Hats off to the Class of 2026

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Tea Area High School held its 23rd annual commencement ceremony.

“The Class of 2026 has laid a foundation of excellence as our district continues to build its legacy. On behalf of the faculty, staff, Board of Education and myself, I wish you well as you begin the next stage of your life,” shared Dr. Tonia Warzecha in the commencement program.

The ceremony began with the processional of graduates, accompanied by an arrangement performed by the Tea Area High School band. Meredith Decker led the Pledge of Allegiance, and High School Principal Collin Knudson delivered the welcome address.

Abby Gullickson served as the keynote speaker. Graduates Kiley Pendergast and Daschle Lowery also addressed their classmates and guests.

The high school concert choir performed “Rivers and Roads” under the direction of Janice Gilbert, and the high school band performed “Titan Spirit” under the direction of Stephanie Wranek.

The presentation of flowers was carried out by members of the Class of 2026. During this portion of the ceremony, graduates presented flowers to family members and others who had provided encouragement and support throughout their educational journey.

Knudson then formally presented the senior class. School Board President Jason Bennett and Dr. Warzecha awarded diplomas to the graduates.

The Class of 2026 motto was, “Believe you can and you’re already halfway there.” The class song was “Home.”

Students in the Tea Area High School Class of 2026 include (special characters denote * Regents Diploma, ^ Honor Graduate (3.5-3.999 GPA), ~ Summa Cum Laude Graduate (4.0+ GPA), and # National Honor Society):

 Conner Ackerman* ^

 Leah Ackmann* # ^

 Parker Angelo

 Jaycie Babb* # ~

 Juv Banza^

 Ashlyn Barclay ^

 Chase Bass

 Houston Bass

 Kennedy Bechard* ^

 Isaac Benally*

 Preslie Benning* # ^

 Anna Binde* # ^

 Caden Bohnenberger* ~

 Janica Bolin

 Jerome Boterman

 Caleb Bowen

 Avery Braun

 MaKenzie Bridell* ^

 Kimberlee Brockberg*

 Carter Brown* # ^

 Reese Bruns

 Tayler Bucknell

 Rylan Burch*

 Keeley Cabrera

 Ella Cambier* # ^

 Jack Campbell

 Carter Christensen* # ~

 Ellie Clayberg* # ^

 Anaya Connors* # ^

 Alexande Coyne

 Chase DeBoer*

 Meredith Decker* # ~

 Ethan DeGeest^

 Arianna Degen

 Holdyn Del Monaco

 Preston Denholm

 Jacob DeYoung* # ~

 Michelle Donato

 Cathlyne Dumdei

 Brody Dunkelberger

 Elijah Durband

 Atley Ehrich

 Crayton Ehrich

 Ryder Eichmann

 Zander Engel

 Katelyn Flannery* # ^

 Lincoln Friedrich

 Roxy Galvin

 Natalie Gass* # ^

 Kylie Gossen* ^

 Jenna Gowin* ^

 Colton Graham*

 Kasen Groeneveld^

 Ryder Henriksen

 Lanie Henry^

 Emma Hessel

 Lucious Heutzenroeder

 June Hitzemann* ^

 Heidi Hofer

Graduation | 2Graduation | 2       

Sage Hoffman* # ^

 Hayden Hostetler

 Jonathon Howe* ^

 Lyllie Johannsen

 Olivia Johnson* ^

 Samantha Johnson ^

 Alyssa Jongeling

 Makena Jutting* # ^

 Ashlyn Karpinen* # ~

 Cason Kelling*

 Caj’monai King^

 Cashmeire King

 Quinten Klarenbeek

 Kira Knife

 Jaden Knodel* # ^

 Brenner Konrad* # ^

 Gracie Kramer* ^

 Zoe Kreidler* # ^

 Hayva Larson* # ^

 Hayden Logan

 Daschle Lowery* # ~

 Landen Madsen

 Noah Mahlum

 Madyson Markhardt

 Kimberly MateoGuerra

 Arden McGraw* # ~

 Madelyn McGuckin

 Victoria McIntyre* # ^

 Piper McKinney* # ^

 Aubrey Mehlbrech* # ~

 Adrianna Meier

 Brody Miller* # ^

 Miles Mitchell

 Rease Moe

 Leyton Moran * # ^

 Paityn Morrison

 Vincent Murphree

 Cole Northrup* # ^

 Kingston Nyberg

 Olivia Olawsky* # ~

 Coralynn Oliva^

 Ava Opland* # ~

 Cierra Otten

 Gabriella Overwise

 Katelyn Park

 Kiley Pendergast* # ~

 Cody Petersen* # ^

 Braelyn Petrik# ^

 Raleigh Powell

 Gracelynn Preheim* # ~

 Abigail Reemtsma* ^

 Brooklyn Reiners* # ^

 Gavin Reiners* # ~

 Henrik Rimmer* ^

 Melanie Roemen* # ^

 Isaiah Rollman ^

 Brisia Saavedra Natareno

 Brooklyn Schaunaman-Schaaf* ^

 Andrew Schmidt* # ^ 

 Morgan Sehr * # ~

 Trey Severin

 Brett Severson

 Cale Slack Jr.^

 Tatym Slykhuis# ^

 Ashton Smit

 Braden Smith

 Hunter Smith

 Kayla Sommerfeld^

 Jayda Sorlie

 Kadence Soulek

 Savannah Stahnke* # ^

 Trenton Stroman

 Brady Tapia^

 Ghuntheer Tellado Guevara

 Kairis Thomas* # ^

 Avalon Thompson

 Mckenzie Thompson* # ^

 Abby Thoreson* # ^

 Wyatt Toben

 Jake Tripp

 Cayden Tuenge

 Jeighcob Turner

 Ty Van Voorst* ^

 Jocelyn Van Westen* # ^

 Geoffrey Venegas Rojas

 Peyton Voigt

 Cody  Waltner

 Jaeden Waltner

 Emma Watson* ^

 Zachary Webb* ^

 Kayden Williamson* # ~

 Brayden Witczek

 Tyler Woodring

 Bryleigh Youngstrom

 Julia Zatirka