Carroll County High School said farewell to 149 seniors on Saturday, May 30 during the annual commencement ceremony. Students and faculty filed into the CCHS gymnasium to a packed crowd of friends and family. The high school combined concert band provided the traditional instrumental entry to “Pomp and Circumstance” as well as the National Anthem.
Shelby Hillebrandt, the student body president, welcomed the crowd to graduation and offered a few words of encouragement and wisdom. 
“After reflecting on this day and all the moments that brought us here, I realized graduation is about so much more than cords, awards, and honors. At the end of it all, it’s the people beside you who matter most,” Shelby said. “Today is more than the end of high school, it is the beginning of becoming who we are meant to be. No matter where life takes us, success is not about having all the answers right away. It is about continuing to grow, keep trying, and become better versions of ourselves along the journey.”
Edwin Rodriguez, the 2026 Valedictorian of CCHS, gave a speech full of gratitude. “I am honored to be here as the 2026 valedictorian, more specifically it's a huge honor representing our hispanic community and being Carroll County’s first Mexican Valedictorian,” Edwin said.
He thanked his friends, family and teachers, but gave special gratitude to his parents. “I’d like to recognize that so many blessings in my life came from so many sacrifices in theirs, and because of that I want to dedicate this to them,” he said.
Edwin gave a short speech in Spanish to honor his parents.
In closing, he encouraged his classmates to cherish the day and appreciate what they have been given. “Just like these four years of high school, what makes life valuable is that it doesn't last forever, what makes it precious is that it ends. And so, while we still can and for the next part of our lives, like every hispanic dad always says “Echale ganas”, meaning give it your all. So for the rest of our lives, give it your all.”
Makayla Keithley, senior class president, spoke to her friends and classmates from the heart. “I wanted this to feel real. I wanted to be true to myself and to all of you,” Makayla said. “Because honestly, there’s not really a perfect way to explain what today feels like.”
She went on to tell her fellow Panthers that they’ve only lived about 20% of their lives thus far and that leaves a lot of possibilities for their future. “Around 80% of our story is still waiting for us. So don’t rush it. Don’t compare it. And don’t forget the people who were part of your beginning. Because years from now, people probably won’t remember what your GPA was, what shoes you wore, or even half the things we stressed about in high school. But they will remember how you made them feel.”
CCHS Principal Crystal Harris presented the seniors for graduation and closed the ceremony by giving the traditional charge to the graduating class.
Keria Mann rounded out the ceremony by leading her classmates in the turning of the tassel, an act symbolizing the movement from high school student to graduate.
The Class of 2026 includes:
Megan Dawn Abrams, Sara Beth Abrams, Yerson Dayan Aguilar Aguilar, Hunter Nicholas Angell, Ryleigh Ann Ashby, Miriam Atilano Zarate, Keydi Yasuari Auxume Soto, Anthony Edward Badamo, Johnathon Paul Badamo, Lillian Taylor Ball, Blayne Hayden Barr, Joshua Maverick Barrera-Diaz, Dustin Gage Battaglia, Cecilia Rose Baute, Jessica Jean Beard, Georgina Belen Berruecos Castillo, Rowan David Bickers, Matthew Camron Blackburn, Paul Trenton Mason Blackburn, Jack Owen Bolton, James Russell Breeden
Micah Ray Burchfield, Eunity Grace Burgess, Gracie Lynn Burke, Matthew Paul Butcher, Pamala Elizabeth Grace Carrico, Danielle Marie Carvalho, Masen Allen Chandler, Raegan Rae Chapman, Pati Yamilet Chavez Galiz, Rosario Dayanna Contreras, Elizabeth James Cornett, Juan Pablo Corrales Munguia, Sherlyn Guadalupe Cortes Torres, Brinley Shelby Couch, Eliza Mae Coulter, Brooklynn Laray Crawford, Ethan Scott Crawford, Kaidence Grace Crawford, Olivia Nicole Crull
Josie Ann Dale, Alan Salvador Davila, Jon Tyler Davis, Maria De Los Angeles De Leon, Keyana Marie Dellaquila, Adree Camille Dermon, Angel Hemi Dickerson, Leidy Nayeli Dominguez Xolo, Trinity Kayden Doolin, Jacoby Kyul Dukes, Matthew Dean Evans, Martin Flores Arizmendi, Kenneth Laeton Fornash, Ethan Allen Foster, Bryce Andrew Furnish, Diego Jovanee Herbert Garcia, Johnny Ray Gibson, Ryan Akshay Giltz, Cesar Luis Gomez Castillo, Damian Nicolas Gomez Zavala, Tyler Lee Gray
Lacie Kathlyn Gross, Jordan Nikolas Groves, Bernardo Gutierrez, Melody Storm Hager, Blake Allen Harney, Jackson Larue Helm, Erick Herrera-Bautista, Adyson Paige Hewitt, Ethan Matthew Hibbard, Shelby Della-Ann Hillebrandt, Cristian Alexis Jimenez Torres, Amari Xavian Johnson, Kyan Ted Johnson, Makayla Gwendolyn Keithley, Timothy Edward Kidd, Rebecca Jean Kurtz, Alexander Leland Lageman, Daisy Laguna-Lopez, Brett Janet Lark, Killian Jack Leonard
Adyson Danielle Lewis, Kitzia Yareli Lopez Roque, Michael Dylan Louden, Evelyn Kait Maiden, Keria Nicole Mann, Dylan Duane Marsh, James Atruro Martinez Powell, Angela Danielle Meadows, Landon Wayne Miller, Lincoln Xavier Miller, Alexis Molina-Rios, Beyonce Monge Castro, Montana Natalia Moore, Madisyn Riley Morrison, Alyssa Marie Munier, Landon Dale New, Mallory Elizabeth Noble, Destin Conrad Noffsinger, Amaya Brienne Areese Owen, Luis Mario Paredes Chinchilla, Houston Douglas Parker
Christopher Perez, Lillian Jean Perkins, Jaylinn Elizabeth Perkinson, Antonio Isaiah Perry, Marlene Pamela Powell, Sylvia Marissa Preciado-Vega, Anna Melissa Ramirez-Ramirez, Zachary Shane Richards, Lydia Paige Risk, Olivia Lynn Rivers, Skyler Rae Robbins, Yosmar Roblero Hernandez, Edwin Julian Rodriguez, Savannah Lee Romans, Andres Daniel Roque, Natalee Verrett Sachleben, Ashlen Yaritza Sanchez Dominguez, Jimena Sanchez Gomez, Bobbi Ann Scroggins, Lyric Aliana Scruggs, Braeden Scott Sea
Dylan Maddox Service, Ean Wayne Simmons, Stella Louise Skirvin, Kaylee Michelle Snow, Arlis Yorleni Soto Funez, Katherine Dianne Southworth, Hannah Elizabeth Stephenson, Robert Brayden Stewart, Brayden Lukas Stone, Austin Leo Taylor, Jewleena Sue Taylor, Lily Isabella Tharp, Damien Lee Tucker, Gracie Louise Tucker, Brynnlee Noel Tuttle, Evan Eli Tuttle, Lluvia Itzel Velazquez Nava, Alex John Welch Duranties, Katelynn Isabella Danyelle Whisman, Katie Lynne Whitmarsh, Kelsey Dawn Willhoite, Dalten Malachi Wilson, Kayley Elizabeth Wise, Alan Jareth Zacarias, Daihana Zacarias-Franco and David Lynn Zeitz.