001Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] Heat. [music] [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] Yeah. [music] Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. [music] [music] >> [applause] [applause] >> graduates, you may be seated. Um, good evening everyone and welcome to the 2026 Alligan online and adult education graduation ceremony. And I know you just clapped, but I would like again to give a round of applause to all of our graduates. [applause] [applause] When I look back on the school year, one of my favorite quotes came to mind. Whatever you do today, do it with the confidence of a four-year-old in a Batman t-shirt. And when we are all little, small things used to give us all the confidence that we needed. Maybe it was the light up shoes
002that made you feel invincible. And perhaps it could have been the Batman t-shirt that you refused to change for days that gave you the strength to face the day. And when you were small, it didn't take much to give you the idea that you had the power that you needed to succeed. However, the older you get, the small things don't always seem to give us the magic they once did. life becomes harder and somehow light up shoes just don't cut it anymore. Maybe your cape seemed a little bit frayed and the Batman t-shirt just didn't fit like it used to. However, all of you sitting here tonight somehow found your cape and shoes again and you found what it took to persevere and to graduate. And what you may not have realized was that you
003always had the capacity to become whatever it is you want to be and that the shiny shoes were just a fun accessory to what you already had within you. And as you move on in life and inevitably face more challenges, I want you to remember that while you will always have the power within you to succeed, that it's okay to need a little extra confidence sometimes. And the great thing is they make adult-siz superhero t-shirts. And while I haven't looked, they might as well just sell light up tennis shoes, too. And if somewhere down the road you are looking for inspiration or motivation, I encourage you to listen to a graduation speech written in 2014 by Admiral William H. McRaven. He was a Navy Seal for 36 years and was asked to speak at the
004University of Texas graduation. In his speech, he referenced 10 lessons he learned from his training with the Navy Seals. Some of you have already learned these lessons, which is why you are sitting on this stage tonight. But here are a few of his lessons that I would like to share with you. Number one, if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. Because if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made. And a made bed will give you a little encouragement for tomorrow. Number two, if you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle. You don't have to do it alone. Number three, if you want to change the world, don't be afraid of the circuses or as sometimes
005we call them our failures. And number four, if you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment. He states, "If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person can change the world." It is our hope for all of our graduates that you continue to move forward, believe in yourself, and know that in each of you, there will always be that four-year-old ready to take on the world in your Batman shirt and cape. I would like to now introduce one of our graduates, Cara Jacobs. [applause] Okay. Good evening, friends, family, faculty, and the graduating class of 2026. I'm Cara Jacobs, and today I hold the special honor of standing before you. When I was asked to
006write this speech, I wasn't sure of what I wanted to say or if I was the right person for it. I was never the top student. I wasn't part of the community. I didn't participate in after school activities. I'd never lived that high school traditional life of, you know, relationships, parties, football games, homecomings, prom. I was absent for it all. But as I sat there thinking of what I wanted to say, I realized that absence can teach us all something. Many of us stand in front of an opportunity and we back away. Sometimes we are scared of being alone and failing or sometimes we are afraid of what might happen if we try. So, class of 2026, as we take this next step in the future with a million different possibilities and open doors, I
007want to leave you with an important message. Do it with company or do it alone. Do it scared or do it with confidence. Do it with certainty or do it with doubt. Whatever you choose to do, don't let fear make you absent from the opportunities that are waiting for you in the future. Um, sorry, I lost my spot there. Don't let fear Yep. Okay. Um, your future doesn't belong to anyone but you. So, although we didn't do the traditional route, uh, don't let that take away from your accomplishments and success. So, with that, congratulations, class of 2026. I'm proud of each and every single one of you. Go Tigers. [applause] >> Thank you, Cara. I know it's hard to get up here and speak, so we appreciate you. Next, we would like to recognize our
008graduates who have attended the Alagan Tech Center during the school day while working towards their diploma. When I call your name, please come up. Um, first we would like to congratulate Zoe Andre. [applause] During her senior year, Zoe completed the criminal justice program. Good job, Zoe. [applause] Um, next we have JD Markland. JD, do you can come up? [applause] >> Well, we'll recognize Jadeie. Um, Jadeie completed Vette her junior year and participated in work-based learning her senior year. So, good job, Jadeie. Are you ready to record? [applause] >> Um, our graduates are having a little bit of a hard time hearing us, so JD didn't hear me. Sorry, JD. Um, [applause] our next Tech Center student is Amy Lynn McCelips. [applause] Amy Lynn completed VTEC program her junior year and employability skills her senior year.
009Good job everybody. [applause] Next, I would like to introduce Allison Sammon, our adult education career navigator. Allison works with our adult learners that attend the Alligan Tech Center in the evenings. >> [applause] >> Good evening. It has been my honor and privilege to work alongside our adult education students through our program. These dedicated individuals completed hands-on technical training at the Alagan Tech Center, excelled in their adult education classes and workforce training. What makes their achievement even more extraordinary is that they accomplished all of this while navigating demanding work schedules and personal responsibilities. They transformed every challenge into a stepping stone, turning late nights into an investment in their own potential. By pushing past their own perceived limits and sacrificing tirelessly, they have paved a brighter path forward. Tonight we proudly proudly recognize the following graduates
010who successfully completed this program earning both a chord and certificate. Completing 98 hours of training in the certified nurse aid program is Courtney Mitchell. [applause] completing 60 hours of training in our culinary arts program is Cheyenne Benvita Stevens. [applause] completing 60 hours of training and our welding basics course. Raiden Phelps [applause] >> [applause] >> completing 60 hours of training in our welding basics program. Braden Marini [applause] completing 98 hours of training and our certified nurse aid program. Grace Holmes [applause] >> [applause] >> I'm so proud of you all. Congratulations. [applause] At this time, we would like to remember and honor Tammy Howell, a member of the GED class of 2026. While she is not with us today due to her passing, we want to recognize her accomplishments throughout the school year and thank her family
011for being with us this evening. We invite you to join us in a moment of silence in Tammy's memory. In recognition of her hard work and dedication, we will be presenting Tammy's family with an honorary high school equivalency certificate. Tammy will be remembered for her fun-loving spirit, positive attitude, and determination to achieve her goals. Her presence touched our school community and her commitment to earning her GED inspired those around her. Tammy's memory will remain an important part of the class of 2026. Thank you. [applause] Thank you to all of our graduates for letting us be a part of your story. I hope you know how truly and sincerely excited and proud of each each one of our staff members were when you became an official graduate. Now, it is my honor along with Mr. Dr.
012James Antoine, Alagghan Public School Superintendent to present the Alligan Online and Adult Education Graduating Class of 2026. Would the first row of graduates please stand up? [applause] Alma Aguilar [applause] Donovan Allen, [applause] Zoe Andre, [applause] Cheyenne Benvdas, Stevens, >> [applause] [cheering] >> Sage Bors, [applause] Maya Buckles, [applause] Matthew Burrow, >> [applause] >> Ava Cardardosa. [applause] [snorts] The first row, you may be seated. Will the second row please stand? [applause] Lily Davis [applause] [cheering] Jocelyn Donaldson Schwarz, [applause] Desmond Edwards, [applause] Donna Evans, [applause] Adrien Granger, [applause] Dakota Green, [applause] Lola Herig, >> [cheering and applause] >> Mark Harper Jr. [cheering] [applause] Second row, you may be seated. Third row, please stand. [applause] Gray Hassinger, [applause] Grace Holmes, >> [applause] >> Carara Ninheis Jacobs, [applause and cheering] >> Madison Carr, [applause] >> Reagan Lamar, [applause] >> [cheering]
013>> Braden Marini, [cheering] [applause] >> Jadeie Markland, [applause] EMTT Mason Jr. here. [applause] [snorts] Third row, you may be seated. Fourth row, please stand. [applause] Amy Lynn Joy McKelops, [applause] Rayanne Love Malls, [applause] Krillin Maner, >> [cheering] [applause] >> Courtney Mitchell, [applause] >> Alyssa Moon, [applause] >> [applause] >> Joseph Morris, [applause] Helena Neighbors. [cheering] [applause] >> [snorts] >> Fourth row, you can be seated. Fifth row, please stand. [applause] Dana Oland, [applause] >> Raiden Phelps, [applause] Sierra Rittering, >> [cheering] [applause] >> Laura Jane Rodriguez, [applause] Jacob Sanchez, [applause] Skyler Charelle, [applause] [cheering] Peyton Shook, [applause] >> Benjamin Snider, [applause] [applause] Fifth row, you may be seated. Sixth row, please stand. [applause] Ava Snider. [applause] Kashanda Thomas, [cheering] [applause] >> Franklin Trebino Reyes, [applause] Bina Walter, >> [applause] >> Tara Sipa, [applause] Natalie Pritchette, [applause] [applause] I
014would please ask that the audience remain seated until the graduates exit the stage. Ava Cardardosa will be playing Pomp and Circumstance on the piano as our graduates exit. Would the graduating class of 2026 please stand? >> [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> It is my pleasure to present to you the class of 2026. Move your tassels. [applause] [cheering] I got I got [music] I love you. [cheering] [applause] >> [cheering] [applause] >> Yeah. [cheering] >> [applause] [cheering] [screaming] [cheering] >> Yeah, let's take a look. [applause and cheering] That was pretty [applause]