Graduation ceremonies at Harvard, Sandy Creek, and Sutton were held this past Saturday, May 9, with Harvard and Sandy Creek holding their services at 2 p.m., while Sutton closed out the celebratory day at 4 p.m.
Harvard sent off 10 new graduates during their ceremony, with Cohen Reutzel being honored as the class valedictorian, and Guadalupe Gabriel-Gomez was honored as the 2026 salutatorian.
Lillian Smith presented the senior welcome, with the Harvard Choir singing “The Lighthouse” in between Gabriel-Gomez’s and Reutzel’s speeches.
Harvard School Board president, Janet Hachtel, presented diplomas to the class to finalize the program.
Serving as junior class attendants were Mayleea Boyd, Yani Diaz-Campos, Haley Gimpel, and Sebastian Rodriguez Jauregui.
Sandy Creek presented diplomas to 31 graduates this year, with Katelyn Pohlmieier being honored as the class valedictorian and Emma Fisher as the salutatorian.
Jeremy Borer served as the guest speaker for the 2026 graduating class, with Superintendent Stephen Grizzle welcoming guests at the ceremony.
Diplomas were presented by school board members Ryan Petr and Laurie Kohmetscher.
Petr also presented Darrell Pernicek with an honorary diploma to recognize Pernicek’s long term tenure as a teacher at Sandy Creek High School.
Sutton also presented 31 graduating seniors as guests of their ceremony, with the Sutton Choir opening the program with two songs, “Maybe Someday,” and “The Times They are A-Changin.”
Adilynn Gimple was the class salutatorian this year, while Mia Ochsner was honored as the class valedictorian for the Class of 2026.
The presentation of the diploma ceremony was presented by junior class president, Breckyn Peterson, with superintendent, Jason Cline, and school board president, James Jones, Jr.
Sutton’s honor guard this year was Peterson, and junior class vice-president, Shepleigh Ohrt.
Ushers for Sutton were Griffin Bergen, Creighton Jones, DJ Hajny, and Marshall Reed, serving as program attendants were Katie Baldwin, Jadlynn Kinney, Dyvet Fonseca, and Kamryn Steinhauer.
