COMO — The Como-Pickton High School Senior Class of 2026 was celebrated with a commencement ceremony Friday, May 22, in the Lenise Miller Boseman Competition Gymnasium.
The ceremony began as the graduates lined the walkways in front of the bleachers to “Pomp and Circumstance.' The third-ranked graduate, Sean Carpenter, gave the invocation. The audience and graduates stood for the playing of the National Anthem.
CPHS Principal Kelly Baird gave the welcome and helped CPCISD Superintendent Lydia Walden recognize the top 10 graduating seniors.
Salutatorian Saylor Smith, graduating with a 4.0 grade point average, gave the salutary address.
“From our first day walking these halls to today, we’ve been writing a story filled with hard work, laughter and memories we’ll carry for the rest of our lives,” Smith said. “Along the way, we discovered that success isn’t always about having everything figured out. Sometimes it’s just about trying, failing and trying again. It’s about showing up — even when things feel uncertain, and trusting that every step forward counts.”
Valedictorian Cade Childress, graduating with a 6.34 GPA, followed with the valedictory address.
“We’ve gone through pandemics together, tornado destructions together, virtual STAAR testing together and phone bans together — so our class is nothing short of the image of toughness. We have seen enough adversity as a class that I have no doubt that we will persist and strive wherever we may go beyond this point,” Childress said. “We made it to the day that we finally get the reward of walking across this stage, but I think the biggest and most important reward is the peo-Como-ple sitting and standing next to us.
Once Baird verified that the graduates had met the requirements to receive their diplomas, all 65 graduates were recognized, and Baird personally moved their tassels to denote the honor.
The 2026 CPHS graduates then presented their loved ones with roses during the annual rose ceremony. The roses are meant to give thanks to anyone who has helped the graduate get to where they are today. Graduates handed out roses to teachers, administrators, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and many more in attendance.
The Class of 2026 lined the floors of the new gym and linked hands as they sang the school song one last time.