By Satina Tolman
For The New Era
One hundred eighty-four graduating seniors filed onto Husky Field beneath a blanket of clouds that threatened rain Friday evening. Though the breeze carried a chill, hearts were warm as families, friends and community members gathered to celebrate the Sweet Home High School Class of 2026.
The rain never came, but tears did as graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from Principal Ralph Brown. As the ceremony drew to a close, a brilliant sunset painted the western horizon, providing a colorful farewell to one chapter of life and a hopeful welcome to the next.
CHARTING THEIR COURSE
The Class of 2026 leaves Sweet Home High School with ambitious plans for the future.
As of now, 42 graduates have declared plans to attend colleges or universities in Oregon, four will continue their education at out-of-state universities and two have committed to military service. Tayden Richards and Daniel Sullivan will both serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.
This year’s graduating class also earned $968,386 in scholarships and grants, $89,300 of that from the Sweet Home Alumni Foundation.
The accomplishments of the Class of 2026 extended beyond academics.
Longtime Sweet Home coach Steve Thorpe said the graduates distinguished themselves through both achievement and character.
“There are some really neat young adults here,” Thorpe said. “They are nice, they are willing to accept everyone. They are highly academically successful. This group is a very motivated and competitive class.”
Thorpe also pointed to the students’ leadership and wide range of interests.
“This is a group that really took charge of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and built that club up,” he said. “They are just such a diverse class. You have kids that want to turn a wrench, and you have kids that want to design the wrench one day.”
The class adopted a motto from Sweet Home coach Ryan Adams: “Fate may hand you the weather, but you still decide how to sail.”
Valedictorian Andrew Tolman chose not to give a speech at graduation; however, as an avid sailor, he said the class motto resonated with him on a personal level.
“A good sailor doesn’t control the wind; they learn how to use it. No matter which direction it’s coming from or how hard it’s blowing, a skilled sailor can adjust the sails and continue moving toward their destination. Life works the same way. We can’t control every circumstance we face, but with hard work, integrity and perseverance, we can navigate whatever winds come our way and still reach where we’re meant to go.” Tolman said.
VOICES OF THE CLASS
The sentiment reflected a theme that recurred throughout the evening’s speeches: success is not determined by circumstances alone but by perseverance, character, and the choices made when challenges arise.
Nine students earned valedictorian honors: Alonna Baker, Levi Ensley, Ella Forum, Loralai Mark, Delanie Pratt, Luke Rosa, Elisha Scofield, Andrew Tolman and Trinity Victor. Salutatorian honors were awarded to Cannon Klumph, Anabelle Morris and Selah Wright.
The valedictorian speeches reflected on friendships, perseverance, gratitude and personal growth.
Mark reminded classmates of the impact they have had on one another throughout their school years.
“Everyone here has come so far,” Mark said. “I am so proud of all of you. Even if we didn’t know each other personally, we have all influenced each other’s lives in some way.”
As graduates prepare to pursue careers, higher education, and family life, Mark encouraged her classmates to cherish the memories they had created together.
“The memories we created in high school will stay with us forever,” she said. “Our friendships might change, but those moments will always be there.”
Ensley reflected on the support systems that helped students navigate challenges throughout their education.
“Over the course of these 13 years, that’s including kindergarten, we have all reached a challenge in our life that we couldn’t have overcome without each other,” Ensley said.
He also highlighted one of the school’s guiding principles.
“Every person sitting here today has a different story, but we all share the experience of growing into who we are,” he said. “One of our core values at SHHS is ‘One Family,’ and personally, I think we have all demonstrated that.”
Rosa spoke about the value of hard work and lessons learned through athletics.
“‘Success is not an accident,'” Rosa said, quoting longtime coach Steve Thorpe. “I’ve learned that you don’t get to decide when the work you put in pays off, but it’s your decision to put the work in.”
He also thanked coaches and mentors Ryan Adams, Steve Thorpe and Tomas Rosa for the influence they have had on his life.
Scofield encouraged classmates to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.
“All of these challenges are what build character,” Scofield said. “Knowing how to challenge yourself is just as important as knowing how to overcome said challenges.”
He credited soccer coach Eric Stutzer, pole vault coach Spencer Hart and former science teacher Dr. Harrison Neal for helping shape his high school experience.
Pratt drew laughter from the crowd as she reflected on late-night assignments and caffeinated study sessions.
“That’s what ‘finish strong’ really is,” Pratt said. “Not being perfect the whole way through, but still finishing the workout, still turning in the assignment — even if it’s five minutes before it locks — and still making it to the end even when we’re running on nothing but caffeine.”
“We didn’t get here because everything was easy,” she added. “We got here because we kept going when it wasn’t.”
Alonna Baker spoke about the healthy competition and support she shared with fellow classmate and valedictorian Trinity Victor.
“The competition didn’t tear us apart,” Baker said. “It pushed both of us to work harder and become better.”
She also reminded graduates that difficult days are temporary.
“Some days were hard,” she said. “Filled with tests, long assignments or trouble with friends, but after each hardship the sun still rose the next day.”
Victor shared a deeply personal message about loss, resilience and community.
“And the world didn’t end when I lost my grandfather, even if it felt like there was a hole in my chest when I found out. There are going to be hard days; that’s life,” Victor said. “But that’s what’s so special about living in this community. We truly are one family.”
Victor credited the Sweet Home community for helping students reach this milestone.
“This community is the reason that we have the honor of standing up here today as valedictorians of Sweet Home High School,” she said.
A MUSICAL TRIBUTE
Music played a prominent role in the evening’s celebration. The Sweet Home High School Choir performed “Hold Me Rock Me” by Brian Tate, while the SHHS Band provided the traditional processional, “Pomp and Circumstance,” and performed the national anthem.
The band also showcased local talent with a performance of “Bellacose,” an original composition by SHHS junior Obadiah Christman. Christman said the title combines words meaning “beauty” and “war,” reflecting the song’s contrasting movements. The opening section carries the feel of a military march, while the latter half transitions into a more lyrical style that he described as sounding as though the instruments are singing.
Christman wrote the piece specifically to highlight the graduating senior band members. Throughout the performance, each senior was featured through instrumental passages designed to showcase their individual talents.
LESSONS FOR LIFE
The keynote address was delivered by English teacher Jennifer McIntyre, whose speech blended wisdom from kindergarten students, Sweet Home staff members, family members and her own life experiences.
Referring to kindergarten students as “the youngest scholars in our community” who “live and breathe childhood wonder,” McIntyre encouraged graduates to carry kindness and compassion into adulthood.
“Adulthood sneaks up on you,” she said. “Those everyday incredibly mundane tasks become a large part of what you do, but to you and to those who rely on you, you will be the world.”
Among the advice she offered graduates were reminders that “balance is key,” that “telling the truth is always the best path,” and that there is always time for “a warm smile and a tender moment.”
Drawing from lessons passed down by her grandparents, McIntyre encouraged students to “be generous with all things for the ones you love.”
She concluded with a challenge for graduates to live lives centered on compassion and unconditional love.
“Spend your lives learning to love without condition,” McIntyre said, “so that when all else falls away, when your mind is going and your body is failing, when you are in the sunset of your own lives, years and years from today, you are almost entirely love.”
HONORING EXCELLENCE BEYOND GRADUATION
In addition to celebrating graduates, the Sweet Home Alumni Foundation presented its annual High Q Award. Foundation representative Dr. Ivan Wolthuis, a local dentist, honored 1990 Sweet Home High School graduate Cara Pascalar for her contributions to agriculture, animal science and education.
Wolthuis explained that the award recognizes alumni whose achievements have made meaningful impacts in their professions and communities.
He praised Pascalar’s work as an educator, livestock judging coach, ranch manager, entrepreneur and advocate for agriculture, noting that her efforts have positively influenced countless students, producers and communities throughout her career.
As the final tassels were turned, graduation caps were tossed, and graduates gathered with family and friends beneath the fading light, the evening served as a celebration not only of academic achievement, but also of the community that helped make those achievements possible.
From nearly $1 million in scholarships to inspiring speeches, musical performances and recognition of alumni excellence, the ceremony reflected the values Sweet Home holds dear: hard work, kindness, perseverance and service.
For the Sweet Home High School Class of 2026, the weather may have been uncertain, but the course ahead has never looked brighter.