The Philomath High School’s Class of 2026 will turn their tassels on Saturday at Clemens Field in a graduation ceremony scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Seniors finish classes Thursday and are scheduled to go on their traditional walk to the various campuses Friday morning. School staff also had plans early Friday to serve the Senior Breakfast. The baccalaureate occurred May 31 and the honors convocation took place June 2.
Following graduation on Saturday will be the Senior All-Night Party, an evening community-sponsored event.
Philomath Academy’s graduation ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 10 on the school’s west lawn.
The PHS Class of 2026 features nine valedictorians: Ace Gerding, Brielle Hagen, Lucy King, Maggie King, Makayla Lillie, Nick Monroe, Leo Pausch, Ezra Smith and Levi Storch.
All nine valedictorians achieved a 4.0 grade point average.
Each student was asked to answer questions about themselves and following is a rundown of their responses:
Ace Gerding
Parents: Nate Gerding and Heather Parcell
Post-high school plans: I am going to Colorado School of Mines for mechanical engineering.
High school activities and honors: Varsity basketball.
Brielle Hagen
Parents: David and Laura Hagen
Post-high school plans: I will be taking a gap year where in the fall I will be attending a 3 month Torchbearer bible program abroad followed by a winter and spring of working, saving money, and job-shadowing to prepare for college — potentially a BSN.
High school activities and honors: Soccer, National Honor Society, FCA.
Lucy King
Parents: Mike and Martha King
Post-high school plans: Post high school plans include attending University of Oregon to major in Psychology
High school activities and honors: Musical theatre, soccer, cross-country and track and field (three-time all-state athlete in cross-country and two team state titles), tennis (state qualifier), FCA leader, National Honors Society VP.
Maggie King
Parents: Mike and Martha King
Post-high school plans: This summer, I am interning in Uruguay for a month before going to University of Oregon in the fall to study social work.
High school activities and honors: Four years varsity soccer (captain senior year), varsity tennis (captain senior year), National Honor Society and theatre.
Makayla Lillie
Parents: Brian and Laura Lillie
Post-high school plans: I am studying nursing at George Fox University. Planning to be a travel nurse in labor and delivery or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Eventually become a nurse practitioner!
High school activities and honors: Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET Figure 8 district record), Horse 4-H, Beef 4-H, Church Worship Team, National Honor Society, 4-H Hippology Nationals Team (2023), Tennis (freshman year), Band (ninth and 10th grade).
Nick Monroe
Parents: Staci and Mike Monroe
Post-high school plans: OSU, Computer Science Major, German Minor
High school activities and honors: No extracurricular activities, completed German 1-4, completed AP U.S. History, completed AP Computer Science Principles, completed College Writing, completed Precalculus, completed College Lit: Poetry, completed College Lit: Fiction.
Leo Pausch
Parents: Laura Bryant and Eddy Pausch
Post-high school plans: Next year, I will be attending New Mexico State University and majoring in political science while competing in cross-country and track at the Division I level. I intend to focus on international relations in hopes of becoming a diplomat and representing America.
High school activities and honors: I competed in cross-country and track through all four years of high school, placing as high as fifth in the state cross-country meet and setting the school record in the 5K. I have been the lead singer of the band, The Root Vegetables/Moving Rocks for the past three years of high school, playing concerts and shows for the school as well as venues in the area. I have also been a member of the National Honor Society and have spent many days volunteering for local causes.
Ezra Smith
Parents: Kimberlee and Matthew Smith
Post-high school plans: I will attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, next year.
High school activities and honors: While in high school I did track and field (varsity letter, academic all-state), cross-country (academic all-state), Chess Club president, Nintendo Club, Corvallis Youth Symphony.
Levi Storch
Parents: Camille Kaplan and Henry Storch
Post-high school plans: Attending the University of California, Santa Cruz, to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Agroecology.
High school activities and honors: PHS-affiliated activities — Theater, student representative to the Philomath School Board (2024-25), Philomath Outdoor School. Other activities — Marys River Youth Watershed Council. Honors — Student of the Month.
Class of 2026
- William Thomas Adams, Elijah Garrett Allen, Jaxon Fitzgerald Allen, Izzie Azucena Alvarez, Daniel Wyatt Arringdale, Luke Thomas Arthurs, Isaac Jacob Avery, Caleb Isaiah Babcock, Lacey May Bacho, Casey Dell Baker-Swartzendruber
- Riley Michael Robert Barrett, Hollie May Barton, Liam Cravens Bennett, Shawn Michael Berger, Syllis Paul Samuel Besser, Tlacaelel Balam Brambila Boatner, Tiernan Reid Bovbjerg, Allison Dawn Burnett, Ana Gayle Candanoza, Mary Catherine Carlos
- Kenadie Shaye Carlson, Ryker Neil Cessnun, Nicholas Robert James Challe, Sydney Caite Clark, Autumn Faith Cluster, Porter Gerald Compton, Logan McCoig Cook, Astrid Olivia Cropp, Emma Grace Carolyn Cummings, Rocco Benjamin De La Rosa
- Ayden James Decker, Haylee Lenore Denue, Jaslene Simoni Dominguez, Kathleen Margaret Donovan, Christian Samuel Eaton, Madelynn Fay Endicott, Kayla Marie Rose Fuller, Diana Paola Gallardo-Rosas, Emily Geavonna Garcia, Megan Rose Garwood
- Ace Henry Gerding, Derek Norman Michael Goodson, Gabriel Mark Goschie, Zachary James Grapoli, Connor Ryan Greeley, Brielle Hope Hagen, Felix Rae Hamblin, Elizabeth Rose Hamlet, Abigail Grace Harwood, Steven Daniel Harwood
- Blake Johnathan Hauck, Aleah Lynn Hendrix, Evan Francois Hernandez, Lukas Gabriel Hernandez, Lillian Dee Hockema, Ginnah Eileen Hopper, Nathaniel Jay Houck, Taylor May Hudson, Aubrey Jean Humphrey, Cash Walter Jans
- Gabriela Sofia Johnson, Montgomery Ernest Jones, Lucy Frances King, Maggie Scout King, Derick Austin Kohn, Camden Scott Korth, Leah Rae Kramer, Tristin Alexander Krout, Jake Richard Patrick Trent Lesire, Makayla Christine Lillie
- Peyton Elizabeth Lynn Littrell, Mariana Yazmin Luque Contreras, Jacob Bryan Magnani, Jose Antonio Martinez, Parker Leigh Maxey, Emma Rose May, Shaylee Irene May, Jake Jarvis McGaughy, Benjamin Michael McGovern, Jenna Loralee McGuyer
- Cameron Nolan McLennan, Jessica Elise McLennan, Kaitlyn Loraine Mesta, Nicholas Kyle Monroe, Karissa Mae Moore, Andrew James Muir, Isabelle Raeann Muir, Lake Robert Michael Mulberry, Larken Gracie Nash, Jessica Nicole Neelands
- Alicia Merced Nunez Curiel, CD Nuno, Seth Clark O’Harra, Charlise Lynn Orsborn, Dillon Lenard Osborns, Lucie Marie Oster, Elizabeth Josephine Ottomeier, Leo Kagiso Pausch, Josiah David Peters, Abigail Lynn Phelps
- Everly Rose Pope, MarLee Jo Quetschke, Roman Jack Robins, Mathew Hisanobu Ropp, Jeraldo Rosales Trejo, Lane Michael Schell, Josephine Paige Schreiber, Avery Nicole Smith, Ezra Thomas Smith, Stryker Bruce Steinke
- Cadence Rori Stevens, Mason Andrew Stevens, Levi D’Amico Storch, Cole Joseph Terry, Delaney Jane Thomas, Kylie Nicole Thorson, Khali Kaelyn Toombs, Mayson Jay Wallace, Magnolia Christine Warren, Braydon Richard Williams
- Makiah Renald Woo, Owen Ross Wood