001Glory to >> Good morning and welcome to the 102nd commencement of Columbia High School. My name is Brian Reese, the principal of of the school. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of colors presented by our Air Force ROTC. Remain standing for the singing of the national anthem performed by Charles Bass, Caroline Denny, Landon Holt, and Elena St. Clair. Oh, say can you [singing] see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last [singing] gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars >> [singing] >> through the perilous fight, o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? [singing and music] And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting >> [singing] >> in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does [singing] that star-spangled
002banner yet wave o'er the land and the home of the brave? >> [applause] >> You may be seated. It's great to have the wind, but we might have a few things blowing around up here. This is an important milestone for our graduating class of 2026 and for the families, friends, and loved ones who are joined with us today and who are watching at home. As principal of Columbia High School, I'd like to thank our graduates for the fond memories they provided our school and community over the years. I congratulate you on your success today. I want to wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. And as you leave our nest to begin your journey into adulthood, make your mark on the world. To begin, I'd like to recognize our top 10 graduates
003who are distinguished by their white stoles. Please stand as I call your name. And please hold applause till all names are read. And these are in alphabetical order. Harvey Albers, Lillian Arnold, Casey Bernard, Caleb Blair, Skyler Durden, Grace Lubbers, Addison Muren, Hannah Noah, Jonah Vilnoski, and Emily Webb, the 2026 top 10. >> [applause] >> You may be seated. We will have three speeches today. The first is by our senior class president, Abby Menke. Abby, please join me on the stage. Good afternoon. Thank you all for being here to support the wonderful CHS graduates of 2026. My name is Abby Menke, and I am beyond honored to be speaking before you today on behalf of my peers. As I gathered my thoughts for such an important speech, it was extremely vital to me that every graduate
004felt included because although I am representing the class of 2026, each student behind me has their own voice, their own goals, and their own story. To my fellow graduates, today is a day that you should all be so proud of. A day to reflect and cherish the old memories, and a day to celebrate fresh and new opportunities. Without a doubt, your futures have so much in store for them, and now is the time to make your life what you want it to be. Break barriers, accomplish lifelong goals, and be the change you want to see in the world because I know [laughter] you can. In fact, your hard work has led you to this very moment, and will will continue to lead you through whatever you set your heart to. You all have a purpose
005and a reason to be here. As you step into this new journey of life, stay true to yourself. Always remember that you are seen, you are worthy, and your voice matters. There's no dream that is too big, no idea that is too extraordinary, and no passion that is too much. 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
006live 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. 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,
007please 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. 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.
008In 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. 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,
009lawyer, 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. 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
010name 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. But what I can tell you are things that I've experienced first hand. Things that we
011have 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. We are stepping into a
012challenged 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
013your 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. 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
014right, 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. >> [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
015Ruth 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] >>
016Rowan, 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. Ragsdale Cale Ethan Raines Isaac Thomas
017Raines 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.
018Thank you for joining us today. I look forward to seeing all great things the class of 2026 will accomplish. [cheering] Students, don't forget to go over the concession stand to get your actual diploma. Huh? Yes. I got to go see Uncle Phil. Keep going. Can't see anything. Hey.