By Jessica Dillon
The Bassett High School Class of 2026 celebrated graduation May 21, with student speakers reflecting on perseverance, friendship and the importance of supporting one another.
The ceremony featured remarks from students Izsaak Flanagan, Nathan Goad, Ali Gongloff and Madeline Cooley.
Goad told fellow graduates that commencement represented more than receiving a diploma.
“Today is not a celebration just because we received a diploma, but a celebration for every late night, every challenge, and every moment that brought us here. For most of us, our journey together started in August 2013, and now, as we reach the end of our journey together, we can look back and see just how much we have grown,” he said.
He reflected on moments throughout childhood and school that shaped the graduating class.
“Throughout the years we have been in school, we have been shaped by countless moments that would influence our lives forever. From walking into an unfamiliar kindergarten class and leaving your parents on for the first time, to talking to a stranger who sits next to you in the class or even crying at the kitchen table when you got your parents help with homework because you were taught a different way from how they were taught,” Goad said.
“These moments did more than just create memories. They shaped who we are and taught us lessons that we will carry with us for years to come,” he added.
Goad also spoke about what it means to be a Bassett Bengal.
“The Bengal, our mascot, is supposed to represent fearlessness, independence. While being a Bassett Bengal does need to be fearless, being a bingo has not taught me independence, instead taught me the vulnerability of being dependent,” he said.
“I was an only child for the first 12 years of my life. Being independent was all that I knew when I came to Bassett High School. I was quick to shut people out and prefer to do things on my own. And now that I’m at the finish line with my high school journey, I can say with certainty that I would not have made it without being dependent on others.”
He described shared experiences among classmates, including friendships formed in classrooms and cafeterias.
“You see, being a Bengal means relying on each other, always, because people need people. When we keep our eyes focused on Riverside Drive, we see family,” Goad said.
Cooley encouraged graduates to remember the experiences that connected them during their years at Bassett High School.
“We have shared time together in the classroom, on the field or court, on school trips, all learning our places. Pass it Bengals, but now we will start our new lives as college students, workers serving our country,” she said.
“Even as we enter into these new roles in life, we must remember where we started. Bassett High School will always hold a special place in our hearts.”
