Forty-one seniors turned their tassels and stepped into the next chapter of their lives as Centennial Academy held its commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8, at Centennial Park. The milestone celebration brought together graduates, families, faculty, and community members for an afternoon that honored years of hard work, growth, and achievement.
Following the ceremony, the Class of 2026 and their guests gathered for a reception filled with photographs, warm embraces, and the heartfelt congratulations of everyone who had supported them along the way.
Education as a Tool for Community
Commencement speaker Mr. Joseph Knudson delivered a message centered on purpose and responsibility, challenging the graduates to look beyond personal success. He urged the Class of 2026 to take the education they had worked so hard to earn and use it as a tool for something larger than themselves — encouraging each graduate to find meaningful ways to contribute to their communities and to approach every opportunity with dedication and integrity.
It was a message the class had already begun to live out.
A Student Who Led by Example
For senior Garrett Knudson, the lessons of his academy years were learned not just in the classroom, but through the daily discipline of showing up and following through. Garrett served as the student leader of the school’s morning assembly, conducting the music each day for both teachers and students — a quiet but consistent act of leadership throughout the year.
Reflecting on what that responsibility taught him, Garrett put it simply: “When we make commitments, it is important to honor them.” Whether he felt tired, stressed, or under the weather, he was there — prepared and present. That daily practice, he said, reinforced one of education’s most important lessons: that character is built not in grand moments, but in small, consistent actions repeated over time.
“I think the real reward,” he reflected, “is that once you push through and show up anyway, you always feel better for it.”
It is the kind of wisdom that cannot be found in a textbook — and exactly the sort of lesson a Centennial Academy education is designed to instill.
Leaving Their Mark Before They Left the Building
Beyond the classroom, the Class of 2026 demonstrated what can be accomplished when students take ownership of their school community. During their senior year, the class organized and led a fundraising campaign that resulted in the purchase and installation of new street lights for the school parking lot — a lasting safety improvement that will benefit students, staff, and visitors for years to come.
In total, the seniors completed approximately $35,000 in facility improvements as a class project. The effort required planning, coordination, and persistence — skills that serve as a fitting capstone to their academic careers and a testament to what this class was willing to do for those who come after them.
Onward and Upward
As the Class of 2026 moves forward — whether toward college campuses, career paths, military service, or endeavors of their own — they carry with them a foundation built on accountability, community, and the belief that a good education is meant to be put to work in the world.
Faculty, administration, parents, and community members have extended their deepest love and best wishes to all 41 graduates as they set off to build their dreams.
If their senior year is any indication, the Class of 2026 is more than ready for what comes next.
