It was a big moment for the Class of 2026 on June 5.
Tossing tassels from left to right, 667 students graduated from the North Allegheny School District during commencement at Newman Stadium on the high school campus.
The warm, sunny weather was outshined by the thoughtfully scripted words of wisdom, counsel and guidance — not only from high school Principal Matthew Buchak, school board President Elizabeth Warner and outgoing Superintendent Brendan Hyland, but also by the student speakers and the class president, Dharshan Raju.
“Move forward without knowing how things will exactly turn out. Care about people deeply even when relationships get complicated. Understand that life will stop making sense for a while and keep going,” said Raju, who tied in his experiences of once losing fantasy football to trying to control the narrative of life, finding things went much better when he let things proceed occasionally unscripted.
He was joined by senior student speakers Vamshi Singari, Alicia Gasana and Sagar Raghavan.
After the colors were presented by North Allegheny’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, senior Kirsten Karlovits sang the national anthem.
A group of seniors also performed the class song “Landslide.”
Statistics from the Class of 2026 include 209 members of the National Honor Society, 255 graduates with a grade-point average of 4.0 or above, 84% pursuing a bachelor’s degree, 6% pursing an associate degree or attending a trade school, 1% attending an apprenticeship program and 4% heading straight to employment.
Three percent of the graduates are going to decide their next steps in a “gap” year and 1% are undecided.
One percent of the graduates are enlisted in the military.
Hyland gave special recognition to those with service-based post-graduation plans. This included joining the Army, Army Reserves, Marine Corps, Air National Guard, Navy ROTC, Air Force ROTC and appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
During their high school career, students of the Class of 2026 raised nearly $50,000 for charity and donated tons of nonperishable food, as noted by Buchak and Raju.
Athletic, musical, trade, academic and other accomplishments were bountiful for the Class of 2026, including a “phenomenal first place” of new graduate Jason Liu, who will represent Team USA at the 23rd International Linguistics Olympiad in Bucharest, Romania, this summer, according to the olympiad’s website.
Buchak said the graduates do not need to be strangers.
“Our hallways and classrooms will not be the same without all of you,” said Buchak, reminding the teens to “please continue to inspire one another and remember you always have a home here in North Allegheny.”
Raghavan, the last student speaker and a fan of the television comedy “The Office,” shared a quote from the show’s character, Andy Bernard, who said he wished “there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you actually left them.”
Raghavan reminded his fellow graduates that “we should take in every fleeting moment as if it was of the utmost importance,” and it should be “OK soaking in today’s normalcy.”
“As we appreciate every day as a good old day, every moment as if it were a good old moment, rest assured, Andy Bernard, there is a way to know the good old days. Every day is a good old day,” Raghavan said.
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
A
Natalie Kay, Abel Geneva, Noelle Adams, Jason Brent Adams, Noa Lily Adelman, Sarah Jane Aggazio, Zarif Ahanaf, Elena Marian Alazar, Victor Hugo Alba, Hayden Grace Albright, Sarah Emad Aldabagh, Abdullah Khurram Ali, Dereon Levaai-Monalisa Alualu, Joseph Richard Amberson, Margot Eve Anderson, Pedro Fernandez Aguiar, Diniz Andrade, Ava Grace Anthony, Luke Thomas Arnold, Sara Ascasibar Fuentes, Asa John Austin, Krishna Rahul Autade, Khyronessa Sellassie Avotri, Lyla Grace Azzanni
B
Benjamin Robert Bachor, Claire Patricia Bacu, Isabell Ava Baker, Nicolina Marie Balistrieri, Evangelia Chryssa Balouris, Pranav Bandi, Rohan Reddy Bandi, Abhigyan Banik, Jakin Ashriel Banini, Jeremiah David Banks, Kaelen Josephine Barcelona, Karaline Grace Barone, Emilia Barreiro, Erik Brian Bauer, Eziz Bazarov, Ruby Lynn Beighley, Cian Jacob Belcher, Selina Rosalie Bell, Tyler Jackson Bentz, Avery Grace Besket, Averie Penn Bierker, Agnes Zara Bitz, Zoe Abigail Bitz, Grayson Stone Black, Ian Jamison Boal, Sofia Elyse Bodek, Carter Nicholas Boehm, Caleb John Bohnenstengel, Fatima Ali Bokhari, Paige Haley Bolen, Derek Richard Boronski, Mia Lynne Bosley, Karis Elizabeth Boyer, Adam Robert Bradley, Colton Justin Bradshaw, Sarah Elizabeth Bragunier, Peter Aleksander Bratich, Lindsay Brooke Breneman, Douglas Hawke Allen Brian, Sanaa Lavon Brown, Henry Lawson Buka, Braydon David Bukauskas, Callan Andrew Bunger, Madilyn Genevieve Burkes, Kaitlin Alexandra Burns, Spencer Bleak Burt, Samantha Grace Butler, Delainey Grace Buttignol, Elif Rana Buyukkaya, Kyle Alan Edmund Byrne
C
Christopher Michael Cameron, Dean Matthew Cammarata, Samuel John Cammarata, Leah Elizabeth Campbell, Mackenzie Anne Campbell, Amaya Cachѐ Candelario, Lauren Elizabeth Capozzi, Christopher Patrick Cappelloni, Taylor Lee Carr, Jonathan Thomas Castillo, Sravya Cavuturu, Pranav Rajesh Chandran, Akashdeep Singh Channi, Jayelyn Charles, Shailyn Chaudhry, Janhavi Sameer Chaugule, Enzhe Chen, Helen Chen, Jing-Xuan Chen, Justin Jikang Chen, Kevin Jikai Chen, Owen Chen, Stephanie Chen, Yingshan Chen, Andrew Robert Chetoka, Joshua Chigurupati, Matthew Sun-Long Chou, Emmanuel Jisheng Chu, Emily Marie Clark, David Paul Cobbey, Ryan Thompson Cochran, Becca Dorothy Codner, Madison Lee Coelho, Samuel Robert Cohn, Mikayla Dewey Coll, Jordan Christopher Collins, Veranika Nikolayevna Colon, Austin James Colson, Abigail Sophia Condel, Drew Michel Conklin, Luke Michael Conlon, Chloe Katherine Conner, Catherine Natalie Cooper, Dahlia Rae Cooper, Eve Elizabeth Cooper, William Marion Cooper IV, Grace Kelly Corll, Grant Harper Corll, Gianni Domenic Corso, Alexander Venerando Costa, Giovanni Italo Costanzo, Griffin Michael Cowan, Alyssa Maria Coy, Blake Martin Craft, Stefan Daniel Craig, Oscar Henry Cummings, Wynn Thomas Cunningham, Jack Anthony Curren, Maya Lynn Currie
D
Taylor Madison Danley, Mikaela Tavishi Dassanaike-Perera, Dylan James Davidson, Elliot Ray Davis, Amaya Lei Dawson, Sarah de Freitas Oliveira, Sarah Ann DeJonckheere, Lauren Elizabeth DelCotto, Kaitlyn Elise DelDin, Chae Sladen Denault, Ravi Prashant Desai, Nicholas Di Prato, Emily Ryan DiDonato, Sarina Nicole DiGregory, Jackson DiPippa, Emma Claire Dietz, Jack Richard Dimond, Liam Thomas Dimond, Kayli Bennett Dings, Saniya Rajesh Divekar, Boi Sang Do, Kristina Minh Chau Doan, Brooke Lynn Donaldson, Sara Beth Donaldson, Alayna Maren Donnell, Payton Noel Donnelly, Robert Joshua Dopirak, Emily Mei Dorman, Ryan David Double, Charles William Dowd, Henry Thomas Dowd, Aryaman Dubey, Gavin William Ducoeur, Max Edward Dudek, Gianna Rivas Duessel
E
Luke Matthew Eaton, Isabella Reese Eck, Elijah Glen Eckert, Ella Lynne Eckert, Alexandra Elise Edfors, McKenzie Paige Edwards, Cory Jon Efremenko, Hafsa Eker, Muammer Eker, Annika Erin Enwright, Elaina Marie Erskine, Garrett William Evanish, Aliah Sherry Evans
F
Erin Elizabeth Fadgen, Jackson Paul Failla, Gabriela Fanelli, Tiffany Fang, Andrew Feng, Kaitlyn Juliet Ferko, Owen Matthew Fischer, Maxwell Hayden Fisher, Willem Nelson Fitzgerald, Sophia Marie Fleming, Sophia Tamara Folks, Julia Marie Fortunato, Ava Marie Frailey, Elizabeth Louise Franklin, Gabriel Matthew Fuerst, Gianna Donatelli Fuerst, Dominic Christopher Funwela
G
Kennedy Criss Gahagan, Paridhi Ganeriwal, Samhitha Lakshminarayan Ganesan, Pranav Narayan Ganesh, Conner Jaxon Gardner, Alicia Sienna Gasana, Tyler James Gates, Anna Sophia Gauntner, Gregory Julian Gedman, Jonathan Theodore Geier, Madison Olivia George, Anna Otylia Getz, Colton Jameson Geyer, Mia Zoe Giannoutsos, Abby Lin Gibbs, Colt Russell Gibson, Peter James Gibson, Jordan Xavier Glaze, Isabella Marie Mamuric Glinoga, Finley Shay Glisson, Vijay Gogineni, Vijetha Gogineni, Adaline Mae Goheen, Sameer Ankur Gosalia, Avantika Goswami, Braeden William Gray, Tyler Edward Griffin, William Edward Griffin, Lacie Griffiths, Hunter David Grimes, Meredith Susan Gross, Justin Lee Gruszewski Jr., Ilona Gryntsova, Sai Saharsh Gumudavelly, Adiya Gupta
H
Allasandra Yensonia Habib, Isaac Renee Habineza, Jesse Rose Hamed, Robert James Hammel, Alexander Scott Hammer, Howard Han, Elinor Dorothy Handel, Jayden Patrick Harrell, Hayden Bruce Harris, Alexander Patrick Hartman, Sammi Liu Chi Heikinen, Kate Elizabeth Heinricher, Natalie Hope Helffrich, Gabriel Braydon Hernandez, Evangeline Marie Hertzer, Danielle Nicole Hinkson, Blake Daniel Hoffer, Kylie Shea Hoffman, Danika Lina Hogan, Lincoln Jack Hoke, Katherine Juliet Hollaway, Lucia Grace Hollowood, Karin Monique Hoppo, John W. Hotkowski, Odin Zhao Jun Hsu, Sophia Elizabeth Hubert, Daython Emanuel Hudson-Cavey, Michael Richard Huet, Logan Matthew Hughey, Reese Christopher Hulsinger, Grant Patrick Huskey, Holly Lynn Hutchison, Ava Lynn Hutter, Lauren Kim Hwang
I
Kyle John Imm, Charita Inukurthi, Finnegan Patrick Iovino, Nathan Myers Irvin, Aiden Michael Isner, Avyukt Prabhakar Iyer
J
Aidan Kai Jackson, D’Errico Shuchir Jain, Elijah Joseph Janowiak, Nandini Nikhil Jariwala, Yves Andy Emmanuel Jean-Claude, Summer Ji, Parker Scott Johanson, Hunter Winston Hill Johnson, Kristian Elijah Jones, Nakyeong Ju
K
Havisha Kalpatthi, Paula Kamenarova, Matthew Emil Kampi, Adeline Emma Kane, Maximilian Alan Kant, Zajac Nicholas Evangelo Kaparakos, Siddh Kapil, Riley James Karas, Logan Scott Karavlan, Kirsten Elizabeth Karlovits, Sai Sanjit Katragadda, Evan Anthony Kaufman, Pushkar Prafulla Kauthalkar, Danil Kazanir, Nicole Galina Kenaan, Kaleb Henry Kennedy, Brooke Elisabeth Kern, Ryan Samer Nafeth Khader, Ayush Kumar Khandelwal, Mallory AH Joong Kim, Noah Thomas King, Prakhar Kiran, Joseph Gary Kisow, Olivia Marie Klaich, Logan Joseph Kleinhampl, Thomas Avery Knepp, Ella Elizabeth Knoch, Jonas Koeske, Karlena Swanhild Kolbert, Meghana Muraali Komaragiri, Arya Reddy Kondala, Anish Kondoju, Anish Koneru, Maureah Rae Kosanovich, Michael Avery Kosin, Ryan John Kovach, Anna Elise Kovacic, Benjamin Michael Kowger, Avelyn Rose Kropf, Nathan Joseph Kubica, Ashly Marie Kucharski, Violet Lark Kucler, Geeth Siddappa Kuna, Sai Sahasra Kunchakuri, Graham Prakash Kunz, Cameron John Kushner, Claudia Marie Kushon, Alexander James Kynaston
L
Mallory Susan Lanasa, Maggie Reese Lapina, Leah Kay Laughlin, Tyler Braden Lazar, Christina Kim Le, Kaelin Anil Leimer, Cooper James Lemon, Abigail Rose Leonard, Daniel Joseph Lesinski, Sophie Ellen Leslie, Ava Rose Levkulich, Cynthia Tianjiao Li, Isabella Grace Lin, Jason Ziqian Liu, Philip Gregory Liulias, Noah Patrick Logan, Ryan John Logan, Alexander Hartley Lopez, Kylie Renee Lopus, Daniel Lu, Catherine Rangi Lukitsch, Malia Grace Luptak
M
Edward Enzhuo Z. Ma, Nickolas Michael MacDonald, Rucheta Mahapatra, Noelle Elizabeth Malkin, Lucas Michael Manczka, Ella Caroline Mangene, Jason M. Mankevich Jr., Madelaine Dora Ambrose Mansfield, Torsten Kristoffer Manuel, Tanishka Manwatkar, Ethan Sawyer Maravich, Arianna Maria Mars, Lily Ann Marshall, Anne Elizabeth Martin, Molly Quinn Martin, Kailyn Alessa Marunczak, Peter Joseph Mascari, Shreya Mathur, Denisse Renee Matos-Perez, Rowan Jon Mauro, Audrey Lauren Maxwell, Nathan Walter May, Mario Paul Mayer-Costa, Brayden Allen McCarthy, Taylor Elizabeth Lynne McClure, Bradyn Anthony McConneha, Ryan Patrick McCusker, Samuel Leo McDonald, Isabella Noelle McKissock, Jack Matthew McMahon, Keely Clare McMahon-Regan, James Ian McManus, Harrison Beares McMorrow, Edward Peter James McShea, Grace Milligan Means, Shreeya Meda, Alexandra Meissner, Ella Marie Mensch, Dane Michael Merriman, Reed Copmann Messer, Colin Joseph Metzger, Abigail Sophia Miklos, Elaina Anne Miller, Henry Alexander Miller, Joshua Daniel Milliron, Avery Elizabeth Miner, James Howard Mitchell, Joseph Jordan Mitchell, Andrew Stephen Mitterer, Ava Grace Moore, Brendan Thomas Moore, Dominic Emmanuel Morgano, Emmett Booker Morris, Julian Michael Morris, Matthew Joseph Morrison, Aditi Shree Motha, Grayson Michael Mowrey, Vasilahon Muminova, Faith Ann Myers
N
Shreeya Santosh Nair, Miraya Ashvin Nakrani, Walter James Nalducci IV, Jasmine Nicole Javier Naniong, Wyatt Avery Napierkowski, Lilyana Grace Neal, Marge Neema, Taylor Lain Neese, Jacob Matthew Neff, Tessa Nicole Neville, Kailyn Tszching Ng, Quy Minh An Nguyen, Maya Tatyana Nill, Katie Mae Nodd, Matthew James Noffsinger, Kenty Ishami Nsanzabera, Kevin Shami Nsanzabera, David Mutabazi Nshimyumukiza, William Alejandro Nuhfer-Hernandez
O
Aiden S. O’Dell, Eva Laine Ogden, Emmeline Isabel Opre, Caroline Rose Ortsey, Addyson Asantewaa Owusu-Hemeng
P
Sritej Sai Padmanabhan, Teresa Mae Pagnotto, Francesca Yovetich Pane, Taylor Anthony Panzer, Carly Rose Pappalardo, Olivia Grace Parsons, Kaylee Joy Patricca, Hannah Mae Patterson, Sarah Ann Patterson, Addison Leigh Pavely, Andrew Christopher Peigh Hansini, Reddy Pellakuru, Justin Michael Peoples, Sidath Buddhika Perera, Alden Wildey Phillips, Catherine Anne Pingpank, Sahashra Pinnoji, Broc James Pittner, Korry Darnell Pitts Jr., Andrew David Pompa, James Darold Dallas Popa, Neil Yashodhan Pore, Benjamin Russell Powell, Samata Prajapat, Rishi Prasanna, Jordyn James Pschirer, Logan Robert Purnell
Q
Wasna Imran Qadeer
R
Suela Raci, Fiola Catherine Ragan, Sagar Raghavan, Dharshan Raju, Morgan Lynn Rakers, Anish Ramachandruni, Adhav Ramadas, Saikrishna Karthikeya Ramadugu, Sai Sri Sowgandika Ramadugu, Sreeja Ramidi, Shriya Ramkumar, Lilianna Sophia Ramsey, Lydia Marie Randiga, Shan Ranganath, Darren Kartik Raveen, Aaron Michael Raynish, Griffen Shaw Reid, Jayda Fay-Christine Reid, Allison Marie Reinhart, Alexander Wallace Repinski, Sarah Elizabeth Reynolds, Tyler Anthony Reynolds, Pressley Jane Richard, Isaac Edward Richards, Casey Jean Richey, Emma Catherine Rinaman, Reagan Ann Riordan, Hayden Skye Robertson, William Andrew Robertson, Madelyn Grace Rodgers, Olivia Irene Rodgers, Luke Edward Rohan, Alejandro Jose Rohde, Sara Rojas, Emerson Claire Ross, Everett Zakary Rosser, Alaina Marine Roth, Carson John Roth, Thomas Robert Rubish, Avery Simone Ruffus, Natalie Meztli Ruiz
S
Thomas Peter Saikaly, Lily Marie Saltmar, Kylie Sotheara Sao, Edward Clark Scherer III, William James Scherfel, Luca Schiraldi, Erik Allen Schmidt, William Joseph Schmidt, Natalie Margaret Schmitt, Abigail Elizabeth Schorr, Addison Elizabeth Schroeppel, Samantha Rose Schroeppel, Leona Cece Schroth, Mandy Tiana Schroth, Emma Hope Schupansky, Anthony Daniel Sciulli, Roman Dominic Scolieri, Nathaniel Matthew Scrabis, Colin James Sefick, Hayley Samantha Seidel, Dylan Peter Seiford, Adithi Senthilkumar, Varshini Senthilkumar, Omisa Pragna Nirav Shah, Patricia Rae Shanahan, Mason Robert Shantz, Carter Michael Shearon, Samay Sachidananda Shetty, Ashley Suwon Shim, Abigail Grace Shuckrow, Mark Alexander Shulkin, Nicholas Peter Sichak, Taha Siddiqui, Devon Glen Sienko, Samantha Jane Siford, Aditi Simharajan, Payton Melody Simmen, Jayden Daniel Simo, Mallory Kate Simon, Pranav Sai Sindhe, Vamshi Krishna Singari, Mehr Singh, Yashas Singh, Ella Cecelia Sippel, Inesh Sivam, Sahana Sivam, Anthony Frederick Slegal, Aidan Alexander Smith, Jordan Robert Smith, Leah Brianna Smith, Logan Thomas David Smith, Omar Alexander Solis Machado, Alexis Katherine Solomon, Kyle Trex Solomon, Lydia Stella Soose, Clara Joanne Sorby, Brayden George Sowa, Christian Robert Sperandeo, Isabella Lourdes Spino, Theora Christine Sprinkle, Justin Andrew Stalter, Ben Younglee Stamper, Joshua Edward Stanek, Brayden Thomas Stapf, Augustus Alan Stedeford, Michael Joseph Stefanko, Hana Lois Steiner-Tanno, Grace Susan Stephen, Lilian Grace Stites, Grady Nolan Stoll, Anna Delaney Strzempek, Alexandra Elizabeth Stuart, Matthew Thomas Sturgulewski, Reiley Elizabeth Sullivan, Shelby Rae Sundgren, Alexander James Surman, Nathanial John Surman, Maddox Quinn Susini, Adam Swailem, Jude Paul Swartz, William Alexander Swartz, Elliott Conrad Swierczynski, Waverly Evens Swoager
T
Shareen Tashifa Tarigonda, Esabella Ryan Tate, Caterina Nuccia Tedder, Margaret Isabel Tennent, Ava Jane Thayer, Samuel Nat Thirkell, Andrew Benny Thomas, Dillon Hugh Thyen, Victoria Elizabeth Tieppo, Aaron Michael Tillotson, Faatima Zehra Tirmizi, Giovanna Granchi Silveira Toledo, Zachary Michael Totin, Zacharie William Tourangeau, Preston Michael Troiano, Sarah Elizabeth Truitt, David Truong, Lucy Reagan Trust
U
Owen Thomas Urschler
V
Asha Rao Vaders, Aditi Sahasra Vadlamuri, Katherine Megan Vales, Sophia Lauren Vales, Shana Marie Vaupel, Jariel Vazquez, Aiden Komain Venbrux, Camila Vitoria Nolasco Verona, Spencer Ryan Vincent, Tyler Joseph Vincent, Jacob Robert Vojtas
W
Shaurya Walia, Jeremiah James Walls, Cade Patrick Walsh, Mara Lynn Walters, Aaron John Walton, Ashton Wan, Colin Jackson Ward, Kendall Rae Ward, Mary Elizabeth Jacobs Warner, Jackson William Wasielewski, Madelynn Emily Weaver, Avery Margaret Webster, Tyler Hamilton Weet, Angela Xichu Wei, Laura Elizabeth Wells, Glenn Han Weser, Charles Ryan Wetmore, Chase James Wetzel, Sara Christina Whipkey, Enzo John Pasquale Whitacre, Robert Hayden White, Samuel Cash Wilcox Lauren Jean Williams, Madalyn Ann Williams, Avery Violet Wilson, Alexander Michael Wisnewski, Chloe Ann Woodell, Madden Lillian Woycheck, Carson Derek Wright, Chase Preston Wright, Victoria Ann Wright
X
James Jiewen Xiao, Samuel Muyu Xiao, Talon Zeyuan Xing
Y
Sri Aditya Vaibhav Yadam, Snigdha Yandra, Edward Zhaohan Yang, Rylee Loren Yasko, Caileigh Rose Yauch, Harshitha Sree Yeri Lakshmi Narasimhan, Evie Fanxi Yin, Zhenming Yin, Victoria Grace Yoho, Leonardo Yu, Rachel Joy Yurk, Nadia Antoinette Yusko
Z
Luciana Grace Zagacki, Ray Chen Zeng, Ryan Connor Zhang, Rebecca Jin Zhao, Audrey Mingyue Zheng, Ella Lorne Ziegenfuss, Jack Primo Zimmer, Tekla Parvati Zyskowski, Xavier Vishnu Zyskowski