Caps flew into the air shortly after noon Saturday as Philomath High School seniors officially became graduates, concluding a ceremony at Clemens Field that blended tradition, humor and heartfelt reflection on the bonds formed in a small-town school.
The event drew a packed crowd of families and friends who poured onto the field to celebrate when the last diploma had been handed out.
Gallery: PHS Class of 2026 graduation (June 6, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High School’s graduation ceremony at Clemens Field on Saturday.
Before the ceremony began, four graduates paused amid the bustle of caps and gowns to share what Philomath had meant to them.
For Josey Schreiber, the lesson was one she hadn’t anticipated.
“How important community is,” she said. “It’s such a small town but everyone’s close-knit, big on community, it’s nice.”
Schreiber, who plans to be heading into her second year of college in Corvallis a year from now, added that Philomath is woven into her family’s history.
“My family graduated here and it’s like a generational thing for us to be in this area,” she said. “It’ll be a special part of my life forever.”
Ayden Decker reflected on a more personal takeaway — one that came with a dose of honest self-assessment.
“Punctuality — being on time,” he said. “Very, very late this last year to all my classes but in the years before, I was on time a lot and I had a lot better grades.”
Decker said he plans to head to LBCC to pursue a machine tool degree.
Mariana Luque Contreras pointed to a health education class that opened a door to her future.
“I got to go to the hospital and shadow nurses and that was pretty cool. It taught me what I wanted to do for my future.”
She plans to enroll at the Institute of Technology in Salem to pursue a licensed practical nurse degree. As for what she’ll carry from Philomath, she echoed a theme that came up in every interview.
“Everyone knows each other better than if it was a bigger school,” she said. “Even though you don’t hang out all the time, you can still talk to each other.”
Luke Arthurs offered the group’s most philosophical observation.
“When it gets tougher, you’ll realize that this was the easiest part of your life,” he said.
As for a year from now, he was characteristically relaxed about it: “Either figuring out life or going to plumbing school.”
Liam Bennett, Ike Avery and Arthurs opened the event with the National Anthem. Principal Mark Henderson and student Alicia Nuñez Curiel, who addressed the crowd in Spanish, welcomed attendees. Laney Thomas delivered the first student speech of the program.
Retiring teacher Donna Carter then introduced the nine valedictorians — Ace Gerding, Brielle Hagen, Lucy King, Maggie King, Makayla Lillie, Nick Monroe, Leo Pausch, Ezra Smith and Levi Storch.
Pausch remained at the podium to deliver the valedictorian address, offering a reflection on purpose and what it means to remain human in an increasingly automated world.
“As we evolve and grow, our purposes and passions change with us,” Pausch said. “I was a perfectly content little kid memorizing as many things as my mom put in front of me. Now my happiness comes from a guitar, a good run and chumming it up with my buds.”
He also issued a challenge to his classmates as they head into a world of rapidly advancing technology.
“Right now in this world that’s building robots and AI, we need to cherish what’s in our hearts, what makes us human, and not lose it to the clankers and our superficial layers,” he said.
Eight graduates were honored with the Heart of a Warrior recognition, awarded to those who have consistently demonstrated compassion, kindness, humility, respect and enthusiasm for all things PHS — Jaxon Allen, Bennett, Abigail Harwood, Emma May, Isabelle Muir, Lucie Oster, Pausch and Avery Smith.
Oster and Harwood then teamed up for a student speech.
Henderson brought some levity to his own remarks with an assist from graduate Cameron McLennan.
“This might be a little unconventional but I’m going to address the class in their language,” Henderson told the crowd. As Henderson delivered lines in what he called “student speak,” McLennan translated for the adults in the stands.
After all 122 diplomas were distributed, Allen led the turning of the tassels before the mortar boards went airborne — and the celebration began. The Class of 2026 includes 122 graduates.
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
