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Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:09]Thank you.

[00:00:28]Huh? Morning.

[00:01:03]Welcome to the Lancaster City Schools graduation ceremony for the Lancaster High School class of 2026.

[00:01:15]Ladies and gentlemen, we live in a great country with freedoms like no other. To honor America and in respect for all who have served this great country, please take the time for quiet reflection as the Langster High School choir members present our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.

[00:01:52]Can you see by the dawn?

[00:02:01]So proudly we at the twilight last we were so And as we stream and the rockets red the blessing in gave pro.

[00:02:52]Oh, save us last for the land of the free and the home of the bra.

[00:03:26]Ladies and gentlemen, you may be seated.

[00:03:35]Fellow graduates, friends, and family, thank you for joining me here today to celebrate the class of 2026.

[00:03:44]Classmates, as we progress through our lives, we are writing our own stories.

[00:03:50]Though we may not have realized it, our school career has been the first chapter. We have grown close to many characters that will stay involved through it all. We have found our passions foreshadowing how the rest of our story will unravel.

[00:04:06]We have spent many years together and our stories have intertwined, but we will soon split up to continue building our own stories. Lancaster High School has provided us all with countless memories to shape our backstories. The pep rallies in both the gym and the stadium introduced friendly competitions and instilled high amounts of energy into the student body.

[00:04:34]Participating in or rooting for others involved in sports, music, theater, and other groups around the school has built a community of support for all of our passions. We have built countless friendships within this community. It has been a pleasure to get to know every one of you and I will truly miss our time together. As we are moving on to the next chapter, it is important to take with us the lessons we have learned. Classmates, please remember to thank the people who have helped you to shape your story into what it is and will become. I know that mine would not be near where it is today if it were not for the support from my mom, my dad, my sister, and many others, especially each one of you sitting in front of me today.

[00:05:28]The end of chapter 1 is the beginning of the rest of our stories. Do not let anyone else write your book. Own your story and write it as you want it to be.

[00:05:39]I am proud to include you all into my story and I am truly honored to have been a part of each of yours. Thank you all.

[00:06:00]>> Good morning. I am Caroline Davis and as the career tech director for the district, it is my pleasure to introduce the 2026 Lancaster High School Career Tech Honor Graduate, Paige Franklin.

[00:06:29]Paige is the daughter of Terry and Rebecca Franklin. She has completed the criminal science program at Lancaster High School. Paige attended West and Mount Pleasant elementary schools and Thomas Yoing Junior High School. Cage has been involved in the marching band, the pep band, jazz band, Spanish club, Skills USA, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and was a career tech ambassador.

[00:07:14]Paige will be attending the Ohio State University in the fall to study criminal justice and then attend the police academy to ultimately become a criminal investigator.

[00:07:32]With great pleasure, I introduce to you the Lancaster High School class of 2026 Career Tech Honor Graduate, Paige Franklin.

[00:07:58]Hello, my name is Paige Franklin and I am your 2026 Career Tech Student of the Year. I just wanted to start by saying how happy and honored I am to be speaking today in front of you. I imagine we have all been waiting for this day to take our next steps to our future. Whether that be through further education, employment, enlistment, or exploration.

[00:08:29]I know I would not be speaking with you today without the opportunities I've been given at this school. Specifically through my extracurricular activities and career tech band and my different activities have taught me the importance of communication along with other skills which I will use in the future. They have also taught me confidence, patience and leadership. and have also given me friendships and experiences I will remember and cherish for a lifetime. I am also grateful for my career tech program, criminal science and skills USA, which have continued to help me develop my professional and personal skills and my knowledge for my future career in law enforcement along with giving me many unique and exciting experiences through my high school career.

[00:09:31]With these skills and preparation my career tech has given me, I plan to attend OSU for a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice to continue my education to hopefully become a criminal investigator by going into a career in law enforcement. I wish to help those that cannot help themselves or that just need someone to lean on. and I hope to develop a career where I can bring answers and closure to families that experience loss and tragedies in your future. I hope everyone here takes every opportunity they are given in their path to create the life they wish to live and to accomplish the goals they have set for themselves. If I could give any advice, it would be to live your life to the fullest for yourself. Whether that be creating your own business, exploring the world, starting a family, or following whatever dreams or goals you have made. And to not let challenges or other people stop you from reaching what you want in life. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, including my teachers, friends, family, and anyone who has provided me with the encouragement I needed to succeed. I would also like to specifically thank the other flutes from marching band who helped me grow and made me feel appreciated and loved. I will never forget you. Lastly, I would like to end with saying congratulations class of point 2026.

[00:11:17]I hope your lives meet your highest expectations.

[00:11:33]Good morning. My name is Scott Murray, principal of Langster High School, and it is my pleasure to introduce the Lanster High School class of 2026, honor graduate and Harvard Universitybound, Jay Pico.

[00:11:56]Jade is a daughter of Lawrence and Leo Fico. Growing up in Langster, Jade attended St. Bernardet Elementary along with Thomas Euing Junior High. Jade was involved in student council, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Superintendent Leadership Group, Science Olympiad, and ecology club. In the fall, Jade plans to attend Harvard University where she will study within the biology sciences department.

[00:12:26]With great pleasure, I introduce to you the Lexter High School class of 2026 honor graduate Jay Pico.

[00:12:43]It should come as no surprise that the people around us change us. From what your hobbies are to how you tie your shoes, we're always adopting habits from other people. And now that we're graduating, we will no longer share a common building or schedule as everyone goes their separate ways. But I would like for you to consider the importance of community and the relationships you have now.

[00:13:19]When many of our parents went to college or moved away after graduation, long-d distanceance communication was a lot harder and more expensive.

[00:13:31]When my mom was in college, she either had to send letters to her family or wait to be told that there was a call for her. a call that had to be transferred from reception to a singular phone that was for her entire dorm floor. And once received, time was money and she only had so many minutes.

[00:13:57]So compared to today where you can instantly connect a call from Washington to Florida, it can be confusing to hear about a growing loneliness epidemic when digital communication is the most accessible it has ever been in history.

[00:14:20]In a study published in April of 2024 within the communications psychology journal, Dr. Laura Aman and Dr. Jillian Sandstöm explained that although quote, "Social relationships provide one of the most reliable paths to happiness." End quote. Many are reluctant to rekindle old connections.

[00:14:50]And in fact, if you were to ask many adults, most would say they did not keep many many friends from high school.

[00:15:01]But it in no way has to be like this.

[00:15:06]Within psychology, there is a phenomenon called the liking gap.

[00:15:14]In short, when posed the question of how much a person likes us, we often greatly underestimate their answer.

[00:15:25]The need to be social is incredibly human. And yet, we constantly doubt ourselves in social situations when our internal criticisms are likely worse than what another person is really thinking.

[00:15:43]So jump the gap. Connect with the people you know now.

[00:15:49]Make plans to spend time with your friends and family. And don't let people wonder. Let people know that you care about them.

[00:16:02]And as much remember that there is always someone who likes you more than you think. just a button away.

[00:16:13]And with that, I'd like to thank my friends and family for supporting the person I am today. And to my fellow graduates, congratulations.

[00:16:25]It's entirely normal to create new relationships and turn over some of the old. But if you find yourself in this transition from high school to adulthood, feeling bittersweet, alone, or like things are coming to an end, remember that you have been cultivating connections your entire life, and all you have to do is make the jump.