride as Vikings as you leave these walls. Use your failures not as measures of your worth, but think of them as opportunities to succeed. Now, let me ask this question again. Who is this guy? I know you probably have never seen me before and are probably surprised. But, but Vikings always bring pleasant surprises. Class of 2026, let's bring pleasant
025surprises to the world as you continue to work hard and persevere. For my final words, I would like to to thank Michaela Brown, Shy Jackson, and the big dub himself, Wayne Taylor, and the entirety of the Thomas Jefferson High School staff for helping me feel a sense of belonging and making me feel welcome to TJ. Additionally, I would like to thank my family for coming out today to watch me achieve this milestone. I could not have done this without all of your support and I'm forever grateful. And finally, for my final final words, I would like to congratulate the class of 2026 one last time. It has been a tough 4 years, but we did it and we're ready to get out of here. Thank you. >> [cheering] >> All right, y'all. It's almost that
026time. Superintendent Chambers, will you join me? Class of 2026, please stand. Superintendent Chambers, having met the high standards of scholarship and character required by the Richmond Public School system and the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am proud to present the class of 2026 of Thomas Jefferson High School. I verify that each student has completed the prescribed course of study and has earned the right to be awarded their diploma. >> Should we make it official? Let's do it. Upon the recommendation of your principal and by the authority of the Virginia Board of Education and the Richmond City School Board, I accept your certification. It is my privilege to officially recognize you as graduates of the class of 2026 vested with all the rights, honors, and responsibilities your achievement signifies. Congratulations. >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Ayanna Aldridge. I'm
027I'm sorry. Ava Adams. >> [screaming] >> F. A. Agama. Awad Ammar Alali. >> [screaming] >> Ayanna Aldridge. >> [cheering] >> Marisol Algarin. Natalia Anderson. Zaki Artist. Maryam Ashrafi-Kia. >> [cheering] >> Keshawn Averett. Desmond Bacon. Malik Bailey. Tanvelle Bailey. Jamari Baker Michaela Barber Rincy Barrett Richard Bartholomew Jr. Aliyah Bassett >> [screaming] >> Alexis Belton-Brown Mariah Blevins-Harris Imani Blunt-Brown Tess Brown Jari Brown Candace Brown Michaela Brown >> Elijah Bryant Kizzy Bryant Justin Callaway Jr. Miles Carrington Jakaya Carroll Jaylen Carroll Kimara Cephus Radell Chappell >> [cheering] >> James Clayborn >> [cheering] >> Leroy Cosby Jr. Kostas Koulakis Graham Cox Leroy Crawley Jr. >> Jamiya Chris Artavia Curtis Josiah Damon Jovan Damon Jr. Jacob Davis Chris John Davis Sanders Miyana Dotson Kevon Dotswell Myglasha Drawn Daron Ferguson >> Anaya Ford >> [screaming] >> Anaya Ford August Diego Franco Elisha
028Frederick Christian Guevara Jaden Gould Amari Gaul Love Green >> [screaming] >> Lamesha Griffith Natalia Guererrado Oramos All of them. Ethan Gertovnik Alexander Hardy Isaiah Jalique Harris Isaiah Genesis Harris Ayanna Harris Nyrell Harrison James Hatcher Dreshawn Hawthorne >> [cheering] >> Natalia Henderson Brooke Holtz Marcus Ingram Yazmine Ishmael Shy Jackson Maurice Jefferson Tyler Jenkins Kamaya Johnson Jayla Tiana Jones Eric Jones Sharvin Jones Heaven Jordan Michael Lazaro Keziah Lewis >> [screaming] >> Jennifer Lizcano Ruiz Ziasia Lyons Theo Mahler He did. >> Merrick Marunde Bryce Meredith Bryce Miller David Miller Devin Moody Unique Moon Carvel Morris Jonathan Mosley Onara Nelson Kayla My Tierra Neville Crystal Namara Diego Petrella Natasha Pitts Romel [screaming] Pollard Tanari Prior Matim Riley Diego Rivera Castillo >> Maverick Risk Dariana Ross Anthony Ross Jr. Corey Russell Dominique Soles Jr. Ariana Short Trent Summers Adonis Smith
029Dylan Smith Chris Smith Javon Spearman Jr. Javon Tart Tylasia Taylor Wayne Taylor Eric Mitchell Texan Tavion Thomas >> Zaria Thomas >> [screaming] >> Jamon Threets Sean Tinsley the second Travon Turner Jason Valentine Kwamaine Waters Imontrae Waters Kenneth Watson Isaiah White Michael Williams >> Zaymar Willis Zafear Wilson Octavian Winship >> [screaming] >> Class of 2026, please remain standing. 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 is moved to the left once diplomas are received to signify a transition to post-secondary education, the military, or the workforce. So, my fellow classmates, please move your tassels from the right to the left. >> [bell]
030>> Mhm. >> Woo!