001You may be seated. Welcome to the 65th Brown County High School graduation ceremony. I'm Sarah Roberts, proud principal of Brown County High School in the class of 2026. Today we gather to celebrate the accomplishments, perseverance, and bright future of our graduates. Thank you to families, friends, faculty, and staff, and community members for joining us on this special occasion. It is now my honor to introduce a member of the class of 2026 and today's master of ceremonies, Miss Caitlyn Seat. It is my honor to the be the MC for everybody today. Now, let's go ahead and get this graduation started, why don't we? Please welcome Skyla Ford to lead us in the saying of the pledge of allegiance. Good morning everybody. Please stand for the pledge. Please place your right hand over your heart. I aliance
002to 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. You may be seated. All right. All right. Now I will be doing my speech which is titled Thanks for the Memories. It's hard to figure out something to say when moving forward. I will never get to see most of the faces I see now. The faces I've spent my entire high school career with. The faces that will soon discover what it means to become an adult. High school is not the end, but only the beginning. And while most of us may never get to experience that feeling of being young again, it's beautiful that we got to experience it in the first place. It's a wonderful thing to
003know that we had teachers and staff here at Brown County High School that were willing to help us grow as not only students but as an adults in this society. Brown County is not a big school but a small one. As we all know, but I believe that's what make us makes us all the more special. The sense of community here is stronger than anywhere else. And that strong sense of comm companionship within our community will be carried through us as we get older. The memories that we have now will stay forever through photos, videos, and the wonderful minds I get to see here today. I don't want anybody here to underestimate what has been accomplished here at Brown County High School. As you being here today is proof of your hard work and devotion.
004And although the feeling may be bittersweet for some of you, I know that others are desperate to get out, which I can understand. But I'd like to say that one day those memories that you once cursed upon will become your most cherished. And while that seems a little far-fetched now, I think the adults in the crowd can agree that I'm not completely wrong. At one point, I found myself disliking this school every day. Admittedly, I even paraded around with a box that said, "I hate school." Which many of you may remember after they implemented the infamous no backpack rule junior year. Yeah, I was a little sour about that. Um, but point is that at that moment, I thought that things were too difficult. And instead of realizing the precious moments I was having in
005between the bad ones, I only focused on the bad ones. I say this because I don't want you guys to make the same mistake. The fact is that life just gets difficult sometimes and we undervalue the little things that become much bigger to us in the future. That is something we all do as human beings and we're all guilty of the same crime. So coming out of this today, I want you all to spend the last remaining moments you have here with your friends that you have made at Brown County High School because time is running fast and it depends on you to take that train in the right direction. Thank you and may you all have a great graduation. It has been my pleasure being your morning announcer. All right. Now, please welcome Caleb
006Keratin with his speech titled Growing Up Together. [screaming] Hello everyone. Feels weird being here. Four years ago, I remember walking into this, walking the halls and thinking of these last four years with us. Standing here now, I don't think any of us could have predicted how important we all were. Some of the people sitting here today became our closest. Some were only a conversation we had, a laugh, or someone we just sat. Whether or not we all realize it, every single person here on our lives that is what makes the day feel important. Not about the gra or even just the fact that this is the last year together. It's about everyone. Everyone we grew up with together. We've all seen each other. We've all at our highest. We've all made mistakes, learned a lesson,
007lost people, found new people, but most importantly, we made it all here. Truthfully, none of us are the same person we were walking. Every experience we share, every memory, every person we met along the way has helped us become years later. Some of us each other. Some of us each other even at our most difficult. No matter where we all go after tonight, a part of who we become will always comfort. As excited as I know we all are to open this new chapter in our lives, I know that an element of uncertainty. For the first time, the path ahead is completely ours. That's scary. I'll admit it. But it's also beautiful because it means that we are free to become years from now. I think that we'll remember more than just the class. We'll
008remember the little things, the conversations, the inside jokes we had with our friends, the people who made the day. So before we all go our separate ways, I'd just like to take the time to thank everyone. Thank you to the families, teachers, friends, and every person here. Thank you to the class of 26 for every memory, every lesson. and shaping who we who we are today. This may be the last chapter. This may be the last This may be at the end of the chapter, this chapter of our lives, but the beginning of an entirely new and wherever life takes us now, I hope we never forget where we started or who we walked beside. Thank you all. God bless. All right. Please welcome Elena Jacobus with her speech child diagnosis senoritis prognosis success. [cheering]
009Hello and good morning. My name is Elena Jacobus and I have been in Brown County all my life. Standing up here today is truly surreal. 2026 seemed so far away when I was a little kindergartener at Van Beerren. But suddenly, in the blink of an eye, graduation has arrived. Today, I want to talk about a condition that I'm sure everyone in the class of 2026 is all too familiar with. Senioritis, typically presenting itself around the second semester of senior year, although it can show up earlier in some, is characterized by loss of motivation felt by seniors as graduation grows closer and closer, especially after applying and being accepted into colleges and trade schools. Individuals with senioritis may begin to procrastinate more than they had in the past, and many seniors may find themselves complaining about
010school more than they used to. The feelings that come with senioritis are quite complicated. While it may seem to produce purely negative feelings at first, a lot of feelings that come with senioritis actually come from excitement and a desire to see what will come next. It is this conflict between a lack of motivation and a desire to experience next steps that senioritis begins to emerge. Seniors know that they are closer to the finish line than ever before. At times the distance they have left can feel like an eternity. The good news is that senioritis is not terminal. If it were, none of us would be standing here today proud to be graduating as an eagle in the class of 2026. Despite being caught up in a horrible case of senioritis myself this year, I still
011found myself quite frequently noticing all of the lasts I would be experiencing. the last first day of school, the last football game, the last field trip, the last time listening to 80s music on my way to school, the last band concert, etc. I would realize how close I really was to graduating, which felt both terrifying and kind of exciting. I'd feel quite bittersweet whenever I noticed these things because while I noticed a lot of laughs, I firmly believe that graduation is not an end. It is a beginning. the beginning of adulthood, the beginning of new responsibility, and the beginning of new freedoms. With every last, there is a new first. While many of us may be experiencing the last day we will ever see each other, we will also have the first day we meet
012people that will be our best friends many years from now. While we just experienced the last day of school yesterday, almost all of us will have a first day at college, trade school, or a new job. Graduation is a day to celebrate not Not only the fact that we are out of high school, but it is a day to celebrate our journey leading up to this point and celebrate what's next. Suddenly, all of those late homework nights and class assignments seem worth it and senioritis seems to fade and give way to feelings of intense satisfaction and gratitude. Speaking of gratitude, there are many people I wish to thank here today. I will not be mentioning specific names simply because everyone, and I do mean everyone, in this district and beyond, has provided such a positive
013impact on our lives that this speech would feel incomplete if I were to mention a few people and leave others out. First of all, I would like to express gratitude to our families and friends. You've all supported us from our first day of school to the last. Coming to our games, our competitions, and our performances, you've been there for us through all of our ups and downs. You see us at our best and at our worst. And yet you still choose to love, care for, and support us each and every day. You see how we have grown over the years, and that growth is not only due to the education we receive in class, but also due to your support and encouragement as we try new things and explore new passions. Perhaps most of all,
014I would like to express sincere gratitude to all of our teachers and administrators we have had from preschool onward. You guys have weathered the storm with us from the first to the lasts and everything in between. There is a lot of work that goes into teaching that we students don't even realize. For every late night that we spend doing homework, a teacher will spend three late nights creating lesson plans, grading our work, and of course, dealing with emails saying that Canvas broke when we tried to submit an assignment at 11:58 that was due at midnight. We've all been there. One annual teacher appreciation week is not enough to fully appreciate all you guys do for us. I hope that after graduation you are all able to go home, put your feet up, and take a
015nice long nap. You guys deserve it. To all of you that have experienced senioritis this year, congratulations. We made it. We survived. To all of you that will be experiencing senioritis in the near future, good luck. Godspeed and keep your eye on the prize. Enjoy the small moments, treasure the lasts, and look forward to the firsts with excitement and curiosity. Most importantly, and this goes out to everyone here today, never ever stop learning. Thank you. [cheering] Please welcome Brown County High School's choir to sing Time After Time. I hear [singing] cles [singing] Flash almost [music and singing] left behind me [singing and music] >> [music] >> I fall behind. and [singing and music] you will find me After you fall, [music] I will catch [singing] you. I'll be waiting after my fades. Darkness. has turned
016to graying through window. [music] [singing] [music] >> If you're [singing] lost, [music] you can look and you will Find me after [singing and music] I will catch you. I will be waiting [singing] after you look and you will find me [singing] after I will catch you. I will be waiting after. Every time after every Please welcome our principal, Miss Roberts, back up to the podium to share a few words. Thank you, Kate. Standing here today is incredibly special for me because for many of you, this isn't where our story began. I've known so many of you since you were little. Back in elementary school classrooms, on playgrounds, in gyms, or on fields, when your backpacks were almost bigger than you were, and your dreams were just beginning to take shape. And now look at you.
017Confident, resilient, and ready. It's hard to put into words the kind of pride I feel today. Not just because you made it to graduation, but because I've seen the journey it took to get here. I've seen your growth, your struggles, your laughter, and your determination. I've seen who you are and who you've become. And I want you to hear this clearly. You've already made an impact. You matter. You have left your mark on this school. in ways that will go far beyond today. But today isn't just about looking back. It's about stepping forward. Tomorrow, life will look a little different. And Monday morning, for the first time, you won't be walking through the halls of Brown County High School as students. That reality can feel exciting and maybe a little overwhelming, too. So, I want
018to remind you of something important. Brown County High School doesn't stop being your home just because you graduate. This place, these people, this community, you will always belong here. No matter where life takes you, no matter how far you go, you will always have a place to come back to. And I hope you do. Come back when you land your first job. Come back when you figure out what you're passionate about. Come back when life doesn't go as planned. And especially, come back when you have something to celebrate. Even the smallest victories matter. We want to celebrate with you. We want to cheer you on. We want to see the lives you're building and the difference you're making. And you will make a difference. Not because you have everything figured out. But because you've learned
019how to keep going even when things get hard. You've learned how to support each other. You've learned how to grow. That's what will carry you forward. And as you leave today, I hope you carry three things with you. First, Confidence in who you are. You are more capable than you realize. Second, Gratitude for the people who helped you get here. None of us can do it alone. And third, courage. Courage to take risks. Courage to fail. courage to learn to keep moving forward anyway. Success isn't about having a perfect path. It's about continuing to walk it even when it's uncertain. Class of 2026, I am so proud of you. Not just for what you've accomplished, but for who you are. And while today may feel like an ending, it's really just a beginning of everything
020ahead. So go chase your dreams. Go make your mark. Go build a life you're proud of and don't forget where you came from because we will always be here cheering you on, welcoming you back, and reminding you just how proud we are. Congratulations, graduates. All right. the time you've been waiting for. At this time, I would like to invite Mr. Foster, Brown County High School assistant principal, to the podium to begin announcing our graduates. It is my honor to introduce our graduates, Skyla Renee Ford. graduating sumakum lad Caitlyn Samantha seat Caleb Jacob Catterton Graduating Sumakumlady, Elena Aaron Jacobus [screaming] Quinton Kelly Ross Bell, Elijah Robert Bellmore, Aaron Michael Bolan, Gwyneith Jade Brazzle, Autumn Renee Bryant, graduating Magna Kumlad, Caitlyn Olivia Burus, Jeffrey Allen Codell, Dean Alden, Isaac Clark, Lillian Ruth Collins, Eli Hunter Connell [cheering]
021Hudson Lee Connor graduating sumakumlad Cambria Elise Cox Eric Matthew Crannle Tyson Lee Davis, Aubrey Renee Denton, Matthew Fabin Drenin, Graduating Magna Kumlad Ella Kathleen East graduating kumlad. Cameron Elizabeth Edmonds Cohen Allen Farmer >> [screaming] >> Gavin Todd Ferguson, graduating Sumakumlad, Alexandra Nicole Foster, [screaming] Alan Alvie Fowler, Samuel Wilson Fox, Jaden Michael Frick, >> Bahadi Boasi Fulton [screaming] Zabriel Michael Gaskins, William Dne Gaunt, Graduating Sumakum Lady, Casey or Gracie K. Gibson, Zachary James Gillitzer, >> Payton Maddie Goodrich, graduating Magna Cumlad, Aiden James Hadley, Hayden Cole Haynes. Graduating Magna Kumlad Cash Kenneth Weber Harden Emma Jean Harden Isabelle Rose Harden Kevin Oscar Harlo >> [screaming] >> Briana Nicole Hasbrock Madison Grace Hawkins graduating sumakum llad Aiden Michael Henderson Maya Alejandra Hernandez Graham. Graduating Sumakumlad Satie Elizabeth Hyatt Taylor Dawn Hostettler Billy Clay Hubard, graduating magnaumlad, Brooklyn Fay
022Huard, Maya Michelle Jackson, Graduating Magna Kumlad China Madison Kakavikos graduating kumlad Finnegan Elias Keane graduating sumakumlad Ruby Marie Keane Maline Grace Kinnaman Voy graduating sumakumlad Genevie Rose Lagona Corbin Wayne Lambert Graduating Magna Kumlad, Elsie Marie Lambert, >> Hayden Anthony Lawson, Ian Jackson Ly, Graduating Sumakum Llad Cheyana Grace Lucky Draven Alfred Major Alex Thomas Markham Clayton Blaine Mclofflin, >> graduating Magna Kumlad, Rossyn Grace Mcgrael, [screaming] >> Persing John McMasters, >> [screaming] >> Tyler Andrew Meister, Jocelyn Bell Mercer, graduating Magna Kumlad, Derek Daniel Middleton Jr. >> [screaming] >> Zechariah Malachi Miller, Grayson Andrew Mitchell, Cole Scott Mobly, Jonah Joy Muny graduating kumlad. Rebecca Sarah Meyers, [cheering] [screaming] Victoria Elaine Newkerk, graduating Magna Kumlady, Iris Elaine Nickel, Jordan Ray Nichols, >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Aaron Emerson Oswald graduating kumlady. Camille Rosemary Pence, Ethan Ray Pierce, graduating Suma Kumlad,
023Chloe Alexis Polling, Jackson Andrew Reed, Graduating Sumakum Lady, Noah Connor Reynolds, [screaming] Ghost Roberts, [screaming] >> Haley Joe Roberts, Graduating Sumakum Lady Natasha Colette Robertson [screaming] Kylie Mayroo Root Janali Alexis Secha How graduating Magna Kumlad Kani Grace Schilling [screaming] Justinda Marie Cineaca Joanne Seismore Corbin Bradley Smith, Michaela Anne Smith, Sheldon Judah Stevens, Lily Rain Stewart graduating kumlad Asher Rock Stringer [applause] Gonzo Esop Strippling Colton Ramsay Swisser, Abram Christopher Taylor, graduating Magna Kumlad, Lexus K. Tilford, Gracie Anne Vanzuden, Haley Don Wampler, Jeffrey Daniel Watson, Graduating kumlady. Cody Ralph Webb, Jennica Lera Winky, [cheering] Aaliyah Michelle White, graduating Kuma Ethan David Alexander Williams, [screaming] Rose Renee William, Chase Logan Woodall, Corbin Lee Woodall, Olivia Grace Workman, Cole Aaron Wright, Elijah William Young, Please welcome our superintendent, Miss Emily Callahan, for the turning of the tassels. Good morning,
024ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, proud parents, and most importantly, the remarkable graduating class of Brown County Schools. I truly hope you have enjoyed the 65th graduation of Brown County High School in this incredibly beautiful venue. Before we close today, I just want to take a moment to thank the people who helped make this moment possible. To our board of school trustees, thank you for your leadership, your service, and your commitment to the students of Brown County schools. To our administrators, our teachers, our support staff, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians, every adult who has poured into these students along the way. Thank you. Education is never the work of one person as it takes an entire community of people showing up day after day, often behind the scenes, believing in these kids even on the days
025that they struggle to believe in themselves. And to the parents, the guardians, families, and friends here today, thank you for the countless sacrifices, the rides, the encouragement to the hard conversations, celebrations, and tears. simply the unconditional love that these graduates arrive here at this moment. And finally, class of 2026. Thank you for the energy, the memories, the laughter, the spirit, the resilience, the mark that you have left on Brown County Schools. Thank you for the ways that you have showed up for one another, for your teachers, for this community, and for the students that will walk the halls after you. Thank you for reminding us that leadership can look different for every single person sitting here today. One of my most favorite quotes is from Henry David Thorough. I went to the woods because I
026wish to live deliberately. Thorough was talking about something much bigger than simply walking into the woods. He was about talking about choosing to live with intention to not drift through life simply because everyone else is moving in the same direction. And as you sit at the edge of what comes next, I hope you choose to live deliberately, too. The world is going to try to hand you a map, a linear path, a checklist, a definition of success that often sounds safe and predictable, comfortable. But some of the most meaningful lives are built by people courageous enough to step away from the path already chosen for them. Be courageous enough to live deliberately, courageous enough to take risks, courageous enough to fail. courageous enough to simply change directions when your heart tells you there's something more
027waiting for you. Because success is not always measured by the paycheck, the size of a house, or by a title. Sometimes success is simply waking up excited about the work you get to do. Sometimes it's about finding joy in the ordinary moments. And sometimes it's building a life that allows you to make a difference in somebody else's. And if your years here have taught you anything, it's this. It's that things don't always go according to plan. You've already lived that lesson. You have experienced disappointment, uncertainty, change, setbacks, and moments where you had to pivot when life looked different than what you had imagined. But look at what those moments did. They shaped you. They made you resilient, more creative, more compassionate, more prepared for the world beyond these walls. Don't run from those moments, but
028rather lean into them. Sometimes the setback becomes the beginning of something greater than you ever had planned for yourself. So, as you leave here today, pursue something bigger than yourself. Build a life that's rooted in purpose. And when you find that purpose, go help someone else find theirs, too. The world doesn't need more successful people. It needs courageous people. People that are willing to live deliberately, people willing to lead with kindness, to serve others, to create joy, to take chances, to leave things better than they found them. Class of 2026, may you have the courage to become exactly who you were meant to be. We are so incredibly proud of you. And now it's time to make it official. Families, a reminder that after the final congratulations in just a moment, please remain seated until
029all graduates have exited the theater. And at this time, I would like to welcome our senior speakers back to the front of the stage to help us turn the tassels. Graduates, please stand. It is my absolute honor to confer your graduation upon you at this time. Please turn your tassels. Congratulations Heat. Heat.