Sixteen students participated in Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony staged in the west lawn area near Philomath Academy, each carrying a story that took a different road to get there.
For Nate Bennett, the journey included a rocky start to high school before he found his footing at the alternative school — and then some. He finished his junior and senior years in a single academic year.
Gallery: Philomath Academy graduation (June 10, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath Academy’s Class of 2026 graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
“I started high school and just started off pretty rough, and then I came here, and then it was a really good experience, lots of nice people, and the teachers are always nice,” Bennett said. “Helped me get through it.”
His advice to anyone who doubts the path?
“If you work hard and get ahead, then it’ll pay off. I was done, like, three months ago.”
Bennett plans to work at his family’s business, Timber Supply.
Gracie Gassner came to Philomath Academy from Eddyville Charter School, looking to finish her diploma on her own terms and timeline. The experience, she said, helped her develop something she couldn’t have gotten in a conventional classroom.
“I discovered my independence a little bit more, probably, and worked towards my goals harder than I would have if I was in public school,” Gassner said.
She’s already putting it to use. Gassner works as a caregiver for New Horizons In-Home Care in Albany and plans to enroll at Linn-Benton Community College for an agricultural program focused on cattle breeding and artificial insemination — a skill she wants to apply to her own herd.
“AI is like the new thing with them, so I’m just trying to benefit my own herd and help others benefit theirs,” she said.
Both graduates described Philomath Academy as a place that meets students where they are. Bennett noted that the experience isn’t entirely unlike traditional school — “you still come in, do your work” — but with something extra. “You just get a lot more help than you would at school, just one-on-one.”
Gassner put it this way: “The school is a really good opportunity for kids to meet their goals at their own pace, rather than public schools, when you’re kind of forced to go at everybody else’s pace, and they definitely recognize everybody’s individuality here.”
The ceremony carried a moment of particular weight when the name of Tyler Smouse was called.
Smouse had completed the requirements for his high school diploma three months ahead of schedule. He passed away on May 9 following a traffic crash on Kings Valley Highway. On Wednesday, his older brother, Trace Thorson, accepted the diploma on his behalf.
“He had a big personality. He impacted everybody in the academy and people throughout the community,” Principal Garth Gerot said. “Really amazing kid, and it’s just a tragedy that we had to lose him so soon.”
Gerot described what he believes success looks like for the school’s graduates.
“They’re prepared for their next step, they’re good citizens, and they’re ready to be successful in whatever passion they’re looking to follow,” he said.
The school is heading into a period of transition. Philomath Academy was a K-12 school two years ago, then served grades 6-12 this past year. In 2026-27, it will focus solely on grades 9-12, a change driven by staffing constraints.
The school will operate with two teachers — Jennifer House, who teaches English and social studies, and a math and science teacher Gerot said he expects to hire in the coming weeks.
Gerot described a shift in instructional approach for the coming year as well, moving toward what he called a workshop model with more hands-on, project-based learning — a recognition that online coursework alone doesn’t work for every student who needs an alternative setting.
“Just because a kid needs an alternative setting to learn doesn’t necessarily mean that they learn the best in front of a computer,” he said. “So that’s really the drive for next year for us.”
The full Class of 2026 included 22 graduates, though 16 participated in Wednesday’s ceremony: Danny Barron, Hudson Beck, Nate Bennett, Livia Bryant, Connor Childers, Olivia Cole, Max Davis, Gracie Gassner, Myla Griebel, Wylie Griffith, Zainab Homeid, Olivia Leage, Briahna Ledbetter, Alex Maghan, Dylan Martins, Bryce Maurer, Macey Mosbrucker, Colton Phillips, Nayeli Sanchez, Tyler Smouse, Olivia Wilkerson and Sway Ziolkowski.
Nine additional students earned General Educational Development certificates: Logan Buffa, Peyton Fleming, Blaze Gellatly, Lauren Johanson, Saint Johnson, Fox Nyers, Mars Price, Ruth Steen and Jackson Tinch.
The ceremony featured the National Anthem performed by Olivia Leage and House, a land acknowledgment by counselor Beth Edgemon, and a welcome message from Wilkerson, who introduced school board members. Superintendent Susan Halliday formally introduced the class before the presentation of diplomas. Gerot closed the ceremony with the turning of the tassels.
