The Class of 2026 celebrated their achievements and reminisced on their time at M-A at Graduation on Friday morning. Cheered on by family, friends, and teachers, students shared wisdom and humor through speeches before receiving diplomas from their closest teachers.
After seniors filed in to music by the orchestra, showing off their colorful leis and decorated grad caps, the ceremony commenced. Senior Class Advisors Alessandra Hartwig* and Mia Sanchez welcomed students and led the Pledge of Allegiance. With vocal power and flair, senior Kealy Bryman sang an a cappella rendition of the National Anthem.
Hartwig and Sanchez then introduced seniors Parmis Hoghooghi and Daniel Matloub to deliver their speech, “Voices of Freedom.” They spoke about their parents’ journey from Iran to the U.S. to secure freedom of speech for their children.
Matloub explained how the debate team brought him out of his shell and taught him to harness his voice, propelling him to co-captain of the best parliamentary debate team in the country, where he now mentors others. Hoghooghi detailed her favorite memories from the Middle Eastern Group of Students club, of which she became president. For her, using her voice expanded to mean sharing Persian cultural traditions and creating an open environment for belonging and dialogue.
“Our histories and customs speak louder than mere headlines, though recent headlines remind us that protecting our freedoms is more important than ever,” Hoghooghi said. She urged the audience to remember the Persian phrase Zan, Zendegi, Azadi, which directly translates to “Women, Life, Freedom” and honors the courage of people who yearn for the freedom to speak up with influence. “So now we ask you to speak, speak for yourself, for those you love, and for those who cannot,” she said.
Senior Ben Carlisle followed with a heartwarming speech entitled “Connect With Kindness,” where he spoke about his experience as a neurodivergent student and the lessons he hopes to pass on. He encouraged graduates to greet people by their names and ask them how they’re doing, remember their birthdays, and accept them for who they are.
“I think we need kindness in the world right now, and my fellow graduates, you can help me. I think the little things in life and accepting people for who they are matter,” Carlisle said. “Just because someone isn’t like you doesn’t mean you can’t see them or interact with them. If everyone did these three things, the world would be better.”
Carlisle then welcomed senior Nora Sainz to the stage, who spoke about sharing the accomplishment of graduating with her mom in her moving speech, “The Halls We Shared.” Sainz’s mom attended M-A for her freshman year, but never graduated, having to put life on pause to care for her newborn child. Sainz explained that she unintentionally found her way to M-A after facing challenges at a private school, and never planned to stay longer than a year. By making a friend, she found the confidence to meet new friends and teachers at M-A, who supported her and reinvigorated her educational journey.
“When I walk across the stage, I won’t just look at all of you. I’ll be looking for her, the younger version of me, sitting somewhere in this crowd, unsure and scared, and I’ll smile at her and let her know everything’s going to be okay. And to my mom, who once walked the halls of M-A with dreams she couldn’t finish, this moment is yours too. Everything you sacrificed, everything you gave up, led to me standing here right now,” Sainz said.
Senior Zach Quintana gave the final student speech, “What’s Your Story,” where he humorously contrasted the senior class being the first to have access to artificial intelligence (AI) for all four years with the importance of seeking out individuals’ human stories. Quintana also emphasized reaching out beyond the easiest connections to unexpected friends and campus staff.
“My journey at M-A has inspired me to search not for answers, but for reasons to keep exploring this ever-changing world,” he said. “While we all have our own unique stories, collectively we have ours.”
Principal Karl Losekoot then expressed his gratitude for five retiring staff members who served the M-A community for over 100 years combined: History Department Chair Candace Bolles, P.E. teacher Tim Boller, math teacher Manuel Delgado, English teacher Laura Mercer, and English Department Chair and AP Art History teacher Liane Strub.
Losekoot joked that he tried to write his address with AI, but found an irreplicable humanity in shared experiences and students’ diving into so many interests during their time at M-A. In his speech, he recognized the accomplishments of M-A Drama in Chicago, student musicians at Battle of the Bands, the varsity boys cross country team for their CCS championship victory, the varsity girls basketball team for reaching the NorCal Championship finals, the robotics Team 766 for their prestigious Impact Award, M-A Chronicle journalists, the national champion parliamentary debate team, Guitar students, ILS students at the district-wide Special Olympics, Leadership, the varsity boys football team for winning the CCS championship, English as a Second Language students, and the individual resilience of countless other graduates.
During the senior class song, “Slipping Through My Fingers” by ABBA, Bryman’s soaring vocals, paired with senior Caroline Connaghan’s harmonies and accompaniment on the guitar, set a nostalgic tone leading into students receiving their diplomas.
As graduates crossed the stage, they were presented with their diplomas by a teacher or staff member of their choice, taking a picture together while the audience cheered, launched confetti, and blew air horns.
Graduate walks offstage with her teacher. 
Graduate smiles with her teacher. 
Graduate poses with her teacher. 
Graduates hug after receiving their diplomas. 
Graduate hugs his teacher. 
Graduate celebrates. 
Graduate and his teacher shake hands. 
Graduate and teacher do a secret handshake. 
Graduate and AVP smile onstage. 
Graduate walks offstage with diploma.
To close out the ceremony, ASB President Auden Jones and Vice President Caroline Rose led their fellow graduates in the tassel turning. As seniors tossed their caps into the air, friends and family flooded Coach Parks Field to congratulate and celebrate alongside their loved ones.
Seniors smiled together for pictures and migrated out to the Blacktop, where vendors from the public sold ice cream and popsicles. Many Pacific Islander graduates and their families gathered to celebrate around displays with balloons, posters honoring individual students, traditional mats, and graduates wearing colorful, intricate leis. The atmosphere of joy and optimism continued long into the afternoon.
“When I received my diploma, I felt so accomplished. I think sometimes in high school, there can be high-stress moments that make you feel like passing a class is unattainable, but receiving my diploma really made me realize that anything is possible,” graduate Micaela Rubinsky said.
*Alessandra Hartwig is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle.
