2026 Redmond High Graduation Recap

Redmond High School’s Class of 2026 stepped into their next chapter Saturday, as 238 graduates gathered at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds at for a ceremony that brought together families, faculty, and students to mark the end of their high school journey.

The stands filled early as parents and friends wait for the moment seniors would walk across the stage. In caps and gowns, the graduating class moved through a milestone that felt both long-anticipated and still hard to fully grasp. What unfolded was more than a formal ceremony. It became a reflection of a class shaped by resilience, connection, and a shared sense of growth. Ultimately, leaving a legacy.  

ASB President Cameron Jackman opened the ceremony with gratitude and honesty, welcoming the crowd with, “Welcome friends and family to the graduating class of 2026. We’re finally here.” Jackman then shifted into a more reflective message about pressure and perfection, admitting he had spent time trying to craft the ideal speech. “I was just saying stuff to try to sound sophisticated and like I was giving a powerful motivational speech,” he said, before acknowledging the deeper truth behind that effort. “I think the reason that I was trying so hard for this speech to be perfect is because I was too worried about what you all would think of me.”

From there, his message widened to something many students could recognize in their own lives. He asked his classmates to consider who they might become if they stopped filtering themselves through the expectations of others. “What’s stopping you from being that person right now?” he asked. He closed by emphasizing authenticity over performance, telling his peers, “When life gets complicated, don’t waste your time trying to be perfect. Be genuine. Be yourself. That’s what got us here and that’s what will carry us forward.”

Salutatorian Paisley Stoltenburg followed with a speech rooted in reflection and growth. She looked back on her freshman year with honesty, recalling how difficult the transition into high school once felt. “Oftentimes, I’d cry my eyes out in the car before school, overwhelmed by the sudden change that was high school,” she said.

Standing before her class years later, she acknowledged how much had changed. “Just the other day, I was stressing about giving a presentation to the city council, and now I’m here in front of hundreds of you,” she said. She credited that growth to perseverance and support from those closest to her, including her parents and longtime friend Leah Bernard.

Stoltenburg also emphasized the importance of connection within the class. “Every single one of us in this room has fought their own battles, crossed their own bridges, and climbed their own mountains,” she said. A small moment of reaching out to a classmate, she explained, helped her see that connection more clearly.

“That simple interaction made me feel like a real person. It built my self-confidence.”

She also pointed to the impact of teachers who shaped the journey along the way, describing moments of encouragement and care that left lasting impressions. In closing, she urged her classmates to embrace individuality and carry their experiences forward.

“A legacy isn’t just about what we leave here in the hallways. It’s about the change we continue to make in the future as partners, co-workers, friends, and family,” she said.

Valedictorian Jayden Thynes brought humor and heartfelt gratitude to his address, thanking his family, teachers, and classmates for their support throughout high school.

Reflecting on the friendships he built at Redmond High, Thynes said the school's strong sense of community allowed him to connect with many different students and create lasting memories. He also recognized close friends who helped shape him during some of life's most challenging moments.

The most emotional part of his speech focused on his mother, whom he credited for helping him overcome adversity and achieve success.

“She’s the definition of a super mom,” he said.

Thynes closed with a message about authenticity and pursuing one's goals.

“Always be yourself,” he told his classmates. “Don’t get embarrassed by the things that make you happy. You live one life. Enjoy that life.”

Faculty speaker Mona Mensing offered a perspective shaped by years in the classroom and a deep connection to the graduating class. “Honestly, I think I’ve been writing this speech since the day you walked into my classroom as freshmen,” she said, recalling her first impressions of the group as “swirly, sassy, vibrant, curious ninth graders.”

She reflected on watching them grow through both success and struggle. “I watched you test your wings, sometimes soaring gracefully, sometimes crashing spectacularly,” she said. Through it all, she added, “one thing became very clear. The class of 2026 has heart.”

Mensing also shared a personal challenge, revealing that while her daughter battled cancer, the presence of her students helped sustain her. “Looking forward to seeing your faces, hearing your laughter, this was my happiness that year,” she said. “You all helped me walk through a really tough time just by being you.”

Her message to students combined practical advice with reflection. “Wear sunscreen. Open a Roth IRA. And above all else, be kind,” she said. She reminded them that identity is not fixed by achievement or failure. “You are not defined by your worst day, your biggest failure, the rumor someone spread, or the version of yourself you have already outgrown. You are still becoming.”

As the ceremony came to a close and graduates prepared to turn their tassels, the speeches echoed across the fairgrounds with a shared theme. Growth is rarely perfect, confidence is built over time, and the strength of a class is often found in how they show up for one another.

For Redmond High’s Class of 2026, graduation was not only an ending. It was a collective acknowledgment of how far they had come and a step into what comes next.