100 grads celebrate commencement at Medina

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – Lilly Caleb and Avangelene Nash celebrate next to the “2026” that was on display outside Vets Park during graduation this evening.

The two were among 100 students who graduated from Medina.

The grads toss their caps after everyone was awarded their diploma.

Ava Blount, the class president in front, is happy after the commencement program. She is followed by Penelope Schalck, the class vice president, and Izabella Garcia, the class secretary. The Daisy Chain members are behind them in white dresses.

Tatianna Maxon is congratulated by school administrators and Board of Education members for receiving her diploma.

The Daisy Chain continued as part of commencement in a Medina tradition that goes back to 1922. Daisy Chain members – the top 16 girls and top two boys in grade point average among juniors – create two 27-foot-long chains of daisies.

The Daisy Chain members include Maya Anderson, Teagan Balaban, Madalyn Clute, Madelyn Elliott, Camden Fike, Aspyn Garley, Grace Goodrich, Samantha Heschke, River Jones, Adelynne Lacy, Sofia Lopez, Madeline Mark, Lillian Maynard, Natalia Olsen, Isabelle Perez, Carmen Stalker, Madison Watts and Arabella White.

Bellaflor Gomez-Hernandez gets ready to move her tassel to signify graduation.

Class valedictorian Bellaflor Gomez-Hernandez shared a message, “From Google Meets to Senior Seats.” She recalled how the class was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic during middle school, sending them home during sixth grade in March 2020.

They needed to learn through online school during the pandemic.

“It didn’t break us,” she said about the Covid pandemic. “It built a foundation of adaptability that will serve us the rest of our lives.”

Lilah Class

Gomez-Hernandez, who is headed to Fordham University to major in international studies, thanked the Medina teachers and the graduates’ families for their support.

“Teachers, thank you for holding us to high standards and seeing the potential in us when we didn’t see it in ourselves,” she said.

Lilah Class, the salutatorian, shared a message, “Our Next Step.” She said failures are to be expected in life’s journey, and graduates should learn from their mistakes and struggles.

“We have made it this far,” she said. “Everyone is capable of great things.”

The grads are stepping out in “endless possibilities,” Class said. She urged them to be support themselves with encouragement and to be their own personal cheerleader.

“Be proud of how far you’ve come and where you are going,” she said.

The graduates sit in chairs on the football field and listen to a message from Dr. Julie Webber, Medina’s Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and AVID District Director.

She presented a message, “Your Destiny Awaits.” All of the speeches were prerecorded and displayed on the scoreboard.

Dr. Webber said she was the primary school principal when the graduates were in third grade. She reflected on a comment from famed orator William Jennings Bryan, who said destiny is not so much based on chance but on choices.

She said luck is passive, while destiny is active. The graduates so far have had their daily schedules tied to school. But starting tomorrow, the structure of their lives is up to them.

“The canvas becomes entirely yours,” Dr. Webber said.

Dr. Julie Webber gives the commencement address.

In the future, not everything will go to plan, no matter their best efforts, Dr. Webber told the grads.

“Detours are not a dead end,” she said, urging them to pivot and try a different door or direction. “Don’t give up.”

Dr. Webber urged them to be life-long learners, and she congratulated them on earning their high school diplomas.

“You did the hard work,” she said. “You are the proud product of a community that believed in you.”

Kymberlyn Brady feels joy after receiving her diploma.

Casey Reeves walks onto the field in the processional with her classmates.

Brennan Woodruff gets some help arranging his cords from friend Kylee Howard, who graduated in 2025. Woodruff served as the Student Association president and also was a student representative on the Board of Education. He is headed to Geneseo State College to major in philosophy/politics/economics. He wants to be a Constitutional lawyer.

He appreciates his education at Medina.

“It’s been a great foundation for what I want to do,” he said. “All the teachers are ushing you to be your best. They are all so supportive.”

Rhoswyn Oakes is congratulated by Mollie Mark, the assistant junior-senior high school principal.

Lyla Page hams it up while getting her photo taken after getting her diploma.

Luke Duffina goes through the receiving line and receives congratulations from Medina school officials.

The grads walk off the football field while the scoreboard displays a message, praising them for earning their diplomas.