William Byrd Class of 2026 celebrates graduation

The William Byrd High School Class of 2026 celebrated graduation on May 27 at the Salem
Civic Center– the 102 nd annual commencement for WBHS. Approximately 280 graduates,
including 66 valedictorians, walked across the stage, shook hands with school administrators,
and accepted their diplomas.

The graduation ceremony began with the Presentation of Colors by the Roanoke County Corps
of Cadets, which is based at WBHS. (They also presented for Cave Spring and Hidden Valley
High Schools.)

SCA President Makenzie Scott led the Pledge of Allegiance. Miley Moses
Pinion, one of the valedictorians, delivered the Commencement Address:

“There is a quote I would like to share by Harriet Tubman that says, ‘Every great dream begins
with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the
passion to reach for the stars to change the world.’

“We spent four years counting down to graduation…and now that it’s here, it feels like it showed
up way too fast. Freshman year, most of us walked into school not knowing where our classes
were, or honestly what we were doing at all. And now, somehow, we’re here, ready to take on
whatever comes next.

“Before anything else, I want to take a moment to thank the people who helped us get here. To
our teachers, who pushed us even when we didn’t want to be pushed. To our parents and
families, who supported us through every late night, early morning, and stressful moment. To our
principals, whose leadership helped shape our school and keep us moving forward. And to the
staff, coaches, and mentors who believed in us and guided us along the way—this milestone
wouldn’t be possible without you.

“I am honored to stand here today as a part of the graduating class of 2026. Over the past four
years, I’ve spent a lot of time learning—not just from classes, but from the people around me.
But looking back on those moments–the highs, the stress, and everything in between—I’ve
realized something. We didn’t just go through high school. We grew through it. And that growth
didn’t happen by accident. It came from the very things in that quote we heard earlier: strength,
patience, and passion.

“First…strength. And I don’t mean the kind you see in movies with dramatic music in the
background, I mean the quiet kind. The kind that shows up when you get a grade back that isn’t
what you hoped for, but you work just as hard on the next assignment anyway. The kind that gets
you out of bed on mornings when you’re already tired before the day even starts. The kind that
keeps you sitting at a desk trying to focus while your brain is completely fried. We all had those
days. But strength wasn’t about never struggling. It was about showing up anyway. Even when
we were unsure. Even when we were overwhelmed. Even when your only motivation was the
fact that missing class meant more work later. And somehow…we made it through all of that.

“Second—patience. And honestly, this one deserves its own award, because if there’s anything
we’ve mastered over the last four years, it’s waiting. Waiting for Friday. Waiting for summer.
Waiting for graduation. Waiting for life to finally feel like it’s ‘starting’. And now that we’re
here, it’s kind of wild how fast it all went. But patience taught us something important: Not
everything is supposed to happen quickly. Friendships and relationships take time. Confidence
takes time. Figuring out who you are takes way more time than we want it to. And even now,
standing here, none of us have everything figured out, but that’s okay. Because patience isn’t
about having the whole map. It’s about trusting that you’re still moving forward, even when you
can’t see what’s ahead.

“And finally—passion. This one looked different for all of us. For some, it showed up on the
field, the court, in a gym, or on a stage. For others, it showed up in notebooks, late-night study
sessions, or quiet moments of just trying to get better. And for some of us…it showed up as
simply trying to survive first period without some type of energy drink. But passion was always
there. It was the effort no one clapped for. It was in the work people didn’t see. It was in the
moments we kept going just because we cared enough not to quit. And maybe the most
important part? Passion doesn’t always feel obvious while you’re living it. Sometimes you only recognize it in hindsight…like, ‘Wow, I really did care about that more than I realized.’ And that
means something. Because passion isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about being willing
to care deeply, even while you’re still becoming who you are.

“So, if we put it all together…Strength is what got us through. Patience is what kept us
grounded. And passion is what kept us moving forward. And those things didn’t just get us
through high school. They built who we are right now.

“As we move forward, I hope we don’t forget that. Be strong when things don’t go as planned,
not because you won’t struggle, but because you already know you can survive it. Be patient
when life doesn’t move on your timeline, even when it feels like everyone else is somehow
ahead of you. And be passionate about whatever you choose next, even if you’re still figuring out
what that is. Because honestly, most of us are still figuring things out.

“And that’s kind of the point. Changing the world doesn’t always look like changing the world.
Sometimes it looks like showing up for your friends when they need you. Sometimes it looks
like choosing kindness when it would be easier not to. And sometimes it just looks like not
giving up on yourself when things get hard. That’s where real impact starts. Not in huge
moments…but in consistent ones.

“So, Class of 2026, we didn’t just sit through high school. We learned how to grow through it.
We learned how to keep going. How to keep waiting. How to keep caring. And even when it
didn’t feel like it, we were becoming something stronger, steadier, and more real than we were
when we started.

“So, as we take this next step…whatever it looks like for each of us…don’t forget what brought
you here. The strength you didn’t always notice. The patience you didn’t always want. And the
passion that showed up even when life was messy. Because the world isn’t just waiting for
dreamers. It’s waiting for people who kept going when dreaming got hard. It’s waiting for us.”

Principal Evan Noell then recognized some of the special accomplishments of the Class of 2026.

 This year, 66 graduates are wearing white stoles – signifying that they have achieved a
GPA over 4.0.
 150 graduates are considered Honor Graduates with a GPA of 3.5 and higher.
 Students within the Class of 2026 have earned nearly $100,000 in grants and
scholarships.
 15 students are graduating with The Seal of Biliteracy indicating that they are writing and
speaking in a second or third language.
 Many students have taken part in the Roanoke County Public Schools partnership
program with local businesses to form an apprenticeship program. Students that
participate in the apprenticeship program receive on the job training, are paid through the
companies, and can potentially earn full-time employment following graduation.
 Six students earned an Associate’s Degree and one has earned a Uniform Certificate of
General Studies from Virginia Western, all while being concurrently enrolled at William
Byrd.

 Many students have attended the Burton Center of Arts and Technology. Many of these
have earned certifications that will serve them well in their future endeavors. We have
students who will join the workforce with certifications in Cosmetology, Auto service,
criminal justice, welding, motor sports, game design, mechatronics, computer
information technology, cyber security, building trades, culinary arts, mass
communications, and engineering.
 We have one student who has been concurrently enrolled at the Roanoke Valley
Governor’s School, a highly competitive school that focuses on STEM education.

“Graduates, you will find there is no greater joy than serving others in this life. In addition to
your work in the classroom, your focus on others has been extremely important to our
surrounding community. Your class has accumulated nearly 2,000 hours of community service
throughout this school year alone! We would like to thank sponsors Lisa Stover, Carla Hatfield,
and Shayna Hastings for their work with the LEO Club, the BETA Club, and the Mu Alpha
Theta Honor Society for their leadership in these efforts.

“This commitment to serving others is part of some of your future plans as well…We have
students who have committed to serving in our nation’s Armed Forces. We want to thank these
students and let them know how proud we are that they have made this decision. Our nation
thanks you for your desire to serve!

“Graduates, as you leave William Byrd…it is our hope that you never lose your servant’s heart.
You will quickly realize– this life is far more fulfilling when you seek to serve others.

“You all have shown pride in your extra-curricular endeavors throughout the years. 157 members
of you have spent time on athletic teams at William Byrd High School. Twenty-one of these
student athletes have committed to playing collegiate athletics. This will serve you well as you
will be required to be diligent in your studies, you will have to overcome obstacles, and you will
have to function within the team concept.

“It is our goal in Roanoke County Public Schools to prepare Opportunity Ready graduates. This
requires a focus on collaboration, critical thinking, and communication– skills that will foster
success long after your work as a scholar is complete. This year, the class of 2026 had 219
students successfully defend their senior portfolio through the defense process.

“As you leave this chapter behind and step into the future, remember that success is not
measured only by achievements, titles, or awards, but by the impact you make on the lives of
others. You will each take different paths, face different challenges, and celebrate different
victories. We encourage you to cherish the memories, friendships, and experiences that brought
you to this moment. Also, you should take time to thank those that have helped you reach this
milestone.

“So, Class of 2026, move forward with confidence, kindness, and courage. Take risks, learn from
failure, and never stop believing in your ability to make a difference. The future is waiting for
you. When in doubt, remember that you are all Terriers at heart!”

Darin Witcher, nominated by the Senior Class and elected by the faculty as this year’s Top
Terrier, delivered his address.

“To be honest with you guys, I don’t really know how to write a speech. So, I decided to ask my
peers for advice. I was given back a multitude of advice: ‘Stick to the clichés’; ‘Please don’t use
clichés’; ‘Keep it professional’; ‘Stay casual’; ‘Just do what Darin would do’, whatever that
means.

“As you can see, this advice didn’t really help me pick a direction for this speech. This is
symbolic of the era of life we’re approaching. There are so many directions to go, so many
choices to make. Sitting among us are future doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, managers,
military members, financial planners, physical therapists, entrepreneurs and everything else
under the sun.

“Despite all of these wildly different paths we’ll take, one thing unites us. Those paths, started,
crossed, and intertwined at William Byrd. Those paths are filled with Homecomings, Proms, pep
rallies, games, meets, matches, performances. But those are the things we’ll look back on.

“As our paths disperse towards great futures, we’ll look back on the teachers that helped us out
along the way, the staff that you could always talk to, and most of all, the friends that surrounded
us.

“Our high school days weren’t filled with events; they were filled with people. The people all
around us are what made high school so great. Memories are fine, but memories that are shared
become special. I don’t hope, I know, that each and every member of this 2026 will take these
memories into our futures and do great things.

“Yes, leaving what you’ve known for four years hurts, but as Mr. Galbreath and John
Mellancamp would say, ‘It hurts so good’. While it may hurt for now, later we’ll look back on
the memories, relationships, and friends with great awe.

“To anyone worried about what the future holds, know that you’re not alone. People will tell you
to do this, do that, go here, stay there. There will be so many choices to make, so many places
your path could go. Starting soon, we’ll have to make choices that decide where our paths wind
up.

“Some of us will go into the workforce, some will go to college right down the road, some will
go across the country, but all will continue their paths that started at William Byrd. Life is about
finding your way, and the class of 2026 is about to do just that. Choose whatever direction you
wish, just be sure your path ends up where you want it to.”

Next, Brooke Hershel, assistant director of the William Byrd High School choirs, introduced the
performance of the Senior Song.

“Choosing a song for this moment was honestly really difficult because choir has been such a big
part of my life and has given me so many memories and friendships that I’ll always carry with
me.  We chose ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper because it’s a song about always being there
for the people you care about, no matter how much time passes. As graduation gets closer, I’ve realized how special the people in this choir are to me, and how much I’m going to miss singing
with them every day.  I’m so grateful for all the support, laughter, and memories we’ve shared
throughout the years. Thank you to my choir directors, my family, my friends, and everyone here
tonight for supporting me along the way.”

The graduation ceremony concluded with the presentation of diplomas by Principal Noell and
Assistant Principals Hannah Prater, Kevin Richardson, and Marcee Cook, with handshakes from
School Superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely and School Board members Tim Greenway (Vinton) and
David Linden (Hollins).

Graduate Camden Thepsimuong who passed away in December from bone cancer was listed in
the program and honored with a candle on stage and a bouquet of flowers on what would have
been his seat in the ceremony. He was able to complete his studies and received his diploma last
October.

Future plans for the Class of 2026 include (asterisks* denote valedictorians):

Apprenticeship School Builders: Andrew Reynolds
Belmont University: Aubrey Booze*

Bluefield University: Parker Minnix

Centenary University: Benjamin Wright

Coastal Carolina University: Tyson Brady*

College of William and Mary: Napiray Sierra Prin*, Noah Williams*

Duke University: Braeden Booth*

East Tennessee State University: Kelsey Bell, Cody Gardner, Bryce Simpson
Emory and Henry: Kevin Green, Jr., Ava Sexton, James Smith, Jr., Benjamin Waid, Morrison
Wright

Ferrum College: Titus Beatty, Ainsley Bolen*, Cannin Lutz, Miley Moses Pinion*
G.J. Hopkins Fabrication/Sheet Metal: Lucas Partleton

High Point University: Mallory Summo

Hollins University: Abigail Saritelli*, Dixie Venable, Skylar Williams

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: Benjamin Grimm, Keegan Harold

James Madison University: Olivia Bustamante*, Anna Carter*, Braelyn Coles, Brooke Hershel*,
Kenady Leonard*, Mallory Peroulas*, MaKiya Price, Mitchell Sigafoes*, Peyton Wright*

Liberty University: Addison Clark*, Jaelyn English*, Tyler Harris*, Brian Kingery, Dominic
Myers, Kaeleigh Swan*

Longwood University: Bethany Pittenger*

Mary Baldwin University: Jacob Courtemanche

Mission Work: Sydney Larson

Old Dominion University: Maurasia Burnette,

Nashville Auto Diesel College: Trevor Robinson

Piedmont University: Katelynn Franks

Radford University: Ceiliann Baldwin, Allysa Brooks, Jordan Brown, Austin Bumgarner,
Sydney Crossan, Paul Ferrebee II*, Brooke Hale, Macabe James*, Sean Jenkins, Cary Jones*,
Shelby Krawczyk*, Gracie Mandakis, Dagan Miller, Titus Miller, Melissa Monk, Lilian Perez*,
Lennon Wright, Angie Zaragoza-Pena

Radford University–Carilion: Kyndall Agee *, Olivia Basham*, Jenna Bunce, Isabella Dudley,
Lauren Johnson, Anya Moore, Oakley Wilkerson

Roanoke College: Jeremy Abbott, Shelby Ensor, Elizabeth Gheen*, Alexander Hastings, Kalee
Hayes, Taniyah Jackson, Tate Kotz*, Ryan McIntyre*, Justyn Rozenboom, Lucy Whitenack*

Savannah College of Art and Design: Meisha Robinson*

Shepherd University: Chase Gonzales

Southern Virginia University: Jamez Toler

Surry Community College: Joshua Vaughan

Tokyo Mode Gakuen: Miranda Chittum

Trevecca Nazarene University: Bladimir Cortes-Martinez

United States Air Force: Jason Hernandez Lemus

United States Marines: Juan Maldonado, Bridgette Wray

United States Navy: Matthew Sloane, Jr., Kaleb Wooldridge

University of Delaware: Lindsay Murtaugh

University of Lynchburg: Ryleigh Grubb, Addison Kincer, Evan Tabor

University of Mary Washington: Annabelle Teague*

University of Miami: Brooklyn Linick*

University of South Carolina: Lily Carrell*, Sofia Gonzalez*

University of South Florida: Kaylin Bumgarner*

University of Virginia: Jayden Niday*, Gabrielle Romeo*, Makenzie Scott*

Virginia Commonwealth University: Sydney Coles, Brooke Justus*, Nathanial Rucker

Virginia Tech: Blake Austin, Ashleigh Barton, Sawyer Bolen, Jacob Bray*, Caleb Brunk*,
Asher Claybrook*, Bianca DeMelo, Kendall Dodson, Braelyn Gibson, Chloe Gill*, Luke Helton,
Gavin Hilliker, Taylor Jacobsen*, Tatianna Kubik*, Carleigh Leonard*, Carter Leonard*,
Elizabeth Martinez*, Collin Mills*, Kyle Saccocci*, Keith Schult, Jr., Ethan Sutton*, Taylor
Spangler, Catherine Underwood, Darin Witcher*

Virginia Western Community College: Joshua Abbott*, Noelah Addo, Joshua Allen*, Ashley
Arven, Cristabella Banks, Andrew Bartley*, Aiden Barton, Emily Bowden, Joshua Boykin*,
Ella Brady, Kassie Brant, Abigail Brigdon, Sophia Brown*, Kendra Brunk, Pedro Cardenas-
Zambrano, Tyler Chambers*, Madison Chandler, Khloe Chapman, Haylee Cockran-Whorley,
Evelyn Dickason, Ashton Dillon*, Alexia Donahue, Emma Dooley, Sidney Draper, Hannah
Eakin, Nathaniel Edwards, Cameron Flanagan, Draven Flinchum, Samuel Geist, Shaun Gower,
Rileigh Hackett, Philip Haroulakis, Avery Harper, Liam Harrell, Natalie Holland, Hope
Huffman, Owen Humphreys, Taylor Lynn Jarels, Connor Jones, Jack Law, Jesus Leon, Kayla
Lovern, Jose Martinez-Garcia, Cara May*, Autumn Mills, Hunter Moseley, Charlotte Mullen,
Emily Ngo*, Cason Nichols, Lizeth Nolasco, Noah Owens, Sienna Perdue, Lola Pernot, Tyler
Pickeral, William Regal, Ashlyn Rogers, Anna Sanderson, Jacob Smith, Jarrett Smith*, Kylind
Spence, Kole Stephenson, Sabita Sunwar, Jacob Tang, Malik Thomas, Jaxon Toms, William Van
Name III, Zane Vasser, Aliyah Ware, Dymire Watkins, Adyson Welch-Rogers, Micah Wheeler,
Emma Williams

Workforce: Dameon Agee, Lilian Amaya-Dogan, Logan Andrews, Royce Apple, Sofia Arthur,
Lillian Ashley, Emily Atwood, Zachary Bailey, Rodney Beckner, Jessica Belton, Kelsea
Blankenship, Christopher Boykin, Shauntrece Brower, Joshua Brown, Marissa Camper, Xavier
Clingenpeel, Savannah Cook, Markis Coric, Isaiah Dooley, Naudia Duncan, Hunter Eakin,
Alexis Felty, Hailie Garst, Gary Gearhart, Jr., Michael Goins, James Hartley, Dominick Hayslett,
Craigery Heath, Tania Hernandez-Hernandez, Kaleigh Hobbs, Richard Hodges, Kyle Holdaway,
Jaden Holmes*, Christopher Hurd II, Ryan Hurley, David Hutsonpillar III, Carmen Janney,
Keira Lamonde, Jacob Ligon, Jeremy Ligon, Nikolas Lopez, Rachel Lowery, Mitchell Lugones-
Acosta, Nancy McFalls, Emily McGuire, Tyler Moran, Cailyn Moses, Olivia Nichols, Harman
Niday, Ivey Nipper, Gabriella Norris, Juan Ocejo-Aguilar, Morgan Odum, Carlee Partleton,
Logan Patsel, Rebecca Proctor, Margaret Reamey, Brittanya Rivera-Torres, Braden
Roughgarden, Payton Scott, Brayden Serfass, Koby Servellon, Atticus Severs, Dyllan Shepherd,
Christopher Shively, Tanner Songer, Payton Steahly, Samuel Stone, Angelina Thomas, Gavin
Tucker, Aiden Tynes, Stevan Walton, Nathanial Whitney, Logan Williams, Jr., Aaron Wood,
Dominic Wright, Dawson Young

Other graduates include Brenda Hermione Delgado Garcia, Kaden Alexander Falu, Sean
Marshall Jenkins, Emberlynn Lee Lamonde, Terry Lee Robinson, Jr., Joshua Lee Rowberg, and
Mija Ana Zavala.