Congratulations and best wishes for your future endeavors, Bloomington High School North Class of 2026.
Bloomington North’s commencement ceremonies were Saturday afternoon in their high school gym.
About 350 Cougar students walked across the stage, received a diploma and later turned their tassels, becoming high school graduates.
The audience listened to three speakers, including Riley White.
Before graduation day, White shared that her favorite high school memories were attending football games and spending time with all her friends. During her time at North, White was an active leader involved in numerous clubs, including Black Student Union, Sisters Who Care, and Cougar Leaders. She plans to attend the University of Southern Indiana to study criminal justice and special education as a secondary option. She served as a cadet teacher at Binford Elementary School, demonstrating her passion for education and service.
The other graduate speakers were Kelton O’Connell and Avy Perkins. Among the many awards the graduates earned was the 2026 Indiana High School Journalist of the Year honor bestowed upon Kelton O’Connell, who writes for the B Square Bulletin.
The majority of graduates from Monroe County Community School Corp. high schools received an academic or technical honors diploma. Graduates’ future plans include attending 2- or 4-year colleges, entering the workforce and enlisting in the military.
Some students plan to pursue additional college credentials to prepare for their fields of interest. One example is Bloomington North graduate Joseph Shipley, who earned welding 1G and 2F certifications in TIG welding. Shipley plans to join a welding union or pursue additional training before joining the workforce.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Congratulations, Bloomington North Class of 2026
Reporting by Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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