Honoring a century of tradition and celebrating a new generation of leaders, Killeen ISD’s oldest high school graduated its latest class during a spirited commencement ceremony.
The Class of 2026 on Friday stepped across the stage at the Cadence Bank Center to receive diplomas, sang with choir members the traditional “May the Lord Bless and Keep You,” then marched into its senior circle formation.
Once in position around the perimeter of the arena, the 462 new graduates moved their tassels from right to left, sang the school’s alma mater and hurled their maroon caps into the air as supporters cheered wildly.
In a nod to tradition, Senior Class President Lane Widacki stepped to the stage wearing the Kanga head he wore frequently as the school mascot.
Once he removed the covering, Widacki recalled the days of nervous uncertainty when the class first entered high school and contrasted that with the moment together in maroon cap and gown united in memories and achievement.
“We have gone through a lot to get here. Sleep was lost, challenges were faced, but in the end, everything we gained made it completely worth it,” he said.
The class president encouraged his peers to follow a Biblical admonition about setting an example that no one can challenge.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young - but set an example for the believers - in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity,” he said, reading 1 Timothy 4:2.
Salutatorian Marie-Noelle Medlin thanked parents, teachers and other supporters for seeing the graduates through years of school to reach the end of high school.
“To the parents and families: thank you for your endless patience, support, and sacrifices you’ve made to get us here,” she said.
Valedictorian Mackenna Dempsey also thanked family and educators and pointed out the value of the community the class built in high school.
“While our futures are uncertain, and our anxieties may be high, remember this. You will always have a community to come back to. While every one of us may come from very different walks of life, we have all ended up here, together,” she said.
The top graduate recalled when she first stepped on the Killeen High School campus as a sophomore and the warm welcome she received from her volleyball team and coaches and eventually the school as a whole.
See KISD photo galleries of the high school graduation ceremonies at www.killeenisd.org/photos