Palmyra High School has graduated 102 new alumni.
As the school field filled with red and white gowns on June 17, the excitement was palpable. The class of 2026 has been defined by many important moments throughout the last four years.
The tone that rang clear throughout the event was this: community.
Principal Dan Licata began the evening with words of wisdom for the graduates.
“Be a good neighbor,” he advised. “This may just mean asking someone if they are okay when they look upset.”
That mission of kindness reverberated in Licata’s speech: “Palmyra is a special community and one that you can always call home. As a small public high school, the moments this class has spent together are meaningful.”
As Superintendent Dr. Florencia Norton took the stage, it was clear just how important the district hopes Palmyra is to the graduates and their families.
“Tonight is special, because this class represents something bigger than a graduation ceremony,” she noted. “You represent Palmyra, a town that believes in hard work, a community that shows up for one another, a place where people know your name, where teachers become life-long mentors, where coaches become family and where classmates become the people who shape your story forever.
“That is the beauty of a small town.”
As the students move into the next phase, it’s a bittersweet time, observed student council president Jane Anker.
“How do I summarize four years of friendship, memories, challenges and growth in just a few minutes?” she asked. “Regardless of entering the workforce, joining trade schools, moving on to college or heading towards military service, the moments shared within the walls of Palmyra High School are memories that will last a lifetime.”
Salutatorian Elsie Kenson referenced what the class shared together.
“Let’s remember our victories, the challenges we’ve faced, (because) they’ve shaped the people we are today,” she said. “From COVID-19 impacting their-middle school years, to love and losses that are immeasurable, this class has faced countless highs and lows, bringing them into whatever the future holds.”
The future is bright, according to valedictorian Lucy Reigel.
“All of us can make a difference,” she urged, “but it ultimately comes down to the decisions we make.”
Whatever decisions await this years graduates, the message holds true: Palmyra will always be home.
Salutatorian, Elsie Kenson.
Palmyra teachers enjoying the inspirational speeches.
Excited students walk to their seats before speeches.
The large crowd welcomes the graduates on a warm, sunny Wednesday evening June 17.
Students in the Palmyra High School Class of 2026 get ready to start their procession.
Student Council President, Jane Anker.
Excited students walk to their seats before speeches
The student band plays ‘Pomp and Circumstance‘.
Student Council Vice President Mikayla Mangano and Principal Daniel Licata get ready to present the class banner to Zaria Welch, president of the Class of 2027.
Students in the Palmyra High School Class of 2026 get ready to start their procession.
