After a total of sixteen seniors auditioned to be commencement speakers on Wednesday, April 22, two of them were selected. Announced on Senior Awards night on May 11, Radhe Patel and Tristin Schultz were deemed the perfect fit for the role.

Patel is recognized as a Commended Graduate, Senior Class Principal’s Advisor, Key Club President, founder of the Society of Asian Culture, and participated in a handful of other clubs. Patel will be speaking first at commencement, with his speech titled “Dharma.”

“My speech is rather serious and about issues that I believe everyone has faced before,” Patel said. “It is a hopeful message that recognizes the issue of reputation, and how, in high school, it’s very superficial. It is often built on what you hear from others and not how you actually present yourself.”

The Class of 2026 deemed Patel as the Class Clown for Senior Superlatives, as shown in the Tattler. Despite this reputation, Patel notes that he has invested sincerity and thought into his commencement speech.

“The honor of commencement speaker is a grand honor for me,” Patel said. “I worked a few days on writing my speech and thought about what I would write for probably a month. I’m happy I got the honor, and I hope I will represent the class of 2026 to the best of my ability.”

Shortly succeeding Patel, Tristin Schultz is a member of the boys golf team and a Senior Scholar. Schultz will take the podium to perform his speech, “Life Through the Game of Golf.” 

“My speech is about golf and how golf and life are similar in a way that there are going to be adversities along the way, but it’s how you respond after the struggle that matters most,” Schultz said. “It was tailored to the Class of 2026 in a way that I felt like everyone could see themselves in. There’s not a single person in our class that is perfect, and there’s something special about being unique and taking your own path toward success.”

After four years in secondary school, Patel and Schultz are both passionate about overcoming adversity. Picking up Schultz through hardships, he acknowledged Jessica Kranz, speech coach and teacher, along with head golf coach Abby Lundy.

“I was up until 2 a.m. in the morning writing, and in the end, it was worth it,” Schultz said. “Mrs. Kranz also pushed me to write it, encouraging me from the moment she heard I was interested. Finally, of course, Mrs Lundy, who pushed me to play golf, find my love for the sport, and give me something to write about to share with everyone on graduation day.”

The 155th Commencement Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in the Berry Bowl on Sunday, May 31. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the ceremony will be livestreamed on the LHS Berries YouTube page.

Check out the speeches from other students who also auditioned to be commencement speakers.

(Courtesy of Tattler)

Good evening, everybody!

It is an honor to be standing here before you all today to deliver this speech, but if you want me to be honest, it doesn’t feel real. But maybe that’s because, at one point, none of us really expected to be here in the way we are right now. I remember walking into LHS for the first time, being nervous, but trying to act like I knew exactly what I was doing.

When in reality, I had no idea about what was going to come next, and I believe that’s what high school was for a lot of us . . . some sort of labyrinth.

Not something meant to trap us, but something that we all had to figure our way through.

Most parts were easy. Some were confusing, and some moments made us stop and question everything. But as we continued stepping our way through, even the uncertain ones, it led us here.

And if I’m being honest . . . none of us have everything figured out.

And that’s okay.

There has always been this pressure to have a plan, to know exactly who we’re going to be and what we’re doing next, like our whole path should be mapped out. But we weren’t meant to have all the answers right away.

We were meant to struggle.

To get lost sometimes.

To make mistakes.

And to keep going regardless of the situation.

Maybe life isn’t about having a direct path, but more about learning how to move through our own labyrinth, one step at a time.

Think about all the things we’ve experienced together. The early mornings we definitely did not want to wake up for. The tests we had stressed over. The projects we waited until the very last minute to finish. The hallway conversations, the lunch tables, events, games, and the times we all laughed and forgot about everything else, even if it was for a split second.

All those moments may seem small, but they’re what made this place feel like more than just a school. It was what brought us together as a class.

Even though our labyrinth journeys looked different, somehow we all made it through and ended up here, at the same point.

But along the way, we all searched for something bigger, something meaningful… whether we realized it or not.

Our own “great perhaps” . . . as Miles in “Looking for Alaska” would say.

The idea that even when we don’t know exactly what we are doing, there’s still something worth finding ahead of us.

And as we moved through this labyrinth together, we also experienced moments that reminded us how real life can be.

We lost someone who should be here with us today.

Camden Gordon was part of our class and part of our memories. Even though he isn’t physically here, he’s still part of this moment. That loss was one of those moments that changed us. It reminded us not to take anything for granted, to appreciate the people around us, and to not wait to say what matters.

Now, as we stand at the end of this chapter, we’re not just looking back. We’re looking forward..

And the labyrinth doesn’t end here.

We’re all simply stepping into new ones.

Different journeys. Different challenges. Different directions. All leading to the unknown.

Most of us feel ready, while half of us feel unsure. And some of us are still figuring everything out step by step.

But one thing that the class of 2026 has shown is that we can handle the unknown. We’re capable of adapting, of growing, and of facing the unexpected head-on. This is just the beginning of a new life.

So as we leave here today, I hope we don’t fear the labyrinth ahead of us anymore. That we learn to embrace it, to take risks, and that we continue to learn from every turn we decide to take. And I hope we never lose sight of our “great perhaps.” Somewhere ahead of us is something so personal, so meaningful, and most importantly, worth discovering.

The goal was never to have everything figured out by now, but it was to become strong enough, wise enough, and brave enough to figure it out along the way.

And to our families that made this possible. Especially our immigrant parents who sacrificed, worked, and believed in us when our paths were rocky, les quiero decir gracias por cada sacrificio, por cada esfuerzo silencioso, y por nunca rendirse en darnos un futuro mejor. Hoy estamos aquí por ustedes.

Class of 2026, this isn’t the end. It’s just a fresh new start.

So let’s please walk it with a purpose, and in spirit. And let’s keep searching for the life we were meant to live.

Congratulations to us.

Thank you.

(Courtesy of Tattler)

Good evening, friends, families, and most importantly, the Class of 2026. The moment we thought was so far away is right in front of us now. Today marks the end of one chapter of our lives and marks the beginning of our biggest chapter of life. The goal we have been working towards our whole lives. We have finally achieved it through our hard work all these years.

We are the class that had to deal with a setback during one of our most important years of school because of COVID-19. COVID was a whole world pandemic. It would make people unsure of what was gonna happen next and what was gonna happen to the children in school. The world shut down, but it didn’t stop us. The year where we could connect to different people from other schools and people we shared an interest with was changed. COVID caused us to experience lockdowns, virtual learning, and hybrid schedules. We had to rely on a computer to do virtual lessons with our teachers to help us achieve what was needed to go forward.

We got up and logged into our computers even though it was much easier to give up and quit, but we didn’t; we kept going. Some struggled with the virtual classes and their grades started slipping, and some continued to go strong and maintain high grades in classes. I was one of them who struggled with this. In the end, due to my hard work, I am graduating along with others who could have also struggled with this change and continued working hard.

COVID can also be considered a good lesson to us. It taught us to be resilient and to never give up on our education due to a setback. We kept going to make it here, even though it was hard, to walk across this stage and collect our diploma.

Our class has also faced more than just one challenge.

We have also experienced the heartbreak of losing a fellow classmate. His absence has been deeply felt by all that knew him, and today we carry his memory with us. I didn’t know him personally, but I knew others who knew him. I witnessed them struggle and think about quitting, but I also watched them get back up and keep going. Moments like that remind us of how important it is to be there for one another, and how much every single person in this class matters. You matter.

In classes, we shared several memories, good and bad, and have also faced challenges. From your first day of school nerves to your last day of school reflections. Now here we are about to take our next step into life. Some of us are heading to college. Some are entering the workforce. Some are enlisting to protect the country we call home. Some are still figuring things out, and that’s okay. To be completely honest, only this year did I fully decide on what I was going to be. There’s no single pathway or timeline we all have to follow. We have grown so much, not just academically but also personally. We have grown into people who know how to face challenges, understand the importance of perseverance, and are ready to take our next step.

If we look back at our years in school, we will see that it taught us much more than we realized. It taught us that we are capable of facing uncertainty and still finding our way. It has also shown us to always try and to not give up on ourselves.

I hope as we leave this school that all of us carry some of the things that were learnt. Carry the resilience we learnt during difficult times, the friendships and memories we gained on our way, and the reminder that even when life gets hard, we can push through it and come back out in the end even stronger.

This is not just our ending. It’s our beginning. So take this moment to congratulate yourself on what you have accomplished and achieved. Be proud of what you have overcome and, most importantly, who you have become now. Let us leave here with memories. Not regrets. Let us never forget this moment of our lives. 

Finally, congratulations to the Class of 2026. Thank you for all of the memories.

(Courtesy of Tattler)

As their feathers spread to embrace the wind, birds travel from place to place, in search of new flocks and, most importantly, homes. Their parents teach them how to take care of themselves, and they make sure to give them everything they need to survive. Once the baby bird gains the courage to fly, the time comes when they must break away. As scary as that may seem, they go out and fly to reach other horizons and meet new flocks. Right now, we have finally reached the time to leave our nest.

I’d like to share a quote by Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla. “La meta no es vivir para siempre, si no crear algo que sea eterno.” The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something eternal. Like many of us here today, my parents immigrated from Mexico in 2007. Overcoming barriers, my parents grew white hairs and calluses on their hands for the sake of providing a better future for me. Even though we may not all connect with that story, we all have our own barriers. Surviving COVID, Zoom meetings, and the hauntings of trigonometry homework. It’s important to come together and remember our times together during the highs and lows.

From the laughs we shared to the nights agonizing over the test the next day, we have all met our people here at LHS. Whether it was late-night games, club activities, or even watching the FIFA cup games during class, these precious moments are something eternal that we will take with us. As we embark on this newfound chapter in our lives, I plead to you all to follow her message. Be remembered for the person you were and not just the things you did. To live life is to have impacted someone else. Many may think that it’s something difficult to achieve, but simply look around you all today. Amidst the cheers in the crowd today, you can find the people you added a spark to.

Wherever you choose to go and grow, take every memory you gain here and learn from it. Life is an endless journey of learning, so take advantage of it. Extend your wings and search for the new nest to uphold. However, there may be a fear of leaving everything you know, but remember that you can always come back. Like birds coming and going, your home, parents, friends, and memories will be here waiting for you when you need it. So, when you hesitate before flying, be relieved that there is always a place here that you can call home.

As I end my speech, I’d like to share some gratitude. Thank you, teachers and faculty members, for creating and maintaining such a wonderful learning environment. To the janitors, thank you for coming in earlier and leaving later than everyone else to ensure our schools are clean. Thanks to the lunch ladies for providing hot meals for us all to enjoy every day. To my Latino community, quiero reconocer la oportunidad que hemos tenido de estar aquí hoy como hijos e hijas de inmigrantes y también como jóvenes en este país. Sabemos que nada ha sido fácil, pero lo logramos. And lastly, to the two people I owe it all to Ama and Apa, Ya sé que no nos vimos ojo a ojo en cada situación de la vida, pero quiero que sepan lo agradecida que estoy por sus sacrificios y apoyo. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to become the person I am today.

Class of 2026, congratulations on completing this chapter of your lives. Spread your wings and fly higher than you could have ever imagined.

(Courtesy of Marilyn Macias)

I remember stepping foot into this school, and the only thing that could cross my mind was wondering how in the world am I going to get out of here? I was a nervous wreck, just like many of us were, I mean, can you blame us? We were all about five apples tall, and our main concern was what lunch shift we had. I mean, come on, wouldn’t that be your priority too?

Though without a doubt, each one of us slowly turned this into our home. Some of you may not want to admit it, but it’s true. Many of us have our favorite teachers not just because they give out free candy but because they give out free advice. Of course, a favorite counselor is not just because they allowed you to take a break from class. I mean, from whatever was going on in the outside world. A favorite staff member because they could handle a joke as long as they got to do one back. So thank you to all the staff for everything you’ve put up with these past four years. I also want to go ahead and thank all the parents and guardians who helped us get here today.

Y muchas gracias a mi madre y mi familia especialmente por todos los sacrificios que hicieron para que hoy yo pudiera cumplir un sueño que muchos hispanos desean cumplir.

Now, I will admit at times it was hard, like really hard to keep going in school. It was assignment after assignment, test back to back, quiz and then another quiz, project after project, and so on. For some adults may hear this and say I wish I could go back and just to go through that stress one more time. Though they may be right and this stress is nothing compared to what is waiting for us in the future, we all experienced major changes and heartbreak these past four years. Seeing our childhood slip between our fingers, new friends, losing friends, or losing loved ones. I want to specifically point out that today, Camden would be graduating among us. Although he is not here physically with us today, his funny humor and his ridiculous ideas will always stick with us. I didn’t know him personally, but whenever we had class together or saw each other in the hall, he would always pick on me. Whether it was a joke about my shoe being untied, something being on my face, or asking for a pencil every day in class. Those are just some small moments I will always hold on to. Now this goes for everyone and anyone, for those of us who lost someone along the way, know that they are proud and celebrating right by us, and they are here in our hearts forever and always.

My two biggest supporters, my father and my brother, aren’t here today, not because they couldn’t make it but because they didn’t get the chance to. I believe our losses are tough in every scenario, but I also believe they are a sign for you to appreciate every second you have while you still can. To take in every moment as if it were your last, and live the moment as if it were the greatest thing in life because it is.

So, class of 2026, the anticipation for this day has finally gone away. We are here.

Take a moment.

Take a deep breath and realize you are sitting here today because of your hard work, your dedication, and your commitment to getting through the first baby steps of life. That’s right, this is only the beginning to many more accomplishments and to many more mistakes. But just know that being able to do either or is the greatest fortune in life. So to my peers, I couldn’t be prouder for us all and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us all. Thank you.

(Courtesy of Calvin Mackey)

Dear Class of 2026,

We made it! Suddenly, the day we’ve been waiting for is here. The day that we’ve been thinking about since the first day of kindergarten. For some of you, it might feel like your life is over. Leaving your friends, your family, the place that you’ve called home for the past 18 years. For others, it might feel like your life is just beginning! Looking forward, your future is bright.

I could stand here for the next three minutes and rattle off every accomplishment in my book, which all you have to do is look at my e-mail signature to figure that out (if you know, you know). Today isn’t about me. It’s about you. It’s about the person on your left, the person on your right, the person in front of you, and the one behind. As you inevitably look through the congregation of classmates sitting in the Berry Bowl, you might see your best friend, your worst enemy, your ex, your crush, or even the person who saved your life. No matter what you think of someone, we have something special. We’ve all shared an experience unique to us. 

Every moment up to this point has formed you into the person you are today. No one, and I mean absolutely none of you, is the same person who walked into LHS on the first day of freshman year. We survived the second-worst recession in U.S. History, the beginning of WWIII, the wildfires in the west, that time in seventh grade when there was almost a shooting, and a global pandemic, and everything in between. Almost no one else in the world can say they did that, all while watching their high school mascot turn 100 years old! Class of 2026, we sure are one for the books.

In the movie, “The Dead Poets Society, this poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson is cited:

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’

We are not now that strength which in the old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

This poem, for some reason, really spoke to me.

At this point in my life, I don’t know what to do. I know that I’ll be attending Butler University to major in Music Education with a long-term goal of teaching post-secondary music at some point. But what will I do in the meantime? I’m going to be me.

Everything up to this point has shaped who you are as a person. Every protest, every COVID case, and every fight you’ve had with your best friend has turned you into the wonderful being listening to me talk today. We are, individually, mosaics of everyone we’ve ever loved. So, Class of 2026, as we go out into the world, leave behind the baggage that you carry from this town, but let us not forget who and what made waves in our lives, to one day pass this wisdom on to the next generation. We are “One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will.”

As you take your first steps as a newly crowned high school graduate, strive to be a better person, seek your biggest desires, find your people, find your place, and find yourself, but please, do not yield. Every one of you means something to someone, and if you doubt that, you mean something to me. “Tho’ much is taken, much abides…to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

Yours truly,

Calvin Mackey

P.S. It feels like a party every day.