A common theme typically develops as the graduates makes their speeches, led this year by Valedictorian Lola English and Salutatorian Makenna Stone, and often echoes of thoughts of how growing up in a small town afforded those from Bucktail close relationships and a feeling of family with their classmates.

The speakers certainly shared those sentiments, but also repeated boldly and proudly how thankful each of them was for their teachers at Bucktail, telling stories of guidance, life lessons and even daily doses of much needed humor.

English spoke of both of those topics during her Valedictorian address.

“Growing up in a small town, everybody knows each other, we grew up seeing familiar faces everywhere, from school concerts to the grocery store, you always run into someone you know,” remembered English. “Everyone jokes about escaping small towns or wanting to leave and find something bigger. I truly believe there’s something special about growing up here in our town, people care about people, they show up for one another and at Bucktail we were never just a number on a roster or names on a class list.”

KEVIN RAUCH/FOR THE EXPRESS Teacher Josh Day shares a fist bump with Xander Shearer in the recession line following graduation.

“One of my favorite parts of high school would be the teachers,” she continued. “You often hear the statement ‘teachers change lives’ but at Bucktail that statement couldn’t be more true. Our teachers have done so much more than just assign homework or prepare us for tests, they have created bonds with us that we will never forget.”

During her Salutatorian address, Makenna Stone spoke of her love for Bucktail softball, where again, teachers and her coach, Bucktail Assistant Principal Mike Poorman, took center stage in shaping where she is today.

“Mike Poorman taught us to believe in ourselves and support one another when things got difficult. Having someone like that as a role model made a bigger impact than he probably realizes and the school district is very lucky to have him,” Stone said, holding back tears as she spoke of her mentor.

“One of the defining moments in softball came just two short weeks ago when I looked out onto the field and saw almost the entire Bucktail High School faculty there, cheering on our entire team,” she recalled. “It was a moment that I’ll never forget, they took time out of their daily lives and family lives to support us.”

“Hearing them cheer us on gave us extra confidence and made the moment even more special. It reminded me that our school is more than just a place to learn but a community that supports one another through important moments and achievements,” she continued.

KEVIN RAUCH/FOR THE EXPRESS Salutatorian Makenna Stone shares a hug with Assistant Principal, and softball coach, Mike Poorman, after the Salutatorian tearfully thanked her mentor during her speech for all that he has done for her and all of Bucktail.

After receiving their diplomas and singing “Good Riddance” by Greenday together, for a final time the Bucktail Class of 2026 stood together, threw their caps in the air and shared more laughs and tears, before walking off Dwyer Memorial Field as the newest group of Bucktail alumni.