Uvalde High School Class of 2026 Celebrates Milestone at Honey Bowl Stadium

05/30/26

   (Uvalde, Texas) Under the lights of Uvalde Honey Bowl Stadium on Friday, May 29, the Uvalde High School Class of 2026 celebrated the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and perseverance as family members, friends, educators, and community supporters gathered to honor the graduating seniors.

   The ceremony was broadcast live on UvaldeRadio.net, allowing friends and family near and far to share in one of the most significant milestones in the lives of the graduates.

   The evening began with the presentation of colors by the Uvalde High School NJROTC, followed by a stirring rendition of the National Anthem performed by senior Mia Rios. Senior Class Chaplain Chloe Sotelo then delivered the invocation, offering gratitude for the journey that brought the graduates to this moment while also pausing to remember the 21 lives lost on May 24 and the healing that continues throughout the community.

   “Guide each graduate with wisdom, courage, and faith,” Sotelo prayed. “Help us chase our dreams, stay kind and humble, and trust in the path You have planned for us.”

   Principal Jorge Cerna welcomed graduates and guests with a heartfelt message that reflected on a unique bond shared with the Class of 2026. Cerna noted that he began his first year at Uvalde High School at the same time the graduates entered as freshmen, making the four-year journey one they experienced together.

   “This class will always hold a special place in my heart,” Cerna said.

Drawing inspiration from sources ranging from Winnie the Pooh to Taylor Swift and Finding Nemo, Cerna encouraged graduates to define success not by titles or wealth but by character and compassion.

  “No matter what happens in life, be good to people,” he reminded the class, adding one of the evening’s most memorable lines: “Life is not a race.”

   Interim Superintendent Dr. Juan M. Hinojosa followed with a commencement address centered on integrity and perseverance. Before beginning his remarks, he asked graduates to look around at their classmates and reflect on the friendships and extended family they had gained during their years together.

  While acknowledging that graduation marks the completion of an important chapter, Hinojosa emphasized that the ceremony was really the beginning of a new journey.

  “Do everything with integrity,” he told the graduates. “Always be proud of the work that you do.”

  Whether pursuing college, military service, trade school, or careers in the workforce, he encouraged students to remain accountable, persevere through challenges, and never forget their roots.

  “Always be proud to tell them that you are from Uvalde, Texas,” Hinojosa said.

  Salutatorian Sienna K. Mirelez delivered a thoughtful and often humorous address that explored the advice she received from teachers and coaches when preparing her speech. Rather than pretending to have all the answers about life after high school, Mirelez chose to learn from the adults who had helped shape her journey.

  Among the lessons she shared were reminders not to fear change, to ask for help when needed, to balance responsibility with enjoyment, and to embrace new experiences.

  One quote in particular resonated throughout her speech: “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.”

  Mirelez also reflected on the importance of friendship and family while expressing gratitude to the teachers, coaches, and loved ones who helped her succeed.

  As she closed her remarks, she encouraged her classmates to dream boldly and believe in themselves.

 “Never let anyone tell you that you can’t,” she said. “Because you can.”

  Valedictorian Gracie D. Flores followed with a deeply personal speech centered on gratitude, faith, resilience, and self-discovery. Looking back on the experiences that shaped the Class of 2026, Flores recalled the uncertainty of entering high school, the friendships formed along the way, and the challenges each graduate faced on the path to commencement.

  “Always be proud of your story and your origin,” Flores told her classmates.

  She urged fellow graduates not to compare themselves to others and reminded them that every student’s journey was unique.

  “Continue asking yourself, ‘What do I want to become?'” she said.

  Flores also offered heartfelt thanks to the Uvalde community, educators, friends, and family members who helped guide students to graduation. One of the most emotional moments of the evening came as she honored her parents and spoke about the sacrifices they made on her behalf.

  Closing with a scripture from the Book of Joshua, Flores encouraged her classmates to face the future with courage and confidence.

  “This is not just a goodbye to high school,” she said. “It’s a hello to everything we’re becoming.”

  After Dr. Hinojosa officially certified that the Class of 2026 had fulfilled all graduation requirements, Principal Cerna presented diplomas to the graduates, prompting cheers and applause from proud family members throughout Honey Bowl Stadium.

  Senior Class Secretary Emma Rodriguez then presented the class gift: a picnic table that will be placed in the school courtyard. Rodriguez explained that the gift was selected as a symbol of friendship, connection, and community.

  “A picnic table brings people together,” Rodriguez said. “It encourages conversation, laughter, and connection.”

   She expressed hope that future students would use the space to create memories of their own while remembering the legacy left behind by the Class of 2026.

  Senior Class President Arianna Rodriguez delivered the farewell address, drawing laughter and nods of recognition as she reflected on the shared experiences that defined her classmates’ school years.

  From counting down the days until spring break in sixth grade—only to find themselves unexpectedly entering virtual learning—to searching for the mythical “pool on the roof” as freshmen and eventually becoming senior leaders, Rodriguez painted a vivid picture of a class that grew up together through extraordinary circumstances.

  “Everything eventually comes to an end,” she said. “But endings make way for new beginnings.”

  Her message centered on embracing change while appreciating the memories and relationships that shaped the graduates’ lives.

“Be proud of how far you’ve come and excited for how far you’ll go,” she told the class.

  The ceremony concluded with a benediction delivered by Senior Class Parliamentarian Logan Sendejo, who thanked God for the blessings, opportunities, and support systems that carried the graduates to this moment.

“You’ve held our hand in the toughest times,” Sendejo prayed.

  Quoting Jeremiah 29:11, he reminded classmates that they each have a purpose and a future before them.

  As graduates moved their tassels from right to left, signaling the official completion of their high school careers, cheers echoed across Honey Bowl Stadium and caps filled the air.

  Though each speaker brought a different perspective, a common theme emerged throughout the evening: life’s journey is rarely predictable, but faith, perseverance, friendship, family, and community provide the foundation needed to move forward.

  Again and again, graduates were reminded not to fear change, not to compare their journeys to others, and not to lose sight of the people and values that helped them reach this milestone.

  For the Uvalde High School Class of 2026, commencement was more than a celebration of academic achievement. It was a tribute to resilience, a reflection on shared experiences, and a hopeful beginning to the next chapter of life.

  And as the newest alumni walked off the field and into their futures, they carried with them a message echoed throughout the evening: be courageous, stay true to yourself, cherish the people who helped you along the way, and never forget where you came from.