Jamestown High School's 2026 graduates celebrate from the choir loft of the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater following the school's 160th Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, June 25.

CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y. — Jamestown High School celebrated the achievements of the 301 members of the Class of 2026 during its 160th Commencement exercises on Thursday, June 25 at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater.

Following the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance,” performed by the JHS Concert Band and “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the A Cappella Choir, Senior Class Council co-vice president Gabrielle Seekins delivered the ceremony introduction.

Platform guests and Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker were introduced by Addison Cappalino, secretary of the Class of 2026.

In his address, Dr. Whitaker thanked families for supporting their children throughout their time at JPS and praised the faculty and staff for their dedication. Drawing on remarks by Fr. Luke Fodor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church during Tuesday’s Baccalaureate program — as well as Kwame Alexander’s poem, “You Made This Day” — Whitaker encouraged the graduates to remain community-minded and give back as they take their next steps.

“Remember to be true to yourself and to take care of yourself, and do what you want to do — to

strive for your goals and be successful as we all know that you can be. But also, don’t forget about the others. All of those other ‘Mes’ and ‘Yous’ who make up the ‘us’ who are out there. You exist with them as well. Couple your inner “me” with the outer ‘you.’ Take care of others, do right by them, and support them when they need it. There are great role models here for that, and they are sitting in these seats behind you and up the sides of this amphitheater.”

In her Salutatorian Address, Allison MacCallum spoke about the essence of “labels” and quoted “The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus — that life is not about what’s “waiting on the other side.”

“Today, we have reached the summit,” she said. “We have earned the title of making it to the top, and as we go down this mountain, we remember all it took to get here today and everyone we were lucky enough to be climbing beside. … We will close this chapter, earn our new labels, the ones we choose and work for, and make the world better through them, not because we need them but because they make us who we are, whether the people around us realize our true labels or not.”

The 100 Member Club Award, given to the school’s two most outstanding graduating seniors by its alumni association, was awarded to Gina Delgado and Hayden Langford by association leaders Cindy Lind Hanson and Donnelle Conti.

Dalana Jackson and Siena Loomis, co-presidents of the Class of 2026, reflected on their class’s impact on JHS and encouraged their classmates to follow their lead in taking heart to two important lessons: joining the community and supporting the community.

“We hope that you believe in this community as well,” said Jackson. “The beautiful truth is that community and belonging isn’t solely defined by the rigid lines of a blood tree. It is a structure you build, a sanctuary you create with friends, a significant other, or the very people who welcome you when you need it most.”

“We have accomplished so much over the years; we all should be proud of our 2026 community,” Loomis said. “I will take the next steps with gratitude for being part of a unified class that lifts each other up.”

Following the scholarship presentation, the combined musical organizations of Jamestown High School then performed The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Peter Wilhousky.

Abigail Brandow, historian for the class, delivered a tribute to the parents and caregivers of the class, further reflections on the Class of 2026’s time at JHS, and introduced the class video and slideshow. Compiling the photos, she noted, reminded her of a juice box.

“When we were in elementary school, a juice box could make our day. Looking back now, it isn’t the juice box we remember, it’s the people we sat with, what we laughed about, and the moments that surrounded it,” she said. “Maybe years from now, we’ll look back at these photos the way we look back at a juice box from elementary school, not at the object itself, but at the reminders of a time, a place, and the people who shared it with us.”

Brandow then introduced JHS Principal Allyson Smith, who reflected on the Class of 2026’s journey through the lens of the high school’s ongoing cafeteria construction project, comparing the unseen work of building a strong foundation to the character, values, and perseverance students have developed throughout their time at Jamestown High School.

“Appearances, titles, careers and life itself can change,” she said. “But the good bones — the values, resilience, determination, and perseverance that have been built within you here — remain. Trust those bones. Trust your roots. They have carried you this far, and they will carry you through whatever lies ahead.”

In her Valedictorian Address, Reagan Volpe paid tribute to heroes — both fictional, like Iron Man, and real, particularly her grandfather, Gary Melquist, who was injured in an explosion during the Vietnam War, resulting in hearing loss and the loss of a limb.

“As we graduate today, we are not being handed superpowers,” Volpe said. “Rather, we are presented with choices. We will choose how we respond to hardship, how we treat others, how we carry ourselves, and what kind of people we become. Like Iron Man and my grandfather, we will face moments that test our character and require us to choose who we want to be. We may not know exactly where our paths will lead, but we do know that our choices will shape who we become.”

MacCallum, the class treasurer, and Peyton Joly, the sergeant at arms, announced that the Class of 2026 gift would be dedicated as a scholarship in memory of Joly’s grandfather Joe DiMaio, longtime teacher, coach, and school board president who passed away in November.

“Joe DiMaio — ‘Grandpa’ as many affectionately called him — was an integral part of our Jamestown community and passed away this fall,” said MacCallum. “His generosity, kindness, love for football, and overall character were truly unmatched. I can say with full confidence that every life he touched was changed for the better … Tonight, we are celebrating the impact he had on our community and the legacy he leaves behind for future generations.”

“For 17 years, I was fortunate to know him not only as my grandfather, but as a teacher, football coach, school board president, and community leader who dedicated his life to serving others,” Joly said. “He believed in hard work, education, and giving people the opportunity to succeed. But more than any title he held, he was known for being everyone’s biggest supporter.”

In partnership with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s Joseph R. DiMaio Fund and a matching $500 donation from the Class of 2026, class officers chose to award a $1,000 scholarship to graduating senior Carter Rizzuto. Remaining class funds after graduation expenses will then be deposited into the fund, housed at the Community Foundation.

Joly then introduced keynote speaker Stephen Carlson, a member of the Class of 2015. Carlson, who became an All-Ivy League athlete at Princeton University and active tight end signed to the Chicago Bears organization.

Carlson reflected on sitting in the same seat as the graduates and shared the story of an injury early in his professional career to demonstrate the importance of being okay with not knowing where you’re going, controlling the process rather than results, and pushing through setbacks.

“When I was a free agent with no contract in sight, success for me was relying on everything that had gotten me to where I was already — staying the course and trusting in myself,” he said. “I used the discipline that (JHS football) Coach (Tom) Langworthy and (former JHS basketball) Coach (Ben) Drake taught me; I used the support of my family, friends, and community members to push me, and I used who I am to be confident that I was enough.”

Carlson explained that the injury and limited opportunities available following it nearly led to his decision to leave professional football — until an opportunity arose to join the Bears.

“It’s crazy how everything works out with the right attitude and effort,” he said. “I want you to realize that it doesn’t matter what has happened to you, good or bad, because you have the ability to keep going. A ‘bad’ situation can turn into a blessing later on. It just takes a small decision in your head, in the moment — ‘I can do this. I can keep going.'”

Diplomas were then presented by JPS Board of Education President Paul Abbott and Vice President Joseph Pawelski, who were assisted by Jackson and Seekins.

The full ceremony is available for viewing at jpsny.org/graduation.