Indian Lake High School graduates toss their mortarboards in the air Friday night in celebration of their graduation. (INDIAN LAKE SCHOOLS PHOTO)
Rain showers brought the annual ceremony inside, but it could not dampen the excitement of Indian Lake High School’s Class of 2026 graduation celebration Friday evening, May 22.
ILHS hosted commencement ceremonies to celebrate “the big class” in front of a packed house in the main gymnasium.
The Class of 2026 started off with a record number of students enrolled, but over time that number whittled down to 122 graduates.
Mary Rutan Health CEO and Class of 2026 parent Chad Ross delivers commencement remarks Friday night. (INDIAN LAKE SCHOOLS PHOTO)
Featured graduation speaker was Chad Ross, CEO of Mary Rutan Health, who also serves as an Indian Lake Board of Education member. He is a graduate of the ILHS Class of 1989 and is a ILHS Class of 2026 parent.
Ross told the class, “It has been my sincere pleasure to see you grow up, to celebrate your many successes and to ache along with you when life has delivered that proverbial gut punch.”
He continued, “Remember to be versatile, be persistent, work hard, be accountable for your actions or inaction, and don’t be afraid to step into the arena to take your turn at bat. And above all, don’t wait to live your life!”
Class of 2026 President Mara Bihn speaks to her classmates Friday evening at the Indian Lake High School graduation ceremony. She is also one of five co-valedictorians for the class. (INDIAN LAKE SCHOOLS PHOTO)
Class of 2026 President Mara Bihn recapped their high school years from the bad times to the good.
Bihn remarked, “Once a Laker, always a Laker.”
Before each member of the class received their diploma, the Top 10 scholars were announced.
They are: (10) Alyssa Powell, (9) Alex Kinney, (8) Kennedy Schwaderer, (7) Augusta Biederman, (6) Maddie Miller, (5-Salutatorian) Carly Strayer, (1-Valedictorian) Mara Bihn,
(1-Valedictorian) Cooper Hall, (1-Valedictorian) Olivia Hurley, (1-Valedictorian) Riley Ross and (1 Valedictorian) Evie Wagner.
Once the ceremony was complete, the graduates threw their caps in the air and posed for pictures with family and friends.
The top 10 members of the Indian Lake Class of 2026 are, from the left, Alyssa Powell, (9) Alex Kinney, (8) Kennedy Schwaderer, (7) Augusta Biederman, (6) Maddie Miller, (5-Salutatorian) Carly Strayer; followed by the five valedictorians Mara Bihn, Cooper Hall, Olivia Hurley, Riley Ross and Evie Wagner. (INDIAN LAKE SCHOOLS PHOTO)
