Friday night was a night of celebration at Wilkins Stadium as the Tullahoma High School (THS) and Tullahoma Virtual Academy (TVA) Class of 2026 walked the line to receive their diplomas. The commencement ceremonies saw 270 students from both THS and TVA receive their diplomas.

Before the ceremonies, the feelings among the students, faculty and staff, and families were happiness and excitement as the long and winding road was coming to an end. There were also feelings of camaraderie and solidarity, as a group of graduates met at the field goal to form a circle and prayed together just before the festivities.

Once the stadium was packed with family and friends, the familiar tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” signaled the arrival of the graduates, who made their way to their seats to the ovation of friends, family, teachers and administrators.

Principals’ speeches Following the presentation of the colors and pledge of allegiance, THS Principal Dr. Greg English welcomed everyone to the 104th commencement for the Class of 2026, and said he and the rest of the faculty were glad to be outside with the beautiful weather.

“It’s just a great night to graduate,” English said.

He took a moment to express his gratitude to the various members of the Tullahoma City Schools system and Board of Education for their leadership, and gave recognition to THS administration, THS teachers, staff members and students who helped prepare to make the commencement ceremony happen, as he said it took a village. He noted that the night was TCS Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens’ final graduation ceremony, where he said they will miss her enthusiasm, her smile and her heart.

English then honored THS student Brodie Minor, a member of the Class of 2026, who was killed in an accident in 2024. A display was set up near the stage, along with the decoration of his seat among his classmates, as an honor and tribute to Brodie. Brodie was a member of the wrestling team and was described by English as a friend to many and loved by anyone who loved him.

“His absence has been deeply felt by his classmates, teammates, teachers and his entire school community,” English said. “Tonight, as we celebrate the Class of 2026, we also remember Brodie and the place he’ll always hold in the heart of this class and our school.”

English then welcomed members of Brodie’s family to receive his diploma, and then led the class and audience to a round of applause to celebrate the life and memory of Brodie.

English then touched on the many awards, honors and accomplishments from the Class of 2026. Before diving into the list, he told the class they had created a problem, a good kind of problem.

“You’ve done too much,” English stated. “Too many honors, too many championships, too many performances, too many awards, and too many wins. When a class gives you this kind of problem, you don’t solve it by skipping over it. You solve it by celebrating it.”

English then ran through the Class of 2026’s greatest hits, which ranged in fine arts of students claiming numerous seats in ensemble and honor choirs; the CTE program seeing its first dual enrollment TCAT graduate; numerous wins in FBLA, SkillsUSA, and other competitions; the THS baseball team winning the Class 3A State Championship in 2024, and returning to the state semifinals in 2025; the Lady Wildcats soccer team becoming district champions, region champions and runners-up in the state championship; both girls and boys basketball teams going to state in the same season for the first time; and other various single honors to students.

English wrapped up the greatest hits by sharing that the Class of 2026 had over $2,151,588 in offered scholarships.

“This class has shaped the culture of Tullahoma High Schools. Through leadership, school spirit and simply acts of showing up for one another, you’ve reminded us that great schools are built by people who care,” English said. “The Class of 2026 has left a mark on THS that will soon not be forgotten.”

English’s last words to the graduates were to work hard, stay humble, be honest, to call both mom and dad, as dads don’t like being left out, and to leave people and places where they found it.

Director of the TVA, Dr. Chris Treadway, followed English and congratulated the class on their accomplishments. He encouraged the graduates to make the most of each day and moment by defining their own success, collect people and not things, by creating lasting relationships, and be resilient as they will experience discomfort in life. He finished his speech by reciting the poem “Keep Going” by Edgar Guest.

Students’ speeches

Senior Class President Maggie Lynch addressed her fellow graduates and said it was an honor to stand before them as their senior class president. She thanked the school administration and staff and her family for helping to make graduation day possible.

“Without you, and without each individual in the stadium, I would not be here today,” Lynch said. “Your guidance, strength, empathy and belief in our class through every challenge has brought us to this moment. No words can fully express how I feel.”

She also thanked her peers for filling the last 13 years with memories that she will cherish forever. When preparing for her speech and reflecting on the experiences she and her classmates experienced together, Lynch said high school wasn’t just about the academics; it was about the little moments, like going to games, forming friendships that forged into unbreakable bonds, and the opportunities that shaped them, like her joining the student council.

“Looking back, I realized how important it is to take in every moment,” Lynch said.

As she moves into her next chapter, Lynch stated she was making it a priority to be present in the moment, big and small, and not rush past them. She added that they get one high school graduation, and whatever their next steps are, this summer is their last as a kid. She then challenged her classmates to slow down and live in the moment, as the next few years will be their most challenging and transformative.

“Like Taylor Swift once said, ‘The scary thing is, you’re on your own now, but the exciting part is you’re on your own now.’ This quote perfectly captures the moment for the Class of 2026,” Lynch said. “For many of us, this is the beginning of a new chapter.”

She finished her speech by stating that while what’s next can be overwhelming, they are walking into the unknown with the strength, memories and lessons that shaped them along the way.

“Although we are going in different directions, the experiences we shared here will always connect us and remind us of where our story began,” Lynch said.

Following a performance of The Beatles’ “Yesterday” by the THS Chamber Singers, Salutatorian Leah Fogarty thanked the faculty and staff for supporting the graduates and thanked her fellow graduates for making it to graduation.

“Just four years ago, most of us were trying to figure out where our classes were, and now we are expected to know what we are doing with the rest of our lives,” Fogarty said.

Fogarty said while it was easy to compare each other’s paths, she encouraged her classmates not to do so, using the phrase “Comparison is the thief of happiness,” which she cited was best attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

“We are all on the path that we are meant to be on, and that path does not always look like the path that our friends, coworkers and classmates are on,” Fogarty said.

She added that while their paths are different, they will experience the same challenges and setbacks that might cause them to question if they are on the right path. She encouraged her classmates not to be afraid to ask for help when facing these challenges, and shared a story of where she didn’t ask for help, in this case, asking for water on a hike, as she felt that was a sign of weakness. She said her mother asked for the water, and said that while she had someone then to ask for help for her, that will not be the case every time.

“We can’t be afraid to ask for help, and, most importantly, we can’t be too proud to take it when it is offered,” Fogarty said. “When our time comes, we will remember these moments where we looked for help, and, in turn, we will be ready to give ourselves.”

She concluded her speech by praising the support and connections she made with her teachers, her family, her teammates and her friends “No matter what the next adventure is for all of us, I encourage each of us to reach out, make those connections, build those relationships, and know when you need them, they’ll be there to help, just as you will return the favor,” Fogarty said.

Valedictorian Brycen Parker followed and said that when he looked back on high school, what stood out to him wasn’t what he did, but what he didn’t do.

“I remember freshman year, feeling like there were endless possibilities. It felt like I had all the time in the world to figure things out and try whatever I want,” Campbell said. “I would tell myself that there was more time, and then, before I knew it, that time was gone.”

Campbell said a big reason for that was fear, not fear of failing,” he said. “Fear of what others would think.

“I let that control more of my decisions than I should have, and I think a lot of us do that without realizing it,” he said.

Campbell said that way thinking does not matter in the long run, but what matters is what they choose to do and what they will miss out on because they were too hesitant.

“You’re going to remember the chances you took or the ones you didn’t,” he said. “Standing here today is part of that lesson for me.”

Campbell said speaking in front of people hasn’t been easy for him, and he was nervous about the speech; he knew that if he let fear decide for him, he would regret it.

“I’m grateful to share this moment with you all, and make one last high school memory together,” Campbell said.

Campbell finished his speech by encouraging his classmates not to let others’ opinions determine their goals and to trust their own judgment. He said to meet new people, try new things and get involved.

“At the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with the decisions you make or the ones you’re too scared to make,” Campbell said. “The world we’re stepping into is changing fast, and none of us can control any of it, but we can control whether we made it with fear or with courage.”

Campbell said he believed that the world will belong to those who are willing to keep learning, keep growing and keep moving forward with purpose.

“Life moves too fast to let fear keep you from becoming the person you can be,” Campbell said.

Then, without further ado, English told the graduates that it was time to walk the line to receive their diplomas. As their names were called, each graduate walked the line to receive their diplomas to the sound of roaring thunder from both the stands of their family and friends and on the field among their fellow classmates.

After all the graduates received their diplomas and were seated, English welcomed Student Body President Avery Sisk to come to the podium to lead in the turning of the tassels.

“Tonight isn’t just an ending, it’s the start of what God has been planning for us all along,” Sisk said. “Every person here tonight has a purpose, even if we are still figuring it out.”

Sisk said that as graduates, they should remember where they came from, as Tullahoma had grown, connected and supported throughout the years.

With no more speeches, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived as Sisk asked her fellow graduates to stand, turn their tassels and toss their caps as they had officially graduated.