Whitefish High School class of 2026 graduate Unity Loveless already crossed the stage and emceed the commencement ceremony on Saturday, but her impact will continue to spread positivity long after graduation day.

“I would tell freshman to do everything they can – join every club, go to every dance,” Loveless said. “And also, just to talk to everyone. High school is so much more fun when you’re friends with everyone.” 

Loveless plans to double major in political science and education with a minor in Spanish at Montana State University. She said she’s always wanted to be a teacher but has become more drawn to politics in recent years.  

“It’s really important to have younger people in government, with new perspectives,” she said.  

Loveless grew as an individual throughout high school to become a leader on the school’s speech and debate team, earning Coach Sara Mueller’s student of the year accolade.  

Loveless was one of 30 students from across the nation to serve on the National Speech and Debate Association Student Leadership Council this year. As the Montana director of outreach, she worked to bring debate resources and representation to rural communities across the state.  

In the Flathead Valley, Loveless teamed up with classmate Scarlet Burke to pilot a speech and debate summer camp. The duo raised almost $2,000 to host a week-long camp for Whitefish and Columbia Falls elementary students last July.  

The camp was a great success as 30 young students learned about speech and debate events. The camp concluded with a real competition. Loveless said they have helped pass along the knowledge to Whitefish High School underclassmen in hopes that the camp will continue to introduce new generations to the activity.  

Her own speech and debate career saw the Whitefish team claim back-to-back state titles in 2025 and 2026.  

“My freshman year, we had a really small team,” she said. “Finally, my junior year, we won the first state tournament in three years. It’s been cool to see the team grow, and to be able to help recruit for that.”  

Loveless focused on events that require months of prep beforehand, doing deep dives into topics.  

“I chose topics that are very personal to me,” she said, citing climate change, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generational addiction. 

“Then, I can bring awareness to aspects of life that people don’t always talk about. I think it’s rewarding when you are able to see success in something that was vulnerable.” 

Speech and debate also gave Loveless a “foundation of how to be bad at something,” she said.  

“It’s important to not be good at everything you do right away. It gives you a lot of perseverance,” she said. 

Through speech and debate, Loveless gained the ability to connect with other people and to allocate time to the things she cares about, she said.  

Loveless has also participated in DECA, yearbook, science olympiad and student council. Since the first day of freshman year, she's worked at Third Street Market, where she's loved chatting with customers and dishing out food recommendations.

She was drawn to yearbook as a freshman, describing how it feels like a stressful movie scene. But in real life Whitefish, the yearbook crew had fluctuating numbers. As editor-in-chief, Loveless has been a core and sometimes sole member.  

“Getting to immortalize the year is really cool,” she said. “Up in our library, there’s yearbooks for every year that the school’s been alive.”  

Yearbook staff member Kelly Haverlandt said that graduation is bittersweet because Loveless has been a treasure.  

“Unity is the kind of student who not only works hard in school but also finds time to create opportunities for others to succeed,” Haverlandt said. “While her accomplishments are impressive, what I will remember most is the positive impact she has had on the people around her. She has made Whitefish High School a better place, and I have no doubt she will continue to make a difference wherever life takes her next.” 

Editor Kelsey Evans can be reached at 406-862-3505 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at whitefishpilot.com/support.