Plymouth & PHS celebrate the Class of 2026

Posted May 31, 2026

Plymouth High School held Commencement Exercises for the 185 members of the Class of 2026 on May 31 at Plymouth City Park, with hundreds of family and friends in attendance.

The Commencement Band, directed by PHS band director Cody Wisman, performed the processional and recessional. The Senior Choir, directed by Amanda Smith, sang “I Lived” by One Republic.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Isabell Fisher. Cavin Baltus welcomed those gathered. “I want to thank everyone for showing up today to support our class and for showing up for the past 13 years to support us along the way,” he said.

PHS Principal Joe Brandl explained the school’s cum laude system and the different color stoles worn by students: orange for cum laude, silver for magna cum laude, and gold for summa cum laude, the highest recognition.

He noted that the Class of 2026, the first at PHS to have a community service requirement, collectively served more than 6,400 hours. “Continue to give back,” he told the graduates. “No matter what’s next in your journey, you have amazing things to offer. Whatever is next, make all of us, your immediate family, your Plymouth Panther family, and yourself proud! Make the choice to be nice, be kind, make wise choices and do great things.”

Class exemplar Brennan Nickel, chosen by a panel of adults to represent the class at commencement and to receive the $5,000 Rhyan Family Class Exemplar Scholarship, took those gathered on a final tour of Plymouth, highlighting the places that truly shaped who the graduates have become.

• Plymouth High School: “It's where we spent countless hours in the shops and labs, perfecting projects until the dimensions were just right. It’s where we found our voices in the auditorium and our grit on the practice fields.”
• Nutt Hill: This is where Mr. Biller’s building construction class worked hard to revitalize the warming hut, in the same spirit of giving that marks the National Honor Society’s annual food drive, Team Panthers’ mentoring of younger students, and students simply volunteering around Plymouth.
• Culver's and Kwik Trip: What Brennan called “the two most pivotal places in every student's life” and so much more than ice cream and gas. “These places were where we shared so many laughs, so many long conversations, and so many of the little moments that somehow ended up meaning the most.”
• City Park: “We’ve gone from being little kids playing games like monkey on the wood chips on the playground to standing here today on this stage, ready to take on the next chapters of our lives.”

Brennan acknowledged the support that teachers, neighbors, and businesses have given to the Class of 2026. “So, as we step up to tackle whatever comes next – whether that's a new city, a new campus, or a new career – let’s make a commitment to show up for those communities the same way Plymouth showed up for us,” he said. “Get involved. Volunteer. Know your neighbors. Be the person who makes the place better just by being in it. That's what Plymouth taught us, and that's the best way we can honor everything this community gave to us.”

Ashley Miller, Student Council president, announced the incoming members of the Plymouth High School Alumni Hall of Fame, who will be inducted in the fall:

• Dan Salzwedel of the Class of 1965, longtime executive director of the New Mexico Activities Association
• Lee Gentine of the Class of 1970, local civic leader and retired Sargento Foods executive

Superintendent Scott Stier told graduates that the qualities of courage and humility will serve them well as they enter a world that changes faster than any previous generation has experienced. “As you move into the next chapter of your lives, be courageous enough to lead, but humble enough to learn,” he said. “Be courageous enough to take risks, but humble enough to ask for help. Be courageous enough to stand out when necessary, but humble enough to lift others up along the way.”

The class chose former PHS teacher and coach Jacob Jurney to give the commencement address. He told graduates there are hundreds of career fields available to them. “Some of you will go into the medical field to become a nurse or a doctor, some will become an electrician, a business woman or business man, a teacher, a counselor, a farmer, or you might even become Tik Tok famous and make more money than I ever will,” he said. “With that in mind, my message to you is to do it.”

He noted that he left PHS to coach volleyball full time at Lakeland University. “I did not leave teaching because I disliked it, I left teaching because I figured out what I truthfully wanted in life and went for it,” he said. “The jump was scary, and I had some figuring out to do, … but I couldn't be happier.”

Mr. Jurney said no one has life mastered at 18 years old. “The success you have is far less about having this master plan but more about the willingness to take that next big leap,” he said. “Be a lifelong learner, and pursue that next best thing.”

Claire Poppe directed students to shift their tassels. “As we move our tassels from the right side to the left, we are doing more than following a graduation tradition,” she said. “In this small movement, we leave behind the title of high school students and step forward as graduates, ready to begin a new chapter of our lives.”

Kayden Schultz gave the closing remarks. “No matter where life takes us, the memories we made at Plymouth High School will always stay with us,” he said. “The future ahead for us is full of possibilities, and this is only the beginning.”

Learn more:
• Read a profile of this year’s class exemplar, Brennan Nickel.
• Learn about the 2026 PHS Academic Scholars.
• View a list of scholarships awarded to members of the PHS Class of 2026.
• See which Panther athletes will be continuing their sports careers in college.

Video courtesy of Plymouth Community TV

Plymouth High School Class of 2026

Luiza Abazi (*Kosovo)
Mattea Marie Abhold
Macie Jo Abraham
Orion Mathew Ada
Blake Jason Andrews
Geovanni Armand Annis-Jimenez
Addison Michaela Arnold
Alaina Gene Arnold
Maxwell Brian Backhaus
Zoe Arian Bailey
Cavin David Baltus
Jayden Bradley Baysinger
Grace Adeline Benson
Elizabeth Rose Bernard
Parker Kern Bersch
Kieran Thomas Bertram
Magnus Carlson Blad
Jack Douglas Boerger
Grace Angeline Bonde
Elsa Rae Boxrucker
Braidan Richard Brajdic
Gabrielle Evan Brown
Kade John Burdick
Skylar Nancy Burgard
Cayden Michael Campbell
Thora Betty Carpenter
Fabrizio Casaretto (*Argentina)
Gracie Mae Cleereman
Aliyah Michelle Clemens
Tamera Jane Cohn
Owen Dominic Conto
Sawyer Joseph Dailey
Alessia De Crescenzo (*Italy)
Aidan James DeMunck
Aaron David Depies
Lloyd Adrian Diehlmann
Alysen Marie Dippel
Brianna Marie Donner
Grace Rachel Erdly
Tyller Erin Farr
Luke Francis Fellows
Landen Irvin Fick
Aubrey Lucille Fischer
Katherine Geri Fischer
Isabell Jean Fisher
Gianni Santiago Frausto
Eli John Fuerst
Allison Emma Gajewski
Amiyah Lee Genske
Kathrine Sophia Gentine
Georgi Georgiev (*Bulgaria)
Rayner Maxwell Giles
Hayden Jeffery Goelzer
Bennett Xavier Gossens
Adella Mae Gritt
Tia-Jhordyne Ortencio Grucelski
Sophia Grace Gumieny
Jake Raymond Hackl
Hailey Jean Hamer
Hannah Marie Hanke
Sean Alexander Harney
Natalie Mary Heinz
Nathaniel David Helsell
Claire Renee Hermanson
Maxwell David Hill
Mya Grace Hogue
Clara Ann Hollister
Brandon Alan Holthaus
Johanna Jae Hoopman
Jack Ryan Hovey
Anneliese Marie Huss
Glenn Elroy Iseler
Ehren Brett Jahnke
Iris Diana Johnson
Melody Ann Karpinski
Lindsey Laurel Kawa
Joshua Adam Kilian
Brianna Marie Klahn
Destiny Marlene Klahn
Zandr Stuart Klahn
Danica Marie Klemme
Joslyn Leigh Kletzien
Samuel George Kluge
Kalli May Knowles
Kenner Colton Kober
Kailee Kornetzke
Dylan Nicholas Korthals
Finnola Grace Korth
Delani Erin Krahn
Ayden Lee Krebsbach
William Gerald Krebsbach
Angela Marie Krueger
Marcel Ruben Kuehnel
Cameron Mitchell Kulow
Hope Elizabeth Lambert
Mackenzie Rose Lau
Kate Elizabeth Lehn
Jacklyn Margret Lensmire
Keagan James Lensmire
Zoey Marie Licht
Colton Allen Lindman
Zachary Ryan Lisowe
Jesse John Loehr
David Matthias Loomans
Rubi Josephine Lopez
Ruby Jean Lucksted
Maxwell James Lund
Austin James Mallmann
Elizabeth Jean Mathes
Valerie Colleen Mathisen
Riley Ann McCulley
Colin John Merklein
Addison Mae Meyer
Ashley Ann Miller
Deven Adam Miller
Mason James Miller-Carmody
Zack Nathan Miller
Adrion Adam Monge
Carmindi Mary-Catherine Mueller
Nikolas Sonny Nelson
Norah Rose Nelson
Brennan James Nickel
Haylen Pearl Odekirk
Mitchel Eric Olsen
Alisa Ongvasith (*Thailand)
Adele Emily Orth
Oliver Gerald Picard
Veronica Starlette Pier
Alexandra Patricia Pilling
Jackson Joseph Pittner
Claire Louise Poppe
Carter Allen Pratt
Alyx John Provost
Anakin James Quasius
Jordyn Nicole Rahmer
Abigail Rose Reilly
Ayden John Riederer
Nolan Stanley Ritchie
Marie Rohloff (*Germany)
McCartney Elise Rooker
Andrew Gerald Rose-Richards
Preston Dwayne Rourk
Marta Elizabeth Rubenis
Bryanna Saltos
Xander William Sator
Claire Mae Scharenbroch
Jaycob Jerome Schaub
Hannah Marie Schmid
Elise Anna Schneider
Michael William Schreiber Jr.
Ethan James Schuette
Megan Elise Schuenemann
Kayden James Schultz
Mateo Jo Seifert
Meghan Kathryn Shallue
Layla Jennifer Sherman
Cael John Shuman
Casey Joseph Sippel
Dylan Christian Smith
Michael William Smith
Kali Joy Soberg
Colten Jason Steinke
Cora Evelyn Steiner
Sydney Louise Steiner
Ana Clara Stemper
Brianna Ann Stephanie
Ezra Marie Streblow
Hazel M Sunagel
Stella Rae Sweetack
Asa Ray Tarjeson
Nancy Thao
Asdis Laufey Torfadottir (*Iceland)
Max Lawrence Trepanier
Ava Elizabeth Truttschel
Ania Rose Tushaus
Lowe Ursberg (*Sweden)
Rachel Dale Van Derven
Logan Javate VanDrie
Sawyer Jeremy Vorpagel
Ava Rose Weedman
Carter Kellen Weinhold
Tristan Michael Wettstein
Tyler Joseph Williams
Silraya Johniye Yankaway
Alexander Peter Young

* Denotes foreign exchange student

Please note: Inclusion on this list does not guarantee graduate status.