001rain overall. She does. Goodbye. Yeah, that's right. What is happening Yeah. It's Oh my god. I'm going to look at my legs. I love it. Is that what you say? Is that Mr. Brown? Oh my god. All right. Yeah. I wonder why. You told me there My name is Smith and it's my honor to be your master today. Before we begin, there are a few points I'd like to imagine name is read. Please be considerate of others and do not make excessive noise. All >> we do not want anyone to mispr. First, I'd like to introduce Ko School District's board of directors. President Morgan White was elected in 2021 and is serving her second term on the board. Morgan and her husband Greg are long time residents, both graduates of Kville High School, and parents
002of the Kville. Morgan has a BS in web design and graphic art from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. She is a United States Air Force veteran, a small business owner, and an active volunteer in the school district. Vice President Nancy Connard is a longtime clinical resident. She attends C she attended Kville school district K12 and went to work 30 years for the school district retired as business manager in 2004. Her experiences budgeting, financial management, collective bargaining, personnel, purchasing and construction pilot serve her well as a school board director. Nancy also served the town of Kville as a mayor for 20 years and has been very involved in many community organizations and activities including the Lions Club, Sophus, and would be community foundation. Director Allison Pereira was appointed to the board in December 2022 and was
003elected to a four-year term in 2023. Her children attended Koopas schools and she has served as a volunteer in many capacities. Director Pereira holds a bachelor of arts in physics from Clark College. Director Chip Murwine was appointed to the director of district 1 in November 2023. He's a native of Mississippi and came to Libby Island in 1975 due to his service in the United States Navy. He served the Kville school school district both as a teacher and an IT support specialist, fully retiring in 2018. He is a former president and is currently the treasure of the Coupe Schools Foundation. Director Brian Sherman was appointed director of district 3 in September of 24. He has deep roots in our community having grown up in Kville having attended our schools and is now a parent of Kville
004students. Director Sherman attended Washington State University studying agricultural economics and management works in agricultural financial planning and analysis while opportunity to help on his family's fifth generation farm. Following the board members, please welcome our superintendent Shannon Lewward who is in her second year as superintendent for schools. She brings 29 years of experience in education, including 15 as an administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels, and 13 years as an elementary teacher and instructional coach. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from St. Lawrence University, her master's degree in administration, curriculum, and instruction from Gonzaga University, and her superintendent credentials from Washington State University. Following the superintendent, please welcome the rest of our administrative team. Erica McCall, principal of Coop Elementary School, and Becky Kay's, principal of Kville Middle and High School. Erica McCall
005is in her second year as principal of Koop Elementary. Fun fact, it's her dream job. She resides in Koopa with her family. Both of her children attend Koopa Middle School. Erica has bachelor's degree in psychology, master's degree in school counseling, and a certificate in educational leadership and administration at Fresno State University. She has worked in education for over 10 years and has been administrator both California and Washington. Becky Kay is in her first year as a principal of Kville Melon High School. Becky has her bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Washington, master's degree in teaching from Western Washington University, and her certificate in educational leadership and administration from City University of Seattle. She is just completing her 22nd year in education and has been a teacher administration in Washington State, Indonesia, Egypt, and
006Saudi Arabia. Following this case is our outstanding staff of Kville High School and Kville School District. Thank you. As the staff is coming down, many of the graduates you will see following the staff this afternoon wearing cords that signify their academic success and leadership within the Cougill High School. Seniors wearing gold honor cords are graduating with a 3.7 to 4.0 GPA. Silver cords represent those who are graduating with a 3.3 to 3.6 GPA and blue cords represent students who are graduating with a 3.0 to 3.29 GPA. Red, black, and white cords are worn by members of the 2026 Cougill High School Captain's Club. These student athletes are nominated by their coaches not just for their performance in competition, but for the way they represent their teams on and off the field before court and in
007the classroom. These students have earned the respect of their teammates through hard work, dependability, and commitment. Teal, pink, white, and black boards are worn by students who served on the yearbook staff for four semesters, including their senior year, held a leadership role, demonstrated strong skills in writing, design, photography, communication, and organization. They uphold the highest standards of responsibility, accuracy, and ethical journalism. Yellow and blue cords are worn by members of our Leo's Club, which is a community service club sponsored by the Koopa Alliance Club. Red honor cords are worn by seniors who served on the high school's ASB executive board and attended over 50% of the meetings this year. These students helped to maintain our ASB budgets, planned events like fundraisers, assemblies, dances, and games, as well as fun and engaging opportunities for their student
008body. Kville's valadictorian for 2026 is Tatian Coffins who is wearing a medallion for academic success. Spear is a salator for the class. He is wearing a medallion for his academic success. It is now my privilege to introduce the graduating seniors at Cville High School, class of 2026. Yeah. Hallelujah. Father, we love What's up? Woo! Merry Christmas. Hallelujah. name. Thank you. Let's give a big hand to our 2026 fans. >> All right, please remain standing. I present to you again the 2026 graduation graduating class of 2026. I'd like to introduce Lindy Sylvester, our junior class student board representative, who's going to be doing the pledge of allegiance and land acknowledged and district equity statements. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
009stands one nation indivisible and justice for all. schools are located on the ancestral lands of thousands of years, waterways, plants, and animals. We pay respect to the elders past, present, and emerging where they hold the memories, traditions, and culture of their people across the nation. Cub schools are committed to educating students, staff, and community about this long history. as we honor and acknowledge the continued presence of the Swimmish Indian tribal community and all other indigenous peoples. >> Thank you, Lindy. Please remain standing for the national anthem performed by SA. Excuse me. Oh, say you see by the dawn early light. What's so proudly held at the twilight lasting? Who's broad stripes can bright stars through the paraly or the real parts we watch were so gallently streaming and the rocks bursting in air proof. through
010the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does the stars spangled ber or the land of the free and the home above bra. Great job. Graduates, you may be seated. Now in the direction known as Casey, our high school will be Take these for this moment to arise. Baby, you were only waiting for this moment to be free. to the light of the dark. You were only waiting for this moment to arise. Jesus. You are only waiting for this moment to arise. You only wait for this moment to arise. You will be waiting for this moment. >> Thank you, Miss Ret. And choir, extra credit for anyone that knows who sing. No, he's part of the band. Small band. >> I would now like to introduce Miles Gerber for the Cville High School.
011Welcome. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Okay, here we are. Today, the Coup class of 2026 is about to cross the nation. We're about to walk across this stage, receive our diplomas, and become graduates. Thank you to everyone here today to watch us hit this milestone and celebrate with us. Through these last 13 years, there has been a team of staff, family, friends, and community backing us up and pushing us forward. Thank you for all of the support throughout high school, but for your support, important aspirations beyond as well. None of us would be here without all of you. Now to my fellow peers. Today is the day that we've been waiting for for the last four years. This is the day we put we get to put expectations and mandating behind us. From now on, we
012get to choose our paths. We get to choose where to go from here. We get to choose who to include in our journey. Most importantly, we get to choose who we are in the world. Each and every one of us gets to go out into the real world and decide who we will be. >> And while you do get to move on from this town, I urge you to never forget where you came from. And never forget who this town made you right now. Kubo has shaped us for however long we've all been here, whether it be your whole life or just this year. And while it may seem small and suffocating, we all love this town just a small part of our heart to reside in because no matter how big or small your
013world has been at CHS, you've made an impact on this town like it's made an impact on you. Thank you to everyone on this field for making our journey and now this ceremony so special. Enjoy. Thank you, Miles, for that wonderful welcome to the Kville High School community. I'd like to invite our Kville Middle and High School principal up for a message. Miss Kay, please come to the podium. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. Good afternoon graduates, families, staff, board members, and community members. And most importantly, congratulations to the Coupeville High School class of 2026. As I sat down to write this speech, I found myself facing a unique challenge. Most principles giving a graduation address have known graduating class for years. They have stories from freshman year, memories from school events, and countless moments they've
014shared with students along the way. I don't have those stories. I joined your story near the end of your time at Coupeville High School. But what I do have is gratitude for how this class welcomed me into this community. One of my very first experiences with Coupeville students was a trip to Darington for a sports leadership forum. A group of seniors and I climbed into a vehicle and headed out for what felt like a very long drive. Trying to break the ice, I asked if anyone wanted to stop for coffee. The answer was no. So there we were stuck together for the next couple of hours. I did my best to make conversation. The students politely entertained my awkward attempts at small talk and we slowly started getting to know one another. Looking back, what
015makes me laugh is realizing that while I probably look confident on the outside, I was actually pretty nervous. I was the new person. I was wondering if I would fit in. I was wondering if this community would accept me. In many ways, I felt like a new student walking into school on the first day. What I discovered on that drive and throughout this year was a group of students who were kind, welcoming, funny, and genuine. That trip became my first glimpse into the remarkable community that exists here at Goodville High School. And it has stayed with me because graduates, many of you are about to become the new persons. You're about to walk onto a college campus, into a workplace, into military service, into an apprenticeship, or into a community where nobody knows your story
016yet. Some of you are excited. Some of you are nervous. Most of you are probably both. The truth is, courage isn't the absence of uncertainty. Courage is moving forward anyway. It's taking the first step when you don't know exactly what comes next. It's introducing yourself when you'd rather stay quiet. It's applying for the opportunity you aren't sure you'll get. It's continuing after a setback. And it's believing in your ability to grow even when you don't have everything figured out. The good news is that you don't need to have everything figured out. In fact, many adults sitting behind you are smiling right now because they know something important. Very few people ever completely figure it out. Life isn't about creating the perfect plan and following it flawlessly. It's about remaining curious enough to keep learning, humble
017enough to keep growing when things don't go according to plan. The people who thrive after high school are rarely the people who have all the answers. They're the people who keep asking questions. They're willing to learn something new. They're willing to admit when they're wrong. They're willing to adapt when circumstances change. and they're willing to show up day after day, even when nobody is handing out awards or recognition. Because most of life isn't built on the big moments. It's built on ordinary Tuesdays. It's built on showing up when you're tired. It's built on doing the next right thing. It's built on treating people with kindness when it's easier not to. It's built on being someone others can count on. As you turn the page to the next chapter of your story, I hope you carry
018with you the qualities that make this community special. Be the person who creates belonging. Be the person who welcomes the newcomer. Be the person who listens before judging. Be the person who can disagree without being disagreeable. And be the person who helps other feel seen and valued. The world will always need more people like that. graduates. I have not been here for the first chapters of your story, but I'm grateful that I got to be here for this one. Thank you for welcoming me, welcoming me into your school school, excuse me, school community. Thank you for the example you set for younger students. And thank you for giving all of us reasons to be hopeful for the future. Your story is still being written. The chapters ahead will include successes, setbacks, surprises, and opportunities you
019cannot yet imagine. Meet them with courage. Meet them with humility. Meet them with kindness. And meet them with a confidence that you are capable of more than you know. Congratulations, class of 2026. We are proud of you. We believe in you and we can't wait to see what comes next. Thank you. It is now my pleasure to introduce our 2026 valadictorian, Tagan Copkins. Welcome family, friends, teachers, and most importantly, the class of 2026. Recently, I've been asked countless times what my greatest achievement has been throughout high school. When people ask me, they usually expect an answer that points to grades, awards, or college or sentences. And yes, these things matter. It took her, discipline, and a lot of late nights. But if I'm being honest, the hardest thing I accomplished in the past four years
020isn't something you can put on a transcript. It was finding my friends. For a long time, I felt a little lost. Not in a dramatic movie like way, but in a quiet way. The kind where you show up every day, do whatever you have to do, and you feel like you don't quite belong with the people that surround you. And I know I probably wasn't the only one. Our class didn't exactly get a normal start. We lost what was supposed to be our middle school years due to co. We had no real transitions, no social growth, and no chance to figure out who we were before we were thrown into high school. We came in carrying a lot of uncertainty, isolation, and for a lot of us, a version of ourselves that didn't quite fit
021anymore. So, we had to figure it out from scratch. We had to learn how to talk to each other, how to trust people again, how to even show our faces to other people again. And most importantly, how to build friendships, not just out of convenience, but out of honesty. And it wasn't easy. It took vulnerability. It risked our sense of self. It took putting ourselves out there and not knowing if we'd be accepted. But somehow we did it. Somehow between awkward face-toface conversations, group projects, lunch tables, and a whole lot of random group chats, we found our people. We built friendships that weren't handed to us, but that we created. That makes me stronger. That's what I'm most proud of. Not just that I found a group of friends that all of us in our
022own But that's all of us in our own ways found ourselves. Despite everything we missed, despite everything that was different, we figured out who we are and where we belong. And that says something about this class. We were able to adapt and rebuild. When things are the way they're supposed to be, we don't wait. We create something new. So, as we leave here today, I hope you all don't measure your success only by where you're going next, but how far you've already come. Because we didn't just make it through high school. We found connection in a time that made people feel alone. We found identity in a time that made everything uncertain. And we found each other when it mattered most. That's something no award can capture. Class of 2026, I am so proud of
023us, not just for what we achieved, but for who we've become. Thank you. >> Thank you, Ten, for your inspiring words and leadership of our school. It is now my pleasure to introduce our 202026 saludiatoran, George Spear. Hello everybody. As you can tell, I'm extremely well prepared for this. To start, I would like to thank everyone for being quiet. Whether you're here to support a graduate, here because you are a graduate, or here because you just wanted to see and support this event, thank you. It means a lot. Kville is an interesting town. It's small enough that everyone knows everyone, yet not everyone knows everything about everyone, which is probably a good thing. But soon, most of us are leaving food. Whether it be 3 months or 3 weeks, most of us are going somewhere.
024But we will remember the more we've come. This small town will be behind us to support us as we go out into this huge and multifaceted world. Here's my message. Don't look back at your passport. As many of my classmates know, I was honored to be offered appointments to all three United States Militaryies. the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and ultimately the school I elected to attend, the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. >> What many people don't know is how I grew up. I came to Coop in fifth grade, having transferred over the summer from South Whippy, which I joined in the middle of third grade. Before this, I was forced to live in numerous homes around Western Washington with stays ranging from
025as short as 5 days to as long as 2 months. However, the heart of this journey started before these many in Arlington, Washington, where I lived with my biological parents. Suffice to say, that situation was less than great. evidenced by the fact that I was moved into foster care shortly after my 8th birthday. Most people don't know just how difficult it is for the state to be forced to separate a child from their biological family. It requires extremely bad circumstances. This happens. Moving into foster care started a very confusing time for me. Let's just say the early stages of foster care were chaotic. I was bounced around from home to home with an occasional hotel from a home wasn't available. At this time, at the ripe age of 8 years old, I had no idea
026what was happening to me or why. The memories that me most from this time of my life are those when my caregivers would say that they love me but in the next throw me back into foster crisis forcing me to adapt to another family. These traumatic shifts came with unwanted inferiority fear and the feeling of being unwanted. As a child, being continually thrown back into the grinding Jersey foster care system is draining. In my opinion, this was not fun. But as bad as it was, these these experiences forced me to grow and talk and taught me how to observe, listen, and empathize with people. Ultimately being an Oscar I believe was me ability to get through this. Did I do this on my own? Yes, to some extent. I certainly learned resilience and how to
027adapt. But ultimately I was fortunate enough to have the support of a stable home provided by my parents along with amazing grandparents, teachers, coaches and friends. With their help, I was able to grow and flourish into the person that I am now. I used the knowledge and wisdom I gained from my experiences and integrated it into my life allowing me to stand where I am today. All of us in this beautiful high school class of 2026 have experienced in a way circumstances in our lives good things, challenging things and everything in between whether it be related to school, family circumstances, our own emotions or anything else. The key for each of us is to take our experiences and learn from them. By learning how these things add texture to who we are, what we are,
028and what we want to be, we will discover that our learning journey never needs to end. Quite frankly, much of it is just beginning for all of us. My dad used to say to me at times of disagreement, "Maybe you should pack your things and move out while you still know everything. Well, Dad, I finally realized what you meant and that for me and for all of us, we need to recognize that we can take what we have learned in our lives so far from our various experiences and use this as the foundation, as the starting point for all that we can be as we build and grow as humans. So to my fellow classmates, take a look back at your past and see the challenges and the adversity you've experienced as opportunities and as
029the lessons you need to climb the ladder of this world. In closing, I want to thank everyone who is here, especially my fellow graduates for sticking out and getting to this finish line. The faculty for being there with for us in the classroom and finally our parents for helping us and encouraging us to get to this stage to begin. I will conclude with the statement I'm borrowing from the college that I will enter in 18 days to my classmates and I give another big You guys are so close. Only five miles. >> Speaking of that, we are honored to present the faculty member who was chosen by our graduating class to deliver this year's commencement address. Through student voting, the class of 2026 selected the educator who made the most profound impact on our high
030school journey. Stephanie asks graduate students. We can clap. She guided students through the intricacies of English and English during their crucial junior and senior years. also nurtured their creative spirits as drum instructor, helping them find their voices both on the stage and off. This remarkable educator was chosen because she didn't simply teach subjects. She inspired intellectual cur curiosity, fostered critical thinking, and helped shape the character of each graduate. Today, she will share the wisdom and encouragement that made such a lasting impression on the students she's had the privilege to teach. STEPS. >> I promise this will not be five hours. Good afternoon friends, family, colleagues, and most importantly you, the Kville High School graduating class of 2026. As much as I sass you about retributively assigning me homework in the burdensome task of writing a
031graduation speech for you, I want you to know that at the heart of it all, I am honored to stand here with you and share this moment together. Woody Island is a special place. Yes, I know that you're all at a point in time where you may have feel like it's too small, too boring, or too isolating. Here's the thing. You're supposed to feel that way. Part of the process of growing up is the need to leave. Tackling the adventure of this life in bold ways, moving places that surprise you, taking journeys that show you things you never imagined, and discovering what doors can open for you. We are all truly here to celebrate you and these first steps in your upcoming adventures, but we're also here to honor the past, the people who helped
032you get where you are and the roots you grew here on the soil of this island. I know I even see myself in this metaphor. My teaching career first started nearly 20 years ago right here at Kell High School. And while I traveled to other landscapes, chased my own shenanigans, and taught dozens of different classes and different places, ultimately it was the siren call of this island that brought me back. There is great honor in Woody Island being the setting for some of our most important chapters. And on that note, I would like to take a moment to honor someone really important to both my history and that of Kville, Peg Tenant. For years, Miss Peg was the theater teacher uh at CHS, and countless lives were shaped by her influence. She first took me
033under her wing when I was just a sweet little Swedom doing my student teaching here. And honestly, I have always suspected that it was her epic letter of recommendation for me that opened the door to my first official teaching job. It began, "While I am well aware of the proper format of a recommendation letter, I would like to take the moment to scream, hire this WOMAN in all capitals." Thanks for that. Peg. Peg taught me how to build a theater program that embraces everyone. A program that builds a family out of each other and that celebrates every individual. Peg passed away this year. And her imprint on our community, our school, our stage, and my heart is one that cannot be overstated. In that vein, I ask you to take a few seconds and think
034hard about this question. Who makes Whidby Island a special place for you? I challenge you to find a moment in the coming weeks to let these people know how much they matter to you personally and to this place that we call home. Now, let's talk about firsts. While this is certainly not my first graduation speech, not even my fifth graduation speech, it did occur to me recently that I do have an important teaching first today. Today I will graduate the child of a former student from all those years ago. And when I considered that I thought, how awesome is that? Is there like a cool title for what that is? I might be an English teacher. Um, but like maybe I've leveled up my learning legacy or or I've crowned my first descendant scholar or
035maybe now I'm a generational grammar guru. So, um, I looked it up and I found out that I quote should consider this my grand student. Dear internet, how dare you? Please let it be known that this is not acceptable. And while I am very interested in impressive hip new titles to add to my teaching resume, we are going to need to go back to the drawing board on any grandparent references. Thank you. The real meat of what I want to talk about today is the purpose of school. You're about to leave the school cycle you've been a part of for 13 years. And certainly some of you may suddenly be thinking, what was that all about? And yes, I've occasionally heard the complaints, where am I ever going to use this? Or will I ever
036really need to use imaginary numbers in my real life finances? But here's the real truth. It was never about learning everything you need to walk through your adult life with total ease. It was about learning to learn. The point of school is to learn to face something new, struggle with it, dig in, refigure, develop a new plan, and approach it in new ways until you find something that works. It was about learning to ask questions and utilize other people and their strengths to work together. It's the learning to learn and to solve the problems in front of you. That was always the point. Every one of us can assure you that life doesn't typically give you the word problem you studied for. In fact, life rarely hands you the things you imagined. It's a series
037of unexpected circumstances you couldn't fathom, let alone make a half sheet to prepare for. But if you know how to learn, know how to research, understand the scope of what you're looking at, reach out to others who can help you think through it and logic out the next steps, then you're ready to face whatever might come at you. These last few weeks of your high school career get framed with a lot of discussion about realizations and inspirations, but I'd love to share a secret with you. I am inspired by you. While teachers often get praised for their altruism choosing this career, there's something pretty incredible about getting to know and love and learn from a group of young people like you. When I think about you, the class of 2026, I am inspired. I am
038occasionally confounded. and I am hopeful. I'll speak generally here, but you know who you are. The class of 2026 truly sees people. When someone is struggling, you see them. You talk to them. You help them. You bring them with you. In the darkest moments, you are a trusted ally. The class of 2026 are filmmakers responsible for some of the most absurd short films and creative projects I've ever seen. In fact, if an assignment could be modified, you always wanted to create a masterpiece, even if it meant diving into a swampy pond in the middle of winter for the sake of Shakespeare. The class of 2026 are fighters. In their lives, they've already seen the face of struggle, of hardship, of illness, of injury, of loss, and they've learned that the real triumph comes from moving
039forward and facing it head on. The class of 2026 embraces their unique identities boldly. They have worked hard to understand who they are, and they're stepping out into the world far more self-aware and with more clarity than any of us did. The class of 2026 looks at the world around them. And if an opportunity isn't available to them, they find a way to make it happen or they build it from scratch. The class of 2026 challenges expectations. Is this relevant? Why do I have to do this? Do I really need to do this? Does it make logical sense? Or has it just always been done this way? While this may be occasionally a frustrating quality from a teacher perspective, it is certainly a quality that the world needs. So get out there and keep challenging,
040class of 2026. Keep digging inward and shaping the life you dream of. Keep making the opportunities you want to exist. Keep facing the hardships head on. Keep truly seeing those who feel unseen. Putting your arm around them and bringing them with you. And hey, keep making those movies, too. I'll always be in your hands. Now, go out there and harvest what you've grown here to the class of 2026. It has been an honor to share in this chapter of your lives with you. We are all so proud of you. Take care of each other. Have fun. Be kind. Come back and visit when you can. To the class of 2026, congratulations. You made it. Thank you, Miss Ass, for your dedicated service to our students in the school community. When I looked it up, it
041just said I was old. Now, please welcome Principal Becky Case to the stage for the presentation of the class of 2026. Parents, guardians, family, and friends, it is now time to graduate our seniors. >> Superintendent Leatherwood, it is my privilege to present to you the graduating class of 2026. I affirm that each has met all requirements for graduation as put forth by the state of Washington and the Kville School District. >> All right. Good afternoon graduates, families, to our staff, our school board, and to our community. And to every person who made the drive, took the time, and saved a seat here to today, welcome. Before I go any further, there's something I want to do. People is a community shaped by service. Many of the families in this room or field have someone with
042them who have worn the uniform of the United States in active duty in the reserves in the National G Guard or as a veteran who served and came home today. Before we celebrate this graduating class, I want to honor those who served. If you have served or are currently serving in any branch of the United States military, I would ask that you stand and be recognized. Thank you for your service, for your sacrifice, and for the example you set to these young people in this stadium, including some of the graduates sitting in front of me today who will soon follow in your footsteps. Thank you, class of 2026. That moment matters because everything you are about to step into, every freedom, every choice, every open door was protected by people like the ones you just
043who just stood. Carry that with you. Now on to you. I've had the privilege of watching you finish what you started 13 years ago. Most of you walked into Coupeville for the very first time. You were small. You were nervous. Some of you cried. Some of your parents cried harder. And today, you sit here in caps and gowns, ready to walk across the stage as graduates of Coupeville High School. This year, our district theme had been uprising. I chose these words because I believe they describe exactly what this class represents. You came through years that asked more of you than any class before. You navigated change. You showed up. You kept going and hope rose with you because of you. I want to spend spend a moment on what hope actually looks like because I
044think we sometimes get it wrong. Hope is not the absence of struggle. Hope is not a soft, easy feeling that lives only on the good days. Real hope is what shows up after the hard days. It's what gets you out of bed. When the test didn't go your way, when the team lost, when the friendship ended, when the pain when the plan fell apart, hope rises because something inside of you refuses to stay down. Years ago, an actor, Denel Washington, gave an a commencement speech that stayed with me, and I want to share part of it with you tonight or today. He told the graduates in front of him that they were going to fail. He said it plainly. He told them that in at some point in their lives they were going to fall
045flat on their face and that and then he gave this charge. He said when you fall forward fall forward not backwards into regret, not sideways into blame. Forward. Because when you fall forward, you can still see where you're going. When you fall forward, you land closer to your goal than where you started. When you fall forward, even your worst day becomes part of your progress. Graduates, I'm not going to stand here and tell you that the road ahead is smooth. It will not be. You will get told no. You will apply for things you will not get. You will lose people you love. You will start things you do not finish and you will finish things that do not turn out the way you hoped. That is not failure. That is life. And the measure
046of what you will not be and the measure of you will not be whether you avoid falling. The measure of you will be the direction you'll face when you do. Fall forward. Kill taught you how to do this even when you didn't realize it at the time. Every time a teacher asked you to revise an essay you that you thought was already done, you were learning to fall forward. Every time a coach made you run the drill again because the first time it was not good enough, you were learning to fall forward. Every time a parent said, "Try again." Every time a friend said, "Keep going." Every time you sat back down with a hard problem, instead of walking away from it, you are learning to take a setback and turn it into a step.
047You're more prepared than you think. Yes, Kville is a small town. We all know that. You know that this you know you have known the same teachers, the same coaches, the same lunch ladies and gentlemen, and the same bus drivers, custodians for most of your life. This is rare. Do not ever take that for granted. In a world that is moving faster every year, you grew up in a place that still remembers your name. It's a gift. It is also a responsibility because the people who poured into you expect you to pour into someone else somewhere someday. To the families of these graduates, this afternoon belongs to you. You raised them. You fed them. You drove them to practice at 6:00 in the morning and waited up for them at midnight. You worried. You sacrificed.
048And you believed. When you gradu when your graduate crosses the stage, that walk is yours as much as it is theirs. To the staff of the school of school district, the teachers, support staff, counselors, administrators, every person who reported to these students. Thank you. You're the reason they're ready. And the graduates, one more word before I sit down. You are about to leave this place that knows your name. You're walking into a world that does not yet. That is not something to fear. That is something to claim. Wherever you go from here, a university, a trade, the military, a job, a gap year, a path you have not yet named, go with confidence of a town that raised you to show up, to work hard, and to take care of the people around you. And
049when that day comes that you fall, and it will come, remember that we as what we asked of you today. Do not fall backwards. Do not fall sideways. Fall forward. Get up facing your future. Get up closer to it than you were before. That is how hope rises and that's how you rise. Don't be afraid to come home. Don't be afraid to go far. Both are honorable. Both are ours. You are no longer the students of Coupeville High School. You are the graduates. And from this night forward or day forward, you can carry this community with you wherever the world takes you. Congratulations 2026 class. Pupil is very proud of you. Miss Gates, it's an honor to accept the graduating class of 2026 and confirm to the Coupeville board of directors that each student has
050met all of the state of Washington and Kville School District requirements and are qualified to receive their diplomas. Thank you, Miss Leard. I'm a little worried about the balloons. I'm not sure what's going to happen when they all blow up, so we're going to go real fast. Mrs. White, Mrs. Leatherwood, Mrs. KS and family members who are presenting diplomas to the graduates, will you please take your positions? And we're getting a plot of Just so you know, I'm a phonetic reader, so we'll see how this goes. Ezekiel Allen Reagan Callahan, >> Abigail Bond Aiden O'Neal, Connor Booth Aubrey Rodriguez, >> Dylan Burrow. Madison Williams, >> Blake Burroughs, DOF COUS tag caukins Francesca Tenor, >> Jennifer Kamarina Pereira, Alexia Johnson, >> Jamie Coronza. Marquette Cunningham, >> Malachi SS, >> Coop Cooper Jianna, >> Antonio Crandle Avery
051Rude, >> Riverwind Demon. Cedar SOA, >> Miles Herbert. Killian Shaw, >> Camden Glover. Eastston Green, >> Lucas Hav, >> Ben Price. YES. >> Aiden Kindle, >> Jacob School. Ala Kent, >> ZACHARY SAVO Joshua Luan, >> Andrew Mills, >> DALIA MILLER, LIZA ZASTIAN, >> Aan Troll Kaitlyn Thomas, >> Tyrese Simpson Pilgrim, >> Justin Trux, HAYDEN SMITH, >> George Spear, Danica Strong, >> Brooklyn van Belenberg Cindy Wallace, >> Haley Wells, NOEL WESTERN >> Advers Buchanan At this time, I'd like to invite Malachi SS, the senior class's torch holder, to join me on stage for the tassel ceremony. Fellow graduates, please stand >> and join me in the traditional turning of the tassel ceremony. It symbolizes one's transition from candidate to graduate. Standard protocol in the United States requires that the tassel be worn on the right side
052of one's cap at commencement and then during the ceremony move to the left. Classmates, it is time for us to take the final step to graduate. At this time, please grab your tassel. Now, class of 2026, please move your tassel to the left. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the graduates of Kville High School, the class of 2026. Honored guest and staff, please take your place session. >> I don't know. At this time, the graduates will be leaving. So, please remain seated or standing until all graduates have piled on. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you one final time the class of 2026. My parents All the things she does. Ladies and gentlemen, >> our seniors have one last special gathering. >> They're all going to go under the parachute just like in elementary
053school and do a little popcorn. Everything is good. Little encouragement. Little encouragement, please. This concludes our afternoon ceremony here. Thank you everyone for making such a wonderful ride home safely. Starting out right there.