SOAP LAKE — Staff speaker Lee Levell gave some advice to the Soap Lake High School class of 2026 during graduation ceremonies Saturday.  

“There will be uncertainties no one can prepare you for. You will be forced to tackle them head-on,” Leavell said. “Life can be hard. However, life is also a gift that we must not take for granted or take too seriously. That is why, when you are faced with these challenges that you just think won’t end, it is important to remember to remember that you must find a way to enjoy yourself, because it is later than you think.” 

Leavell said time will pass more quickly than the seniors realize, and they must take advantage of the time they have. 

Valedictorian Tanya Zubritskiy said the passage of time was one of the lessons of high school. 

“We finally did it. We’re finally graduating after long years of us staying here and saying that it’s going to go by slow, or even that there’s a long way to go. And now look at us – we’re here,” she said. 

The 32 seniors in the SLHS class of 2026 graduated in front of a full house of parents, guardians, family and friends. Jade Lopez, 2026 ASB president, fought tears as she paid tribute to the seniors’ support system. 

“To all the parents here today, especially those who have sacrificed so much for their children, this moment belongs to you too,” Lopez said. “For some of us graduates, this diploma isn’t only for us, but for our parents.” 

Senior class president Brooke Dana invited the seniors to wave to their parents and pose for a picture.  

“They only get to see you graduating once,” she said. She expressed gratitude to their families and to the Soap Lake district staff who helped the seniors reach graduation.  

Lopez also paid tribute to her classmates and the work they put in. 

“Sometimes I stop and look around and see how much each of us has grown,” she said. “Many of us have been together since grade school. We grew up side by side, learning, failing, laughing. We figured out life together.” 

Yet every senior’s experience was different, Dana said. 

“Everyone had different high school experiences,” she said. “Maybe you played sports, joined clubs, or just focused on academics. But no matter our paths, we all overcame challenges, both known and unforeseen personal struggles, hardships at home, loss and moments that tested us.” 

Zubritskiy paid tribute to her class for their ability to adapt. 

“I think what makes today so special is that every single person sitting here today has a story,” she said. “Some of us changed friend groups, changed dreams, or even changed ourselves completely. Here we are. We worked extremely hard to get to today.”
 

    A Soap Lake High School teacher fist-bumps with a new SLHS graduate.
  

    Diploma in hand, a Soap Lake graduate gets a congratulatory hug.
  

    Seniors toss their caps into the air at the end of Soap Lake graduation ceremonies Saturday.