001Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey everybody. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. right there. Ready? Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hallelujah. Heat. Heat. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Hey. Heat. Heat. Awesome. Breathing. Heat. Heat. Heat.
002Heat. Yeah. Good evening. I want to first congratulate the class of 2026. I also want to welcome our guests, our parents, our grandparents, our family, our friends, and of our staff. Thank you all for supporting this great group of students. You started your journey as kindergarten students and now you are graduating with confidence to change the world. As one chapter closes, another chapter opens. The next chapter is unwritten and this is your book to write. Please remember the staff in the community will always be interested in the mountains you move and write your next chapter. And remember that we always will be concerned and want to know where you are going and what mountains you are moving. Congratulations on your achievement and remember you always have a home at Carmichael's Area School District. The national
003anthem will be sung by Emma Bates. Graduates, family members, and guests, please raise rise. And gentlemen, please remove your hats. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light, what so proudly we held at the twilight last gleaming. ing whose broad stripes send bright stars through the perilous fight. Or the ramarts we watched were so gallently streaming. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled B yet? Or the land of the free and the home of the brave. They don't. Commander Pus is the son of Chris and Kathy Poheis and the brother of Emily Capuli of Carmichaels. A 2006 graduate of Carmichaels. He played football, baseball, was in the marching band and C unit. He
004earned Eagle Scout and Boy Scout troop 1262. Commander Paul Heis graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2010 where he earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering with merit. After graduation, he attended flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas and Kingsville, Texas, and earned his wings of gold in August 2012. Commander Palmus completed initial training in the FA18EF Super Hornet at VFA 122 in Naval Air Station Lamore, California. During his first oper operational tour as a fighter pilot with the Golden Dragons of VFA 192 at Naval Air Station Lore, California, he served as avionics in our amendments division officer, schedules officer, assistant operations officer, NAOPS officer, and head landing signals officer. He deployed on board the USS George Washington in 2015, flying in support of Southern Seas Development, United's Atlantic and Pacific in Blue
005Sky V. Upon completion of test pilot school in September 2016, he reported to the dust devils of VX31 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, where he served as a de developmental test pilot for the FA18 and a project officer. In November of 2020, Commander Palis joined the Stingers of VFA 113 at Naval Air Station Lore, California as a departmental head. In 2021, Paulus deployed on board the USS Carl Vincson CVN70 in the Western Pacific Area of Responsibility. In June 2023, he reported above the aboard the Salty Dogs VX22 at Naval Air Station Batungent River, Maryland. At VX23, he serves as a developmental test pilot and department head, accumulating over 3,000 flight hours in various aircraft. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps's Commenation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps's Achievement Medal, and various
006unit, service, and campaign awards. He currently lives in southern Maryland with his beautiful wife Jamie and three amazing kids. Thank you, Kaylee, for that awesome introduction. Thanks, Principal Dvki and the school board for the truly awesome honor to be here and speak with you all tonight. Thanks to the faculty and staff for your tire tireless efforts to get these students to the stage tonight. To coach officer and Mr. Bates, a selfless professional, English, literature, and baseball were never my strong suits. But in the former, you taught us to always look for the deeper meaning. In the latter, you taught us tenacity. And both of those skills have gotten me to where I am today. Thanks to my parents, Chris and Kathy, who have always been there for me when I need advice or help to
007include six drives across the country with all my earthly belongings. And you've also taught my sister and I to be the best versions of ourselves. to my sister and brother-in-law who I am told by reliable sources are the best aunt and uncle ever. And finally to my beautiful wife Jamie. You are my rock and my best friend. And to my three amazing kids for the lessons you teach me every day. But please get ready for bed now. Oh, can I get a round of applause for the band? Thanks, class of 2026. As you move on from here, it's going to be easy to minimize little old Carmichaels. I didn't realize how truly great this area was until I came back to visit with some friends from college and got to see it through their eyes.
008We have room to roam, unique and delicious foods, beautiful scenery, and the very best down to earth and hardest working people I have ever met in my life. As for future preparation, coming from Carmichael schooling, it allowed me to compete academically with the rest of my C uh classmates. Specifically, I was able to validate Chem 1 and two thanks to Mr. Willis and that gave me the time to study and make it through my freshman year and I was able to continue on and grasp master's level classes at test pilot school thanks to the schooling here. Also, Triples football practice developed the grit that I needed to get through anything hard that happened in my life. And when times do get hard, I remember the everyday examples of the people in our community. The coal
009miners toiling underground, the farmers pouring their heart and soul into their livestock and crops, the volunteer firefighters, the state and local police officers. They're always there to answer the help when it's needed. Class of 2026, you come from an amazing place and it can take you anywhere. Graduates, I also want to talk to you about your next chapter. Tonight marks the end of a chapter that has defined your entire life. For years, your days were scheduled for you. Bells rang. Classes and teachers changed. Assignments were due. You attended practices, games, competitions. But you always knew roughly what was coming next. Looking ahead, the pages are blank. And that is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. Is anybody else in here just a little bit nervous? I know I sure was sitting in your
010seat 20 years ago. And that brings me to my first point. Nothing is written. You may think you already know what your future looks like. Maybe you're heading to college, a trade school. You have a job lined up, or going into the military, of which every path is unique and very important. You might even have a color-coded 5-year plan on your phone right now. And that's great. But understand this, life is never a straight line. Please don't take my meaning wrong. From the day one in the Navy, I was taught that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. But the degree you pursue may not lead to the career you love. The best fighter pilot I know has a degree in wildlife sciences. But the job you have lined up may only be
011a stepping stone to some path you never knew existed. The thing that you think defines you right now today may only become a footnote in the life you have ahead. And that is okay. In fact, it's normal. Some of the happiest and most successful people you'll meet are not the ones who perfectly followed the road map for their lives. They're the people who learn to adapt, roll with the punches, pivot, and move forward. If a species stops evolving, it becomes irrelevant and extinct. And the same goes for you. Human brains are wired for consistent learning. I have been guilty from time to time of uttering the fatal words, "I hate change." I am better than that and I know you are too. Embrace the new thing. Figure out what it does. Be the early adopter.
012Figure out what it can do for your lives, your businesses, your work. But sometimes your plans will fail. Sometimes your dreams will change. And sometimes you will discover that what fulfills you at 18 doesn't fulfill you at 28. That doesn't mean you failed. It just means you've lived. Your next chapter doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be yours. Setbacks, failure, and imperfection bring me to my second point. Tend to your mental well-being. The world you're stepping into moves fast. Everyone and everything is connected. Through social media, you're constantly compared and reminded of where everyone else compare uh where everyone else appears to be in life. If you're not careful, you can start believe that everyone else has it figured out and you don't. They don't have it figured out. Every person you admire
013has struggled. Every family has storms. And every life have moments where the path forward is hard to see. Before those difficult times come, and they will come for us all eventually, take time to build and strengthen your support network. Don't wait until your life falls apart to start caring for yourself. Know who your people are. Know who you can call any day or night. Know who will tell you the ugly truth. And know who reminds you of who you are when you forget. Some of my people were sitting in those chairs side by side with me 20 years ago when I graduated. But more importantly, be that person for someone else. Because difficult times don't make appointments before they show up. Some of the days in your future will feel heavy. And there may be
014moments when you feel lost or overwhelmed. And when those moments come, I hope you remember this. Asking for help is not weakness. It is wisdom. The strongest people are not the ones who carry the strain all alone. They're the ones who rely on others for help. And the final point I want to leave you with tonight is su success is not found at the destination. It is found along the journey. We always strive for the next milestone. Graduate. Get the job. Get the prom promotion. Buy the house. Have the toys. make it to retirement. And sometime along the way, we postpone our happiness, waiting for someday. But life is happening now. It's happening on ordinary Friday nights. It's happening at family dinners and small victories that go unnoticed and in quiet moments of gratitude. If
015you spend most of your life looking for the finish line, you will miss the race. One day, hopefully 70 or 80 years from now, maybe longer, thanks to advances in modern medicine, you'll be sitting in your rocking chair or whatever the futuristic floating chair is, and looking back on your life. And when that moment comes, I hope you're smiling. And I hope you're smiling not because it went perfectly, because it won't. Not because every dream worked out as planned. Not because you avoided failure or hardship, but because you truly lived. Because you kept going when life became difficult. You didn't stand at the edge of success waiting for permission to take the next step. Because you found beauty in ordinary days. And because you spent less time worrying about writing the perfect story and more
016time living it. Believe in yourself. Graduates, your next chapter is unwritten. Don't fear it. Embrace it. Wherever life takes you, protect your faith. Lean on your people. And remember, the value of life will not be measured by where you end up, but how much you lived by the time you got there. Class of 2026, congratulations. Your chapter begins now. >> Thank you very much. >> Congratulations. Thank you, Commander Paul Hemis, for those inspiring words. Before we continue tonight, I ask that anyone who is with us tonight who is currently serving in the military or a veteran of the military, please rise so we can recognize you. Thank you for your service and your commitment to our country. I'd also like to recognize the class of 2026 top 10. These students have an overall grade point
017average of 4.453 to 4.203. These students are being listed in alphabetical order, not numerical order. Students, when I call your name, please stand. Audience, please hold your applause until they're all standing. Emma Bates, Sophia Carter, Remington Krooks, Kaylee Dicki, Shaylee Glover, Olivia Mada, Anelise Popson, Roy Wgleman V, Addison Udovich, and Mandy Zang. The class of 2026 top 10. Congratulations. At this time, it is with great pleasure pleasure that I introduce the class of 2026 saludiatoran Sophia Bana Carter. Sophia is the daughter of Brandon and Samantha Carter of Carmichels. She has earned a 4.438 GPA. Her school activities include National Honor Society and Senior Standing Committee. She has won multiple awards and scholarships including Carmichael's Women's Civics Club Girl of the Month for April, Carmichael's Women's Civic Club Scholarship, Rising Star Senior Scholarship, Kity Warch Scholarship,
018Indiana University of Pennsylvania on housing schol onampus housing scholarship, Cooks Honor Society Scholarship, and Sutton Scholarship. Outside of school, Sophia is a veterary clinic assistant at Dr. Nancy Kurr's clinic. She also works with animals on a family farm. She has volunteered for Pittsburgh's Grand Pittsburgh's Vintage Grand Prix. After graduation, Sophia will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania to pursue a pre- veterary medicine degree while enrolled in Cook's Honor College. Her future plans are to become a mixed animal veterinarian. I present to you the class of 2026 saludiatoran, Sophia Carter. Good evening everyone. I don't really have a big inspirational message tonight. I think most of us are just ready for whatever comes next. High school had good moments and bad ones, but we made it through. So congratulations class of 26. That's all that really matters.
019Thank you, Sophia. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you to the class of 2026 validictorian and senior class president, Emma Mitchell Bates. >> She has a cumulative GPA of 4.453. Her school activities include the student founder of Merciful Mike's Christian club, the captain of the Environ first team, academic league, Katie Quiz team, the debate team. She is also a member of state ren representative Bud Cook student advisory board and served as the student representative to Carmichael's area school district comprehensive planning. Emma served as the National Honor Society secretary and was a member of the marching band, dance team, and drama club. She has won multiple awards and scholarships, including the recipient of the leader and faith award and the social studies and English student teacher student of the year. Throughout high school, she has received the
020Ralph K. Bell scholarship, the Kitsy K. Worsh Memorial Scholarship, the VFW Voice of Democracy, the Grove City Alumni Merit Scholarship, the May Happy Haffy Leadership Scholarship, the Chris and Betty McKenzie Scholarship, the Challenge Award Academic Scholarship, Women's Civic Club Girl of the Month for September, Paso Scholarship, Dr. Michael E. Zaylor Memorial Scholarship, and the Central Green Scholarship. She has also won $4,500 in scholarships for her participation in the Environ competitions. Her outside of school activities include being an employee for Flickin Library and a freelance writer for Green Screen Community Magazine. She also volunteers at Carmichael's Area Historical Society, the Bradford House. She was a member of the Waysburg University Lamplighters Choir. She took voice lessons in the fine arts academy. She has performed in musicals at local theaters. In the fall, she plans to attend
021Grove City where she is majoring in communications, arts, and history with a minor in writing and musical theater. She aspires to become a museum curator and perform off Broadway with her collegiate studies. I present to you the class of 2026 valadictorian and senior class president, Emma Bates. Welcome everybody. I figured started out starting out with a Stevie Nicks opener might be the most appropriate way to begin this evening, even if we're not at a Fleetwood Mack concert. I know I wish we were, too. Well, thank you ladies and gentlemen for that warm welcome. And thank you to every single person who made this evening possible. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you this evening. and fellow classmates. Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving as your class president this
022year. It has been an honor to grow up alongside you and to learn more about each one of you. Whether it was dancing together in kindergarten or just checking in in the lunch line last week. We really have been through a lot together if you think about it. That extended break in the spring of 2020 carried us into the next many years after sixth grade. Most of us have been together since the days of roller skating parties at one view and jump rope for heart. How can it be then in these past months many of us have played our last games, taken our last bowels, marched our last field shows, crafted our last projects, taken our last exams, exchanged last greetings, and watched our last sunset together as high school students. As I've been reflecting
023on what the close of this season means, not only for my educational journey, but in each activity I've had the privilege of being a part of and the relationships I have cherished with teachers and friends, I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed in the best possible way. The opportunity I have had to know and learn from every teacher here at Carmichaels has been truly a blessing. And I want to thank every member of the faculty and staff here for the huge role that you have played in my life. If I were to thank personally every single person who was to have made an impact on my life, we would be here until 10 p.m. And no one wants to be here till 10 p.m. You have played a role not only in my life,
024but in the lives of each one of these graduates sitting before you today. To every teacher that have ever opened their classrooms and their hearts, thank you from the bottom of mine. To those teachers and my dad's fifth grade team and the others in the elementary that gave me a place to be excited about learning, thank you for being a special school family to me in some of the most challenging times. Miss Bell, thank you for allowing me to believe in magic. Miss Adamson, thank you for sticking by me even through rounding. Math was never my strong suit. Still isn't. Neither was being quiet and sitting still, especially when phones needed answered. And thank you for your patience in all of those areas. As I moved into middle and high school, the teachers continued to
025be a special blessing. You've all loved and supported in a uniquely genuine way, and I cannot thank you enough. Making me feel like I belonged in your classrooms at any age, at any time, gave me the high school career many students can only hope for. Miss Reed, thank you for preparing me for the real world, one blunt but kind word at a time. Miss Hathaway, thank you for teaching me to be curious, not judgmental. Miss Shimco, thank you for not running away screaming when I signed up for three of your classes your first year here. I'm really glad it worked out. Mrs. Keiny, thank you for your countless Mike's period hours and your love. Mr. Hess, thank you for being my number one tutor even from across the breezeway and for creating a family culture
026of the academic league. Dr. Pop, thank you for carrying out merciful mics so faithfully this year. Mrs. Anderson and Mrs. Thomas, thank you for your dedication to this year's senior class. Pro, I promise I remember a little more than Bitty Bitty Bum Bum from Spanish class, but that'll always be my favorite. To Mrs. Janine Hudok, my forever drama and honestly everything else mama, I'm really glad we did high school together. And to one teacher who is instructing students somewhere else now, but will always be the mentor and friend I look up to. Miss Morgan Miller, thank you for your Christlike strength that you use to carry me and many of my classmates through every shortcom and celebration. Yours will always be the hallway I run to visit first. Oh, and Mr. Bates, um, beans, squash,
027and corn, I think, would be the correct terms. Thanks for not failing me in your class. And Mrs. Bates, thank you for your love and your support, too. So, let's talk about this point in our lives, fellow graduates. I know I'm feeling a little of both responses that you're all probably processing right now, too. Some of you might be leaning a little more toward the get me out approach. And believe me, I've been right there with you many days. But one of the lessons I've learned when I start to feel burnout is that presence is so very important even when we feel like we're in the wrong place. Another very energetic and encouraging teacher has always said this before big moments as the Environ team. Close your eyes. I want you to wiggle your toes.
028You're only going to be here once. And Mr. Willis, you were right. I'll admit I was a little afraid of those intense treehugging people at first, but I got over it. Just like I got over my fear of football games as a member of dance team, my fear of rejection with each special friendship I had the privilege of sharing in, and my fear of loss as each senior I said goodbye to moved on as the person who was often the youngest one in the room. And now I'm here to remind you to wiggle your toes wherever you end up standing in life. With that, I recognize the other side of the coin that many of you might be feeling below the excitement of this next chapter opening. If you're feeling anxious about leaving what has
029been or fearing the changes that are sure to come, remember that closure is important. Sometimes it's good to leave a good thing before the magic dies. Sometimes it's only in saying goodbye that we can truly say hi to our next story. But no matter what you're feeling tonight, let me simply remind you that if you are here, and I don't just mean in this room, but if you are here today, you are in the right place. Some days you might feel like you have traveled the world and yet cannot escape your own mind. I can assure you there were moments where I felt I hadn't done enough, that I wasn't capable of being enough. And on my own that is true. I am not defined by what I do, but by who I am. And
030so are you. You are not enough by this world's standards, but I believe and I'm here to tell you that if nothing else, you are also very much enough for God and for the people who value and cherish you. You were made for a purpose. You don't have an arbitrary need for being here. Your purpose is to live before you die. And along the whole journey, God will be there holding your hand, going before you and going behind you when you need that, too. Live Before We Die. Okay, here we go. My last theater reference, maybe. There's a song at the end of the Adams Family musical that I got to be in where Morticia and Gomez, two characters in the show, have to make a choice. Ultimately, they choose, in spite of what has
031been and in spite of what will be, to hold each other tight and dance. And that's what life is. Life is a dance. And it's not one that we always stick very well to the choreography in either. Life is not beautiful because it's perfect, but because it takes more than just ourselves to live it. For me, living before I die means embracing the happy sad by celebrating each moment I am blessed to be in. Sometimes through tears that don't just have one meaning. You know, there's a moment in theater before the lights come up when the air is cool and it's just you and your stage family standing in a blackout. In a few seconds, you're going to be hit with the most beautiful flash of color and an eruption of sound. Music applause, the
032mixing of your voices. But for now, it's quiet. In this moment, you give the last hugs, and you take hands with the ones who have become your people. Some for a season, some for a lifetime. And you know that both of these are okay. You're going to miss what was, but you can't wait for that first note to strike. Because when it does, man is it good. Living before we die means remembering that we are not on this earth for ourselves alone, but for the person to our left and to our right, the ones behind us, the ones before us, and the ones in our hearts. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever wherever you go. So wiggle your toes. Embrace happy, sad, and
033let's live before we die. Thank you and congratulations, class of 2026. Thank you, Emma. With us tonight are many of the amazing teachers who accompany your sons and daughters through their elementary, middle, and high school experiences. Teachers, will you please stand to be recognized? And also a special thank you goes out to Mrs. Carrie Thomas and Mrs. Amanda Anderson as the senior class sponsors. Thank you for making this senior year memory. Sponsor. I'd also like to thank everyone who made tonight possible. Um Travis Townsen with his IT administration up top. Um we have Jess Hathaway, Mike's Nation Live, this is being broadcast tonight. Um Joanna Walker and her band, thank you for the music. Gary Cirkig, thank you for setting everything up with his crew um so that everything looks so beautiful here tonight. I'd
034also like to thank Craig Miller and his security staff for making sure that everything um works well. Without your help tonight, this event would not be possible for us to celebrate our seniors. So, I thank you. And now it's time for the awards presentation. In 1998, Michael E. Hiluca, a 1959 graduate of Cumberland Township High School, and his wife, Kathleen Marinoff, a 1964 graduate of Carmichael's Area High School, created a scholarship to be awarded each year to an outstanding senior of Carmichael's Area High School. This scholarship will be awarded in increments of $1,000 a year to the recipient in good standings at an accredited college. Anybody with us tonight who received the scholarship in the past, please rise. Tonight's recipient of the Michael E. Haluca and Kathleen Marininov Scholarship is Sophia Carter. Congratulations. Thank you.
035Congratulations, Sophia. In 1999, Paul and Dolores Jazu Lavins, graduates of Cumberland Township High School, established the Jazu Lavin scholarship in honor of their families. This $5,000 a year renewable scholarship is awarded to two outstanding seniors. With us tonight to present the Paul and Dolores Jazwa Lavin Scholarship is Mrs. Rachel Angry, the 2001 winner. Okay, got to put this down. I'm only 4 foot 11 for those of you who haven't seen me before. Okay, so good evening and congratulations again to the class of 2026. I'm Rachel Angry, a 2001 Carmichael alumni. So that was just a mere what, 25 years ago, and I probably haven't grown since then. I think I'm shrinking at this point. Um, I'm also a former recipient of the Paul and Dolores Jaswell Lavins Scholarship, and I'm honored to be the presenter
036this year and previous years as I love to share the story. This is a story about two incredible people that ultimately changed my life and all of the lives of the alumni that may be among us this evening. Did you announce any of the alumni? Are there any of them here? Okay. So, any of the alumni of this scholarship, please stand. Let us recognize who's here with me. So the two incredible people were Paul and Dolores Jaswell Lavins who had very humble beginnings just like many of us here. Dolores was from Nemolan and Paul was from Rice's Landing. Both of their fathers were coal miners and they graduated from this very school district in 1949. Back then it was called Cumberland Township High School. Some of you may even recognize Paul and Dolores's smiling, big-hearted,
037happy faces down the hallway at the Lavins Media Center that was dedicated by them in 2021. Their generosity is incredibly far-reaching, far outside the walls of this very school. Together they created a nonprofit foundation for a wide variety of charitable purposes and have donated more than any of us can imagine combined to various art institutions, community foundations, educational institutions, food banks, soup kitchens, libraries, operas, orchestras, special Olympics, war memorials, zoos, you name it. Their generosity in the arts and humanities was truly never ending. There is even a Dolores Jean Lavven's Center for the Humanities and Medicine with the Mayo Clinic that her husband Paul founded. Though Paul and Dolores have both passed on from this life, their everreaching generosity continues and they deserve an eternity of thanks. This is tough again. A second year it's
038tough. Okay, pull it together. Most importantly together Paul and Dolores were strong believers of the unlimited potential and benefits of a great education. And that is why in 1999 they established their scholarship fund to benefit students in need from their very own alma mater Darl Carmichels. The first two Paul and Dolores Jaswell Lavin scholarships were awarded here at the commencement of the class of 2000. And every year since then, as was prefaced, there has been two $20,000 scholarships awarded. That's 26 years and just over $1 million. Tonight will mark incredible. Tonight will mark the 27th year of this incredible set of scholarships awarding from their foundation that continues being run by some of their grandchildren and other friends that were a part of their foundation. So now let me present to you in no particular
039order this year's Paul and Dolores Jaswell Lavin scholarship recipients. Kaylee Dicki Thank you. And the next recipient, Mandy Zang. Thank you so much. Congratulations, Kaylee and Mandy. Thank you to the Rachel for presenting tonight and thank you to the Jazwell Lavvens family for your tremendous gen generosity. They will serve these students well in the fall. As we come together tonight to celebrate this important milestone of graduation of high school, let's take a moment and reflect on the journey that brought us here today. Each of our graduates have faced challenges, experienced growth, and demonstrated resiliency throughout their high school years. Parents, guardians, and extended family members, your support has been priceless. You have cheered from the sidelines. You have been the shoulder to lean on, and you have celebrated every minute of success throughout this entire
040journey. Your love and encouragement has helped shape these graduates into the amazing individuals they are today. Thank you to everyone who has supported our graduates. To the class of 2026, your time here deserves a lot of recognition both in academics and extracurricular activities. You have WPA playoff teams in volleyball, baseball, and softball. Congratulations to Bailey Barnac for breaking the school record in the total number of strikeouts in softball with 890 strikeouts. That's going to be a tough one to beat. To our softball team, I wish you the best of luck as you could start competing on Monday in the PIAA playoffs. This class alo also had athletes who participated in the WPIL individual qualifiers in both cross country and track. In addition to sports, we had our band who placed first in King in the
041King Cole parade. Our outstanding video media class with a wonderful Mike's Nation live broadcast who have over 1750 subscribers that they produce over 750 videos that have been watched. We have successful career in technology students that gained invaluable hands-on experience well beyond the classroom that will make them very highly competitive in their future careers. They have demonstrated exceptional skills by all passing their NOTI with nine students scoring advanced scores on their noises while also earning multiple industry certifications within their respective trades. the Environ team who placed first in Green County and third in the state. Our very talented drama club who had us wanting to sing and dance to the Greece musical. Our rigorous EMT course with all students passing their psycho motor exams and preparing to take their final cognitive test soon. Our talented
042young artists who tried something new this year. They showcased their wonderful art in a digital format and they created their own digital art show. They were also the first group of students to have a college ceramic class. to our successful esports team, our competitive academic team, the investment club where students gained real world financial experience, our cuttingedge STEM program, our amazing debate team, and our innovative small business classes. Academically, many of you have challenged yourself taking college credit courses with over 30 of you 30 of you earning at least three credits of college before graduating here. Class of 2026, your hard work has not gone unnoticed and has resulted in over a quarter million dollars worth of scholarships. During your time here, you've gained far more than academic knowledge. You have received valuable lessons and
043meaningful moments that have reached far beyond your classroom walls. These experiences open doors and new opportunities to unforgettable memories along the way. You discovered that success is not measured by grades or achievement, but it is measured by the positive impact that you make on others in the world around you. Throughout these experiences, each of you have begun to create your future pathway. You have began to plan this pathway with 70% of you planning to go on to a two or four-year college or trade school. 30% of you are planning on going into the workforce. I assure you that you are ready for these next steps as well as the challenges associated with them. A testament to your readiness is evidenced by the Carmichael's area alumni present with us tonight. The foundation from their success came
044from their experiences at Carmichael School District. Remember, success is a choice, but with the the foundations you received here, failure is not an option. Each and every one of you will find your own accomplishments and become the next successful Carmichael's alumni story. Class of 2026, you will make great accomplishments in the world. I assure you with hard work that you will never have to settle for anything and you will cons continue the Carmichael's legacy of excellence. Good luck to each and every one of you as you enter the next chapter. I will leave you with a poem called Succeed by Julia Herbert. Congrats. Bravo. You did it. Now on to the next chapter of your life. It won't be all cherries and roses, but keep thinking positive and work that strife. Each time we move
045on to something different, we sometimes hold our expectations high. Try not to be disappointed. So you will be good and you will watch we will watch you fly. Graduation is amazing thing. You stuck with it and show that you can. Many people are excited and impressed. You can't forget you made me a fan. I wish you all the best in your future. May it be everything that you need. I I see great things to come your way. You have what it takes to succeed. Congratulations, class of 2026. You will be writing your own success story. And remember, once a mic, always a mic. Please rise the class. Ladies and gentlemen, these students before you tonight have fulfilled all the requirements set forth by Carmeck's Area School District Board of Education as well as the Commonwealth
046of Pennsylvania. Mr. Dr. John Menhart, president of this board of education. I now present to you the class of 2026, graduating class of Carmichael's Area High School. Maya Mikuel Adamson Braden James Andrews, >> Bailey Nicole Barniaak, >> Emma Mitchell Bates, Riley Sue Bowman, >> Landon Michael Brown, Canon Anthony Bupka >> Case William Robert Bur writer Lee Raymond Campbell, >> Sophia Bana Carter, >> Micah Lee Clark, Maddox Erin Connley got it. >> Remington Mikuel Krooks Abigail Irene Cupet Kyle Wesley David Kaye Marie Dicki Gage Michael Edwards Thomas Wilbert Friend Jr. Skyler Ray Glendenning, >> Shaylee Renee Glover. Landon Hartley Gorby Haley Marie Hawk, >> Gabrielle Rebecca Hennessy, Gavin Michael Hewitt, >> Savannah Lee >> Dominic Lewis Jones, Parker Brian Jones, >> Nicholas Allen Carrick, >> Hunter Walker, Kerr, Thank you. >> Evan William King, >> Gage
047Allen Kundley. Thank you, >> Bailey Victoria Landal, >> Olivia Eden Lawrence, Kenzie Renee Lipkcom, >> Olivia Eileen Ma Emma Lily Mey, >> Caris Ryan McConnell, Michael Tyler McFaden. William Robert Murray III, >> Marina Aurora, Nef Suzanne Dorcas, Sarah Ochetsky, Marilyn Perusei, Payton Ireland Plavavy, >> Annelise Genevieve Popson Olivia Meline Price, >> Kaylee Marie R Abigail Eloise Ray, >> Katie Jean Rhodess, Cooper Thomas Richards, >> Roy Blair Wrigleman V. Joshua Payton Ross, >> Matthew Mitchell, Roose, >> Gabriella Feliz Russo, Jericho Joshua Shiffbower, >> Madison Paige Scoggin, Jonathan James Sabolski, Bailey Noel Smith, Andrew Austin Ray Tasker, Brady Walter Thomas, >> Kayn Heather Thomas, Addison Marie Udovich, >> Michael Jaden Washinski, Haley Don Jerger, >> Mandy Zang Please rise. Class of 2026. By the power vested in me by the state of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you
048graduates of Carmichael's Area School District. Congratulations, class of 2026. Everyone, please stand for our alma mater. Heat. Heat. Hallelujah. Heat. Mother Thank you. This concludes our ceremony. Please allow the graduates to process out first. Heat. Heat. Heat.