PHS Hosts 66th Commencement For Class of 2026

The Class of 2026 graduated from Perkins High School on May 31, 2026, during the 66th Commencement.

The class included 153 graduates, who walked across the stage at Firelands Health Stadium under warm and sunny skies and in front of family and friends.

Senior Class President Natalie Mitchel told her classmates that they did not “magically become adults once we crossed this stage.” But rather, the Class of 2026 has grown much over their four years at Perkins High.

“We have all grown in ways that people may not necessarily see over the last four years,” Natalie said. “We have learned to bounce back from failure, to cope with pressure, and to build ourselves up again after we have been broken down. Our class has had four years that were unpredictable, nerve-wracking, exhilarating, tiring, and memorable all at once. And through it all, we managed to adapt.”

Click Here For A Photo Gallery

Perkins Local School District Board of Education member Eric Lapata cautioned the Class of 2026 about the differences between heroes and villains. He encouraged the graduates to become heroes.

“I challenge you to live the kind of life where you become a hero in other people’s stories. To be a real-life hero means you are kind, humble, forgiving, and generous,” Mr. Lapata said. “A hero looks to put others' needs above their own. A hero listens more than they speak, celebrates the success of others, encourages others with words that you’ll never forget, and when life falls apart, they are the first ones to show up and the last ones to leave.”

For graduation each year at PHS, the graduating class’ Honor Scholars (students who received all A’s during their time here) decided who the senior speakers would be at commencement. This year, the Scholars chose Blake Witter, Talon Walton, and Cooper Murphy to address the class.

Cooper Murphy recounted some of the challenges he and his classmates encountered as Perkins students.

“A lot has changed since we first started schooling, and we have faced many difficulties, like facing COVID-19 in the sixth grade and trying our best to fake our internet going out during mandatory quarantine zoom calls in seventh and eighth grade,” Cooper said. 

“I am sure that staff is tired of COVID-19 being brought up at graduation ceremonies, but it is something that we had to face at a young age. If I have learned anything from going to school in the 21st century, it is to embrace change and not to be scared of it.”

Blake Witter asked his classmates to embrace the changes they will encounter in life.

“Some changes will test your patience, your confidence, and your trust in yourself,” Blake said. “But many of the things you will one day be most grateful for, once felt uncertain when you first took the chance. So don’t just ask yourself what change might cost, but ask yourself what change will give you, because sometimes what you are afraid of is exactly what you were hoping for. So, don’t be afraid to get started.”

Talon Walton suggested that his classmates take a moment to appreciate the present. 
“As we move on into completely different paths, whether that’s college, work, the military, or figuring things out one step at a time, I hope we remember to stay present. Don’t rush
every stage of life trying to get to the next one. Appreciate the people around you while they’re still around. Appreciate the small moments while they’re still happening.”
 
Some stats about the Class of 2026:

• 66.4 percent are going to college
• 10.7 percent are going to trade schools
• 19.8 percent are entering the workforce
• 3.1 percent are going into the military
• Graduates received $171,628 in local scholarships

School Motto: We dare to do what we dare to dream.
Class Motto: It was the end of a decade but the start of an age." ~ Taylor Swift
Class Colors: Pink and Black
Class Flower: Carnation
Class Song: "Ribs" by Lorde