001Ladies and gentlemen, graduation will begin in 10 minutes. Please find your seat by 7:00. >> Mhm. >> Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the entry of school district dignitaries and the graduation class of 2026. Please remain standing after our graduates have entered the field for the playing of the national anthem. >> Mhm. >> Woo! >> Mhm. >> The privilege of this event was made possible by those who fought and continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy. Ladies and gentlemen, please remove your hats. All veterans, we encourage you to render the appropriate salute, and everyone available, please stand for the national anthem being sung by Hazel Park High School Choir. >> Oh, say can you [singing] see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last whose broad stripes and
002bright stars through the perilous fight, o'er the were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' the bombs bursting in air, gave proof that our flag >> [singing] >> Oh, say does that star-spangled >> [cheering] >> Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our distinguished Hazel Park High School Principal, George Dimas. >> Good evening. Good evening, graduates, families, teachers, staff, and honored guests. I'm George Dimas, and I'm the Hazel Park and I'm the principal here at Hazel Park High School. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to recognize and thank Superintendent Dr. Amy Wilcox and the Hazel Park Board of Education for helping to make all of this possible. Darren Fox, April Beaton, Debbie LaFramboise, Bev Hinton, Nathan Becker, Monica Reti, and Heidi Fortress. Thank you again for your dedication and support. Standing here tonight as a first-year principal
003makes this moment especially meaningful to me. While this may be my first year leading Hazel Park High School, it is your final year walking these halls as students. In many ways, we arrived at this moment together, creating our school culture, building relationships, facing challenges, and creating memories that will stay with us long after tonight. Thank you, class of 2026, for welcoming me into your community. Whether it was our days at Webb Elementary in second grade, our time at Hazel Park Junior High School during social studies classes, hanging out on my front lawn one morning for coffee, or time spent here together at the high school. You taught me quickly that this school is not defined by its building, its schedules, or even its traditions. Hazel Park High School is defined by its people, and you
004have given this school energy, character, resilience, and heart. Tonight is a celebration of achievement, but it is also a recognition of growth. Growth rarely happens in comfort. It happens during difficult times, through setbacks and disappointments. Every graduate sitting before us this evening has overcome something un- unseen by others, and that matters. As you leave Hazel Park High School, you will hear tons of advice about success. People will tell you to work hard, dream big, and never give up. But those things met- Those things matter, but my advice is be dependable, be humble, be courageous, and be kind in a world that often rewards criticism more than compassion. Your accomplishments may open doors, but your character will determine what happens once you walk through those doors. Remember, we are Vikings. You are graduating in a time
005when the world moves fast, technology changes daily, and opinions are loud. Divi- Division can and constant. In the middle of all that noise, the people who make the greatest difference are often not the loudest people in the room. They are the people who listen, who serve, who lead with integrity, and who make others feel valued. Students, while tonight celebrates your future, I hope you also take time to appreciate the people who helped you reach this point. Parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, counselors, coaches, friends. No one reaches this moment alone. Behind every diploma is a network of people who sacrificed time, energy, patience, and love to help you succeed. Graduates, your life is not going to unfold in a perfectly straight line. There will be moments when plans change. You may fail at something important. You may
006question yourself. That does not mean you are lost. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in life begin in moments we did not plan for. Class of 2026, as your principal, I could not be more proud of you. You've You've left behind a Viking legacy that has already made this school a better place to learn and thrive. No matter where life takes you, college, military service, careers, or opportunities not yet imagined, you will always be a part of the Hazel Park community. Congratulations to each and every one of you. Now go forward with confidence, gratitude, and purpose. And never forget, Viking nation, your future will not will will be shaped not only by what you achieve, but how you choose to live and how you choose to treat others along the way. Thank you and congratulations,
007class of 2026. >> Uh the corner is open. >> At this time, I'd like to ask Dr. Wilcox to join me up here. >> Good evening and welcome. On behalf of Hazel Park Schools, it's my honor to welcome our Board of Education, families, friends, teachers, staff, community supporters, but most importantly, the class of 2026. Thank you for joining us this evening as we celebrate one of the most significant milestones of the lives of our graduates. Tonight is more than a ceremony. It's a celebration of perseverance, growth, achievement, and people who helped make this moment possible. To our teachers, administrators, counselors, coaches, support staff, and class of 2026 sponsors, thank you for the care, encouragement, and commitment you have shown our students throughout their journey. Your dedication helped shape not only the successful graduates, but made
008them caring, capable, and resilient young adults. To our parents, guardians, grandparents, family members, volunteers, and community supporters, thank you for showing up. You showed up for the games, performances, conferences, celebrations, and every single moment that mattered. Your support, sacrifices, and belief in these students helped to bring them to the stage tonight. And now, class of 2026, tonight is all about you. As you sit here surrounded by friends, family, teachers, coaches, and mentors, I hope you take a moment to look around and appreciate what's right in front of you. Life moves quickly. There's always going to be another goal to pursue, another challenge to overcome, and another chapter to begin. But this is a moment you're only going to get once. Before you focus on what comes next, take time to celebrate just exactly how far
009you've come and all the people that have helped you get there. This class of 2026 has faced challenges, disappointments, victories, lessons, and growth. Through it all, you have demonstrated resilience, determination, and strength. But what makes this class special is not simply what you accomplished, but just who you've become. You've learned learned that hard work matters. You've learned that perseverance matters. You've learned that character matters. You've learned that integrity matters. And you've learned that doing the right thing is not always the easiest, but it's always the right thing to do. And as you move forward, there will be moments when others choose negativity, dishonesty, or unkindness. In this moment, you have a choice. You can lower yourself to meet that behavior, or you can stand firm on your values. Real strength is not found in tearing
010others down. Real strength is found in kindness, courage, self-control, and treating people with dignity, even when respect is difficult. Never mistake kindness for a weakness. Some of the strongest people in this world are those who continue to lead with compassion, who do what is right even when no one is watching, and who will continue to lift others up instead of pushing them down. As you leave Hazel Park, I hope you chase your dreams with determination. But I also hope you hold tightly the values that brought you here. Work hard, be honest, be dependable, strive for excellence, be the person others can trust, never lose your ability to care deeply about others and never underestimate the difference one can make because success is not measured by titles, awards, or accomplishment. Success is measured how you treat
011people, the choices you make when you're faced with adversity, and the positive impact you leave around us. Whether your life takes you to college, the military, a career, a trade, you can carry these lessons forward you learned here. Carry forward the friendships you built, the memories you've created, and the values that you've helped shape you into the person you are. Because a Viking is more than attending Hazel Park schools, it means you are resilient even when it's difficult. You persevere through challenges, you care for others. It means striving for excellence, it means the courage to stand up, and the strength to move forward. As your superintendent, I want you to know how proud I am of each and every one of you. It has been a privilege to watch you grow, learn, compete, perform, overcome
012challenges, and support one another. You have brought energy this year, spirit, and pride to Hazel Park schools, and you've helped to make this a better place. But most importantly, you should know you're loved, you're valued, and you matter. Tonight, leave here as graduates, but you will always remain the part of Hazel Park's family. The community will always be proud of you, will be cheering for you, and will always have a place you can call home. As you begin your next chapter, I cannot see where the Viking ventures take you. I look forward to hearing your stories, your success, and watch the incredible impact you have on your families, the community, and the world around you. Before you rush towards tomorrow, take a moment to appreciate this one. Look around, celebrate those who helped you get
013there, enjoy this milestone and the memories you created. You've earned it. Congratulations, class of 2026. Once a Viking, always a Viking. >> At this time, I would like to call up my second grader, my sixth grader, and now my 2026 valedictorian, Frankie Aquino. >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Good evening, families, friends, staff, and most importantly, class of 2026. A lot of us have known Hazel Park our whole lives. Seriously, graduating feels less like moving on and more like escaping. With my older sisters going here before me, I felt connected to this school for a long time. For instance, those long dance competitions on Saturdays. And over these years, I've seen this place transform in numerous ways, unlike those uncomfortable bleachers on those long dance days, being replaced with more uncomfortable bleachers. And while the bleachers may
014not have gotten any more comfortable, change was a familiar part of our lives here. Teachers coming and going, security upon entering the building, and the extra security, placing our phones in Yondr pouches. Yet, the most significant change was ourselves. Four years ago, we walked into this building as freshmen with no idea what the future looks like and who we were as individuals. Now, we're graduating with slightly more knowledge of who we are in regards to our style, music taste, hobbies, and other aspect aspects that make you unique, that make you you. And while we've all grown in different ways, none of us could have done it alone. One of the greatest parts of high school is that you don't just discover who you are, but you encounter the people who who help you become that
015person. For me, it's been my friends. The people who've made stressful moments feel lighter, who can make a whole lunch table laugh with inside jokes, who believe in you most when you struggle to believe in yourself. The people beside you are what make growing up feel less overwhelming. Knowing that you have people behind you that make you feel confident and proud of who you are is what reminds you that you're never alone. And the same goes for most when it comes for when it comes to family. They've been our advocates along the way, the foundation, especially during our worst moments. And personally, I'll be grateful for their encouragement, notably for my mom's sacrifices to guide me, to broaden my perspective by trying new things, and to teach me patience with myself and others to support
016my journey. And trust me, no one has taught me patience better than my mother. Which reminds me, Mr. Deemus, from my second grade teacher to my high school principal, you've been there through every chapter of my life. And while I'm going to be missing your reminders about how I chose the wrong university, I'm sure what you'll miss most is receiving a million questions from my mother via text. And of course, thank you to the core of Hazel Park, the staff and coaches who not only educated us, but emotionally supported and listened to this generation's troubles as teenagers. Because even though some have it figured out, we truly lack for what's in we truly lack control for what's in store for us. And honestly, that's okay because uncertainty is a common theme in life. Our environment
017continues to endure significant changes due to events. We lack this control in navigating how we connect with those around us, how we present ourselves, and the uncertainty that the path we choose for ourselves today may not be the path we walk on tomorrow. Jesus. The point is, our generation is constantly learning to adapt in an ever-changing world where pressure is put on us to know exactly where we're headed. Leaving here today, you won't remember the assignments or every test. You'll remember the people, the teachers who believed in you, and the friendships that helped shape who you became, and of course, made high school not feel like an escape after all. Ending this speech, I'd like to share a quote from my future astronomer colleague, Neil deGrasse Tyson. We are all connected to each other biologically,
018to the earth chemically, to the rest of the universe atomically. Thank you, class of 2026. Let's go, Vikings. >> [screaming] [cheering] >> And remember, wherever you go, go blue. >> [screaming] [cheering] [screaming] >> Good evening. Oh. The freedoms we enjoy in the United States of America each and every day are protected and enforced by the members of our armed forces. We would like to take an opportunity to ask the active duty members of our armed forces, as well as veterans, stand and be recognized. We thank you for your service. >> The graduating class of 2026 has six members that have chosen to enter the military. We are thankful for their commitment and dedication to protecting those rights we hold most sacred. Will the following graduates please stand as we honor you? Lathan Chambers >> [cheering]
019>> Stevie Standen Gregory Crouch Lillian Griffiths >> [cheering] >> Catherine Miller >> [cheering] >> Kendra Miller and Khalia Walker. >> [cheering] >> Your service to the United States of America is a debt we cannot adequately repay. To each of you and your families, you have our respect and gratitude for putting your service above self. Good luck, stay safe, we are proud of you. At this time, I would like to invite the Board of Education and Dr. Wilcox up front while we present our graduates with their diplomas. >> [screaming] [cheering] [screaming] [cheering] >> Okay. Hello everybody. I am one of the counselors here at Hazel Park. Um ex- Excuse me, if we can hold our our um our cheering until we announce each of the graduates, and then you can cheer. Who's Sam Alghurani? Frank Aquino.
020>> [cheering] >> Marco Baker. Kairi Belton. >> [cheering] >> Jacob Betts. >> [cheering] >> Preston Blaze. >> [cheering and screaming] >> Tavion Branson. >> [cheering] >> Santiago Calderon Ortiz. >> [cheering] >> Douglas Calhoun Jr. >> [cheering] >> Preston Calhoun >> [cheering] >> Sasian Khan >> [cheering] >> Lathan Chambers >> [cheering] >> Alyssa Cochran >> [cheering] >> Kai Elise Tyke >> [cheering] [applause] [screaming] >> Gregory Randall Lewis Crouch >> [cheering] >> Aiden Christopher Dean >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Tony Dudley Will Eddie >> [cheering] >> Derek Ford Jr. Travis French >> [cheering] [applause] >> Riley Carroll Adams [cheering] Fatima Elsabahi Amaya Askew >> [screaming] >> Trinity Bingham >> [screaming] >> Joyden Bora >> [cheering] >> Nivea Faith Breck >> [cheering] >> Justina Lynn Brooks >> [cheering] >> Jayla Deshira Brown. >> [cheering] >> Nurella Grace Brown. >>
021[cheering] >> Isabella Rosebud Green. Jenaia Clayton. >> [screaming] >> Bria Janae Collins. >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Morgan Marie Glenn Cook. >> [cheering] >> Tamara Craw. >> [screaming and cheering] >> Jenavia De La Nuez. >> [cheering] >> Alyssa Renee Dean. >> [cheering] [screaming] >> London DeLoach. Paris DeLoach. >> [cheering and screaming] >> Ashley Denard. >> [cheering] >> Mamie Doriah Decco. >> [cheering] >> Brennan Edward Fronczak. >> [cheering] >> Trevor Gibson. Liam Hawkey. >> [cheering] >> Christopher Galli Hannah. >> [cheering] [applause] >> Jordan Christopher Lawn Harris. >> [cheering] >> Jerrell Davon Hart. >> [cheering and screaming] >> Andre Lavon Hogan Jr. >> [cheering] >> Sherman Joseph Demetrius Holy. >> [cheering] >> Braden Horrell. >> [cheering] >> Ian Jackson. >> [cheering] >> Martez Jackson. Jacob Jelly. >> [cheering] >> Maxwell Jones. >> [cheering] >> Nathan Wallace Keers. >>
022[cheering] >> Ian Wallace LaPoint. >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Dylan Lloyd. >> [screaming] >> Lorenzo Lloyd. >> [cheering] >> Lee Lyle. >> [cheering] >> Jace Marcel Martin. >> [cheering] >> Jaden Maxwell Kayla Ann Downey >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Ava Chanel Drake >> [screaming] >> Aliyah Elam >> [screaming] >> Jayla Gaines >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Miley Elizabeth Garcia >> [cheering] >> Brooklyn Gray >> [screaming and cheering] >> Breanna Renee Green >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Lillian Nicole Griffith >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Harmony Marie Hayes >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Demia Janae Marie Henderson Hayley Horton >> [screaming] >> Teresa Howell Chase Johns >> [cheering] >> Autumn Johnson >> [cheering] >> Beverly Johnson >> [cheering] >> Kira Johnson >> [cheering and screaming] >> Tajay Jones >> [cheering] >> Lilly Ann Ireland Kennedy >> [cheering] >> Dynasty Denise Long Kenya Maciel
023>> [cheering] >> Anthony Dakota Mitchell >> [cheering] >> Justin Morris Caden Rico Morton Tellis >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Giovanni Moss Jelks Sincere Neil >> [cheering and screaming] >> Caleb Lee Niebel >> [cheering] >> Pennel Nwamba >> [laughter] >> Montrell Angelo Parker >> [cheering] >> Jonas Peck Marcus Perales >> [cheering and screaming] >> Danny Ray Fob III >> [cheering] >> Morris Xavier Poole >> [cheering] >> Gage Logan Pouge Malachi Cortez Randall Brandon Ramanar >> [cheering] >> Joseph Miguel Sanchez Estrada >> [cheering] [cheering] >> Keshawn Anthony Ranzel Stewart Connor Bryce Thomas >> [cheering] >> O'Mariyan Te'Shawn Thurman >> [screaming and cheering] >> Silas Foster Trenholm >> [cheering] >> Jalela Maryan >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Madison Denette Meade Catherine Janette Miller >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Kendra Rianne Miller Jade Amari Moore >> [cheering and screaming] >> Jalia Nicole
024Morris Emma Belle Mullins >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Catherine Michelle Mazzarelli >> [screaming] >> Autumn Yolanda Nebinger Leana Grace Otis Nunley >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Isabella Marguerite Perales >> [cheering and applause] >> Madison Anne Platt >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Michaela Ramsey >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Alana Barbara Roberts >> [cheering] [applause] >> Tori Tiane Robison >> [cheering] >> Haley Alexis Rosenbloom >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Isabella Maria Safar >> [cheering] >> Mariana Diana Scott >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Zoe Marie Sokolowski Maniac Elijah Day Summers >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Lucas Robert Turner Jaden Washington >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Richard Washington III >> [cheering] >> Ethan Waters William Cortez Williamson >> [cheering] >> Niyara London Timms >> [screaming] >> Hannah Morgan Truba >> [cheering] >> Chloe Lorraine Walker >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Kalia Walker >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Angel Roxanne
025Wallace >> [cheering] >> Colby Lynn Walters >> [cheering] >> Shanaya Naveah Wilson >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Madison Miracle Young >> [screaming] [cheering] >> Congratulations Hazel Park class of 2026. Please give them a round of applause. >> [cheering] [cheering] >> At this time if you would please join us in the singing of our alma mater. >> Lill G, I told you I wouldn't forget you this evening. So, at this time, if you would welcome our class president for our closing remarks tonight, Lillian Griffiths. >> [cheering] [screaming] >> Good evening, faculty, families, friends, and importantly, the Hazel Park Class of 2026. It's strange sitting here right now because for years we counted down to this moment. Graduation always felt so far away. We said things like senior year is going to fly by, but none of us
026were really uh prepared for how fast someday would turn into right now. Four years that felt so long at the beginning somehow turned into just a few short moments. Moments filled with early mornings we definitely didn't want to wake up for. Tests we absolutely studied for, meaning we opened the study guide, read the first question, and just hoped the rest would be multiple choice. And the classic question we all ask ourselves at least once a week in math or science, are we ever actually going to use this in real life? And if anyone here ends up using logarithms after graduation, please let the rest of us know because I'm still very confused. The weird thing about high school is that the moments that seem small while they're happening end up meaning the most later. The
027loud lunches, the random hallway conversations, the last minute homework before class, the football games, the people we saw every single day. Those moments felt permanent. But one day they quietly became the last time. And that's the hardest part about growing up. You never realize something is the last time until it's already over. There's a quote from The Office that says, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." I think that's exactly what tonight feels like. Before I move on, there's something personal I want to share. For a long time in high school, I felt the kind of person who didn't fully belong. I wondered if I was too much or maybe not enough. But over time, the people sitting here tonight changed that for
028me. You talked to me, believed in me, and helped me realize that I did belong. And even if that sounds small, it isn't. Oh. Because when people truly see and accept you, it changes you. Years from now, when life gets busy, it's nice to know some of us might still be helping each other. If my future kids end up falling sick, maybe Bella, our future pediatrician, will be taking care of them. And when I get married someday, maybe Derek will be there photographing the whole thing. No matter where life takes us, >> [cheering] >> the part of the class of 2026 will always stay connected. So, thank you. Thank you for the memories, the chaos, the laughter, and the friendships that made these four years unforgettable. Thank you for changing each other, and thank you
029for changing me. >> [cheering] >> Tonight is the last time we will all be together like this. The last time we are simply the class of 2026. So, before we leave, take a second and really look around. Someday this moment will just be a memory, but it's the one we'll carry with us forever. >> [snorts] >> Years from now, when someone asks where we came from, I hope we proudly say, "We were the Hazel Park Class of 2026." Congratulations, Class of 2026. We made it. >> [cheering] >> At this time, graduates, please join me as I remove our tassels from right to left to signify the end of our high school journey. >> [cheering] >> As the sun sets on the Class of 2026, this concludes our commencement ceremony for the evening. Our graduates will
030now gather near the end zone for their cap toss. Thank you for attending this evening. Have a great night and be safe. >> [cheering] [music] >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. >> Mhm.