With commencement ceremonies for the five high schools within the Amarillo Independent School District a week away, set for May 18-22 at Dick Bivins Stadium, here’s a brief introduction to the Class of 2026, by school.
Amarillo High School
Class Size: 477
Senior Class President: Ethan Steuer
Graduation ceremony: 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 (alternate date for weather is 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, May 20)
Class achievements: Jordan Pham, a Questbridge Scholarship (full ride to Harvard); Caylee Morris, Thoma Scholar; and Graham Bailey, NROTC Scholarship (full ride up to $250,000).
Valedictorian: Finn Archer
Salutatorian: Jordan Pham
What students will miss most about school: Archer said “While the opportunities and facilities at Amarillo High are top-notch, what I will miss most is the supportive, encouraging community of both students and staff. They always push me to be my best and make learning fun.” Pham said he will miss all his friends made at school.
What they’re looking forward to the most after school: Archer said at college, he’s looking most forward to learning more and meeting new people from all different places. Pham said he is “most looking forward to using my abilities to make a positive impact on others in my community and beyond.”
Caprock High School
Class Size: 452
Class Motto: “Longhorns Today, Leaders Tomorrow”
Senior Class President: Alyana Jaramillo
Graduation ceremony: 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, May 20 (alternate date for weather is 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 21)
Valedictorian: Cheenny Pham-Hoang
“What I’ll miss most is the Caprock Administration and faculty. Each staff member is there for the sole purpose of helping their students grow and succeed, and it’s hard finding that devotion anywhere else.” She said what shes looking forward to most is “exploring my freedom. I have a bunch of opportunities that I will be able to take on and experience on my own.” Her leadership roles include National Honor Society (President), yearbook (National Yearbook winner 2023-2024), and wrestling (second in district), and she is a Dell Scholarship Recipient.
Salutatorian: Karen Murguia
Her leadership roles include being a TRIO Council Executive and Superintendent Ambassador. She has a full-ride Thoma Scholarship for Oklahoma State University, and she was a Tennis Academic All-State Player in 2025 and a Volleyball Academic All-District Player in 2024 and 2025.
“I will miss all the great people I got to meet over these past four years,” she said. “I can’t wait to start this next chapter of my life as a cowboy at OSU. Go Pokes!”
Palo Duro High School
Class size: 397
Student leadership: President Alex Rai, Vice President Zohal Ibrahim and Treasurer Amaria Sadakhoune
Class achievements: 4 Texas Leadership Scholars, Alex Rai, Leeroy Trevino, Yahir Ruiz and Lydia Perez Pereda; and two Coach Frontz Myatt Scholarships, Alex Rai and Zainabu Mwamini.
Graduation ceremony: 8-10 p.m. Thursday, May 21 (alternate date for weather is 10 a.m.-noon Friday, May 22)
Valedictorian: Azul Sánchez Urias
“What I will miss most about school will be the constant presence of people who come from a similar background as mine. With Palo Duro’s high Hispanic population, I always felt supported by my peers and connected to them as they understood the unique challenges that come with being a first-generation student,” she said. “I will also deeply miss my instructors; I was fortunate enough to learn from educators who viewed teaching as more than a job, showing genuine passion for helping me and my peers grow into the best version of ourselves.”
Urias said what she is looking forward to the most after graduation is “gaining more independence and starting my college journey. Although I will not be the first person in my immediate family to seek higher education, I will be the first one to do so in the United States and the first to earn a degree. During my time in college, I want to dive into projects and volunteer work that align with my career goals and dreams. But more than anything, I look forward to all the unexpected opportunities and positive experiences that the future holds for me.”
Salutatorian: Isela Magallanes Villarreal
Villarreal said she will miss the connections she’s built throughout the years and knowing that she always had someone whose experiences she could relate to. “Whether it was with a teacher, my friends or classmates, sharing experiences with the same people for four years has made me fond of the simple everyday moments. The support I received from people I met at Palo Duro has shaped me into the person I am today, and it will be this sense of family that I will miss most after graduation.”
She looks forward to “embracing the challenge of being the first in my family to obtain a college education. College will be full of new experiences, and I’m looking forward to joining new communities that will allow me to evolve my identity past everything that’s been familiar for the past four years. Most of all, I am excited to follow a new path with the support of my family and my community.”
North Heights Alternative School
Class size: The number continues to increase up until graduation, but is currently at 242 students for a High School Diploma and 67 for a GED.
Class motto: North Heights’ Mascot is the Phoenix, because students “Rise Above”.
Graduation ceremony: 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 22 (alternate date for weather is 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 23)
Tascosa High School
Class size: 465
Student leadership: President Faith Williams, Vice President Carlee Hartsfield, Secretary Tessa Fowler and Representative Joseph Stalker.
Class achievements: NAACP scholarship recipients, Jazmah Ewing, Mariah Petty, Sa’Rhyan Campbell, Ervin Khamisi, Samuel Burrell, Vonyea Harvey, Zariyah Johnson and Zaden Ford; Jaxson Mendoza Scholarship to Samuel Adams, Jaxson Armstrong, and Ryan Armstrong; Big Future Scholarship Winners, Savannah Mason and Garrett Nickel; Texas Tech Thoma Scholars, Jace Wilburn and Zariyah Johnson; Armstrong DAR scholarship recipient, Thomas Ryan; Emerald Eagles Scholar at UNT, Savina Cabello; Nursing Honors College at WT, Mercedes Yazzie; United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School acceptance, Emily Sims. United States Marine Corps (USMC) Awards: Scholastic Excellence Awards to Nathan Sophapmysay and Alyssandra Wallace; Distinguished Athlete Awards to Ladarius Godbolt and Ysabella Garcia; and Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence to Mabel Franks.
Graduation ceremony: 8-10 p.m. Monday, May 18 (alternate date for weather is 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, May 19)
Valedictorian: Tabitha Fowler
Fowler said “I will miss the people and the experiences that I have gained throughout Tascosa. I have many memories and experiences that I will take with me for the rest of my life.” She is looking forward to “being in a new place and getting to have new experiences and adventures while also living in a competitive atmosphere.”
Salutatorian: Tessa Fowler
She said “I will miss getting to see my best friends and teachers every day. There are so many people at Tascosa who have given so much for me, and I have created long-lasting relationships with so many people at Tascosa.” She is looking forward to “getting to be in Washington, D.C., exploring the school, and preparing for the rest of my life. I love the city so much, and I am ready to start studying what I want to study for the rest of my life.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo ISD readies to celebrate latest graduates, Class of 2026
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
