Medford High School Class of 2026 celebrates graduation at Hormel

By Crystal Yormick | Correspondent

Medford High School graduated just under 300 students at Commencement ceremonies held June 4 at Hormel Stadium.

Students decked out in navy blue gowns and caps — some of which students decorated with bright colors and sparkles — gathered on the field while onlooking family members and friends filled the bleachers. To the right, a scoreboard listed the period as “2026” and the score of the game to be “20-26.”

Students received remarks from their fellow students, Principal Marta Cabral, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education Chad Fallon, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi. The addresses consisted of a variety of encouraging words and reassurance about what the future holds for the recent graduates.

“Do not wait for the perfect conditions to make your mark,” Cabral said in her leadership message to students. “The world doesn’t need you to be flawless. It needs you to be present, courageous and kind.”

Valedictorian Jayden Vil described graduating as  “boundless” where “nothing obstructs your view” and pointed out the opportunities he and his classmates now have to shape their futures in his speech.

“Question keenly, answer fervently, live earnestly,” he said.

Nearly half of the graduates completed one of the school’s 15 Career and Technical Education programs. Fallon acknowledged the work students on this pathway did and the relevant skills they’ve gained for whatever their next steps are.

“I’ve seen teams learn how to communicate under pressure, troubleshoot when things go wrong and hold themselves to a standard that reflects real-world expectations, not just school expectations,” he said in his speech.

Galusi presented an analogy to the students of them as popcorn kernels in her address. She emphasized that even though they are all in the same environment, different kernels pop at different times.

“Lean into the heat,” she said, “because what comes next will look different for each of you. Your popping time will come.”

Jayden Giang, who delivered the top-ranked CTE speaker message, talked about the uniqueness of the vocational tract that wouldn’t be found at a traditional high school and said he would choose the same “gamble” over again.

Salutatorian Kyanna Tran credited herself and her fellow classmates for the work they did to graduate and told them to mark this milestone as a checkpoint in her speech. Anycia Pierre delivered the Address of Welcome.

Cabral and Galusi then called names and presented the diplomas to students, a process attendees responded to with cheers and claps.

A special moment took place when School Committee member Paul Ruseau presented his daughter, Nevaeh, with her diploma.

The senior class finished school about a month before the rest of Medford High School. The last day for the rest of students will be June 25.