The ceremony marked a milestone for the Class of 2026, as students, families and faculty gathered to celebrate their completion of high school and the beginning of a new chapter.

Speakers offered reflections, advice and well wishes throughout the morning to Bellefonte’s 142nd graduating class, touching on themes of perseverance, community and life beyond graduation.

Several speakers also took time to reflect on classmates who were not present to graduate with the Class of 2026, honoring their memory during the ceremony.

The program opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by performances of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the school alma mater by the Bellefonte Area High School Concert Band, led by senior drum major Sadie Stodart.

TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS Students walk on to the football field for Bellefonte Area School District’s graduation ceremony.

In the first speech of the morning Class President Mason Stroud encouraged graduates to carry hope with them as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

Stroud said he settled on that message after reflecting on his own experience overcoming a potentially fatal heart tumor as a child.

“That whole ordeal taught me that there is always hope, even in the darkest situations,” Stroud said.

Looking across the graduating class, Stroud said his optimism stems from the wide variety of personalities and talents among his classmates, which he called one of the class’s greatest strengths.

“Every one of you has the power to lead and change the world in your own unique and beautiful way,” he said.

Tim Weight/For the Express Dr. Roy Rakszawski, Superintendent, speaks at the Bellefonte Area School District graduation ceremony.

Stroud also took a moment to acknowledge classmates who could not be present for the ceremony, including Isaac Gall and the late Elliana “Ellie” Grace Miller and Nathan Michael Dan.

“Even though they are not here with us today, they will always be with us in our hearts and our thoughts for the rest of our lives,” he said, before welcoming Superintendent Dr. Roy Rakszawski to the stage.

In his remarks, Rakszawski congratulated graduates on reaching what he called an “extraordinary milestone” and praised the perseverance and determination that brought them to commencement day.

While acknowledging that the Class of 2026 is entering a rapidly changing world filled with both challenges and opportunities, Rakszawski expressed confidence that their education has prepared them for success.

“No matter what you hear or read, don’t be deterred or discouraged,” Rakszawski said. “You have what it takes to succeed.”

Tim Weight/For The Express The gusty conditions threatened to take graduates’ caps off too early as they ascended to the stage.

He also reflected on the growing role of artificial intelligence, noting that while new technologies can be valuable tools, they should never come at the expense of genuine human connection and creativity.

“Tools will come and go — use them as you must — but I urge you to always be intentional about connecting with others,” he said. “Most importantly, be intentional about cherishing human interactions.”

Before concluding his remarks, Rakszawski thanked the graduating class for the impact they had on the school community.

“Finally, to the class of 2026, I want to thank you,” he said. “Thank you for your laughter in the hallways, your creativity in the classroom, your leadership on the stage and on the field, and your presence in this community. You have left a legacy, you’ve made us proud and you’ve helped shape a better future, not only for yourselves, but for all of us as well.”

He closed by encouraging graduates to move forward with confidence.

Tim Weight/For The Express An empty seat was highlighted at the ceremony in memory of two class members no longer with us.

“Embrace the journey ahead with optimism and fearlessness. And wherever life takes you, know that we will always be cheering you on.”

Bellefonte Area High School Principal Mike Fedisson, who spoke after, also took time to honor the two members of the Class of 2026 that did not reach graduation day.

“Graduation is a time of joy, reflection and hope for the future, but it’s also a reminder of those who are a part of our journey, whose absence is deeply felt,” Fedisson said, directing attention to the empty chair on the field, adorned with a cap, gown and flowers in memory of Elliana Miller and Nathan Dan.

“This morning, we remember them with gratitude, love and respect,” he said. “Their memories live on in the friendships they’ve built, the lives they’ve touched and the moments we’ve shared together.”

The principal mentioned that memorials have been placed in the school as lasting reminders of their impact on the community. In honor of Miller and her love of theater, a display case has been placed in the theater lobby, and in memory of Dan and his passion for sports, a plaque has been installed in the school lobby recognizing the recipients of the scholarship created in his honor.

Tim Weight/For The Express Mason Stroud, Class President, is pictured at the podium

“These memorials serve not only as a tribute to their lives, but also as a symbol that they will remain part of our school family forever,” Fedisson said, before leading a moment of silence in their memory.

Fedisson then turned to a metaphor he hoped would remind students of the lessons he hoped they would take from their education.

He asked students to consider a pencil.

“Although it seems simple, a pencil teaches us something surprising about ourselves and about life and success,” he said.

Fedisson said what matters most is not appearance, but what is inside, comparing a pencil’s graphite to the character and integrity that define a person.

He added that pencils are meant to leave a mark and said the same is true for people, whether through encouragement, advice or everyday acts of kindness.

Fedisson also noted that pencils must be sharpened to remain effective, saying growth often comes through discomfort and challenges that build character.

“So today, remember the lessons of the pencil: what is inside you matters most, leave your mark in a positive way and growth requires discomfort,” Fedisson said. “If you hold on to those lessons, success will not just be about what you achieve. It will be about the kind of person you become along the way.”

In her Valedictorian Address, Lydia Osman reminded classmates to focus on the present moment as they prepare to move beyond high school.

“Although I like to joke that most things are, today is not about me, but about you, members of the class of 2026,” Osman said. “Today is the finish line. You made it.”

She said that no matter how students define success, graduation represents the completion of a shared journey, telling classmates she was “extremely proud of every single one” of them.

Osman said a verse from the Bible, Matthew 6:34 — “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” — kept coming to mind as she prepared her address, and encouraged students not to let uncertainty about the future overshadow the present moment.

“When we focus too deeply on the future, we bombard our minds with the what-ifs rather than the right-nows,” she said. “That worry does not change the future, but it certainly changes your outlook of today.”

Osman added that while the world ahead offers endless possibilities, students risk missing the meaning of the moment if they are always looking ahead.

“I know the world has so much out there waiting for each of you,” she said. “But the thing is, when we focus too much on what is next, we forget to cherish the moments we will look back on and wish we could relive.”

Osman said the same idea was also expressed by the late Eleanor Roosevelt.

As the first lady said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost.”

Next, spoke class Salutatorian Elizabeth Stack.

“I could spend the next few minutes talking about how strange it feels to say goodbye, but I’m going in a different direction — a sales pitch.” Stack said. “More specifically, four reasons why you should be a nerd.”

She said being a “nerd” is about caring deeply and throwing oneself into the thing they love, even when others don’t understand it.

She pointed to classmates who openly shared their interests — from books and television to cars and sports — as examples of people who “care loudly,” adding that such enthusiasm brings energy to those around them.

Her second reason was community, noting that groups like sports teams, clubs and theater productions are built by people willing to show up and invest in something bigger than themselves.

“Communities are not built by unenthusiastic people,” she said. “They’re built by those who show up, care deeply and make space for one another.”

Stack said “nerds” are also natural problem-solvers, explaining that curiosity and attention to detail often lead to better questions and better answers.

Finally, she said the most important reason is that learning does not end at graduation.

“We are not done becoming ourselves,” she said. “We’re still allowed to discover new interests, change our minds, find new communities and care deeply about things we haven’t even discovered yet.”

She closed by encouraging classmates to carry that mindset forward, embracing passion without embarrassment and continuing to build community beyond high school, ending with a series of pop culture references: “May the Force be with you. May the odds be ever in your favor. And may you boldly go where no one has gone before. Live long and prosper.”

Finally, commencement speaker Monteca Bisel-Confer, owner of Confer’s Jewelers and a Bellefonte alumna, told graduates that her success story is rooted in small, difficult decisions made over time.

“Standing here this morning at my alma mater is incredibly meaningful to me because years ago, I was sitting right where you are, looking ahead, wondering what my life would become,” she said. “If I could sum up everything I have learned since then, it wouldn’t be about success, titles or achievements, it would be this: Your life will be built on the small decisions you make, especially the hard ones.”

She told the graduates about her grandfather, a mechanic who became paralyzed after a car accident, as an example of perseverance. Instead of giving up, he chose to learn a new trade, becoming a clock and watch repairman and rebuilding his life “day by day, piece by piece.”

Bisel-Confer said that same mindset carried through her family when her parents took over the business after it was burglarized, choosing to rebuild rather than walk away.

She said those lessons shaped her understanding of success.

“Success is not built in one big moment,” she said. “It’s built in the quiet ones. It’s built when you choose to do the right thing instead of the easy thing.”

She added that the business has since grown through continued challenges, including economic downturns and health struggles, but said those moments reinforced the importance of persistence and faith in the process.

Bisel-Confer told graduates they will face their own difficult moments, but said they will not always require major decisions — only the next right one.

“Because that’s how lives are built. That’s how legacies are built,” she said.

She closed by encouraging the Class of 2026 to carry that mindset forward.

“Will you show up? Will you take responsibility? Will you do the right thing even when it’s hard?” she asked. “Because if you do, you won’t just build success. You’ll build a life that matters. Congratulations, class of 2026. Go out there, make the hard small decisions, show up, stay faithful and build something that lasts.”

Mason Stroud, Class President