Class Presidents Braya Beaver and Lily Robinson opened the ceremony by reflecting on the journey from uncertain freshmen to school leaders who helped shape Southwestern’s traditions.

“We stuck together and built a community here,” Beaver said, recalling how classmates found their voices, passions, and lifelong friendships over the past four years.

Robinson celebrated the class’s competitive spirit, pointing to memorable Homecoming contests, Battle of the Classes performances, and countless hours spent preparing for school traditions.

“This class showed time and time again that we were passionate, present, and we made our mark here at Southwestern,” she said.

Class Salutatorian Stella Hren is pictured during Friday’s commencement ceremony at Southwestern High School.

As graduates prepare for college, military service, trade schools, and careers, Beaver encouraged classmates to remember the resilience they developed together, while Robinson urged them to embrace change and carry Trojan pride into the future.

High School Principal Matt Kindberg centered his commencement address on the idea of “connecting the dots,” borrowing inspiration from Steve Jobs’ famous Stanford commencement speech.

“You can’t connect the dots by looking forward; you can only connect them by looking backward,” Kindberg said, encouraging graduates to trust that today’s successes and setbacks will one day reveal their purpose.

He shared three lessons: every experience matters, character is built through everyday choices, and time is the thread that eventually connects life’s defining moments. Drawing examples from Abraham Lincoln, Ted Lasso, and Dead Poets Society, Kindberg reminded students that resilience, kindness, and intentional living often matter more than immediate success.

“When your path doesn’t unfold the way you planned, it doesn’t mean you’re lost,” he said. “It may simply mean that you’re gathering the dots you’ll need later.”

Members of the Southwestern High School Class of 2026 celebrated commencement on Friday, June 26, as family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered to recognize their achievements and wish them success in the next chapter of their lives.

Salutatorian Stella Hren challenged her classmates to rethink their relationship with failure. Quoting astronaut Christina Koch, Hren reminded graduates that “achieving ambitious goals … does not require perfection,” before sharing her own struggle with the belief that anything less than a perfect grade meant failure.

Instead, she learned that mistakes are opportunities for growth.

“Failure is not something to be afraid of,” Hren said. “Failure needs to be embraced.”

Preparing to study aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Hren drew inspiration from Southwestern graduate and NASA engineer Laurie Abadie, encouraging classmates to step outside their comfort zones, follow their passions, and keep reaching toward the unknown.

Valedictorian Lily Robinson reflected on the emotions of graduation through the lyrics of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” describing how quickly four years had passed.

She recalled arriving as a freshman, intimidated by upperclassmen, before growing into a leader who found success in academics, athletics, music, the arts, and service. Along the way, she said, teachers, staff, and classmates helped make the transition easier and encouraged everyone to become the best versions of themselves.

Robinson reminded graduates that the legacy they leave extends beyond awards and accomplishments.

“In my four years, I’ve realized that a person’s legacy is not only based on accomplishment, but also how they treat others and the environment around them,” she said.

She closed by encouraging her classmates to embrace life’s inevitable changes while remembering to appreciate the present.

Quoting the film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Robinson offered one final reminder: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Superintendent Molly Moore reflected on the transition awaiting graduates, noting that for much of their lives, adults helped chart their course.

“After tonight, you are the primary guide for your life,” Moore said. “We hope the lessons and values you have learned while attending school at Southwestern will help you make decisions to be your best self.”

She also recognized the unique experiences of the Class of 2026, from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in middle school to adapting to Southwestern’s cell phone policy, and reminded graduates that the Southwestern community will continue cheering them on.

“Once a Trojan, Always a Trojan,” she said.