The Arlee class of 2026 crossed the finish line and proudly accepted their diplomas on Saturday, June 6.  

This was Arlee High School’s celebration of the 33 graduates' growth and accomplishments.  

The graduation ceremony kicked off with a welcome from Superintendent Cory Beckham, who described the celebration as one of the many milestones these graduates will reach in life.  

“Congratulations, class of 2026. We are proud of all you have accomplished, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact you will make on the world,” Beckham said.  

At the start of the ceremony, Arlee recognized Salutatorian Dean Anthony Moran and Valedictorian Aiden Swab with medals and welcomed Swab to give a speech.  

Reflecting on his time in high school, Swab said the one thing that comes to mind is growth, not only in grades and accomplishments, but also as people. He explained that freshman year taught the class an important lesson: it’s okay not to have everything figured out.  

“We made mistakes, we said stupid things, but every mistake became a lesson. Every challenge became an opportunity to improve it,” Swab said.  

Swab said the high school experience was a time to learn time management, test his discipline and realize that school is more than grades and test scores. While senior year provided many memories of football games, homecoming and prom, it most importantly gave the graduates perspective.  

To conclude his speech, he thanked his coaches, teachers, classmates and his “constant foundation” – his family – for his success. 

“Graduation is not the finish line of education. Life itself can be a classroom. Beyond the stage, keep learning through your experiences, learn from your successes and failures, learn from new places, new people and new challenges,” Swab said to his classmates.  

He added that none of them will have life figured out today, but that is okay because growth is a lifelong process.  

Next to the stage was high school English teacher Ryan Landolfi, who gave the commencement address.  

Landolfi explained that older generations have always had an opinion about what the younger generation thinks. He added that, in a different way, young people are high-minded because they have not yet been humbled by life and think they know everything.  

“When you're young, you don't know what you don't know, but you think you know more than you know,” he said. “So, graduates, you put in 13 solid years of hard work in school and 18 years gaining experiences that have shaped you into the young adults you become today.”  

He added that the next step in their lives will be the most educational years of their life with lots of opportunities to learn and grow from their mistakes. 

Landolfi noted his experiences and failures in life, and asked, “So, how does your teacher being a loser apply to you, graduates?”  

“Don't fear failure, embrace it,” he said.  

He concluded his speech with some loving joke predictions about what future failures will befall the graduates.  

“Fail, but when you do, fail better next time,” he said.  

    Deja-Nay Little-Marry shows off her diploma during Arlee’s High School graduation on Saturday, June 6. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Jennifer Jilot, an Arlee High School English teacher, receives a hu from Tucker Hill. Jilot received many roses and hugs from the class of 2026 during the rose ceremony. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 Cashis Haynes shakes Superintendent Cory Beckham’s hand as he receives his diploma. (Emily Messer/Leader)