The newest slate of Franklin High School seniors completed the last milestone of their high school journeys Friday with a commencement ceremony held at the Western Carolina University Activity Center in Cullowhee.
Parents, family and friends packed into the half stadium while students marched onto the court to take their seats. Principal Blair King greeted guests and took special time to recognize graduates crossing the stage with gold and silver stoles representing their academic achievements and members of the National Honor Society. King also recognized five students who would be joining the armed forces as their next step in life.
Clarke Anders welcomed her peers with a speech highlighting the challenges and perseverance of the class of 2026. She shared how their ability to rise to these challenges shaped their legacies, which she says is the impact they left on each other.
“Before we rush to our futures, I think it’s important that we look back at the past that brought us here,” Anders said. “Because every single person sitting here tonight has a story. Some stories were loud and obvious, others were quiet battles that nobody else ever saw.”
“Over the years, we experienced moments that shaped us in ways we probably didn’t even notice at the time … now we realize those ordinary moments became memories we will carry forever,” she continued. “As we leave this chapter behind, life is going to change quickly. Some of us will go to college, some will begin careers, some will move away while others stay close to home. There will be people we see every day now that we may never see again … and that reality is bittersweet, but no matter where life takes us, we will always share this moment and the years that led up to it.”
Lucas Trubicza gave a senior statement, thanking parents and teachers for their dedication and sacrifice to make sure their children had a chance to receive their diplomas.
“Cherish them. You wouldn’t be the person you are without them,” he said. “Some people here today are not as fortunate to have this undying support, and to them I extend my heart. Please don’t take your loved ones for granted. Like my parents have always told my brothers and me, ‘You boys don’t realize how lucky you are.’”
“Others may find support amongst the staff,” Trubicza continued. “For the sake of a shorter speech I would like to highlight … Mrs. Awtrey and Mrs. Pressley. These two have helped me more than any others in many ways I can’t even begin to describe. Whether it be Mrs. Awtrey walking us through the hardest class at the high school, providing support and the occasional breakfast on Fridays, or Mrs. Pressley preparing me for the ACT and helping me begin my college journey … I would truly not be who I am today without them.”
"Life is more than what others think. Life is what you make it. You make your own decisions. You create your own journey. You set your direction in life, and you are the only person who controls your life,” he concluded. “You will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So untie your ropes, raise your sail high in the sky. Catch the winds of life and let them take you.”
Superintendent Josh Lynch, Principal King, and Assistant Principals Pam Roper and Daniel Gibson called each student across the stage to be recognized for their achievements, each sharing a handshake and sometimes a hug.
After the graduates walked, Mark Vanhook took the stage to give the closing remarks. Vanhook shared the wisdom given to him by Coach Josh Brooks while going through the football program.
“Embrace the suck,” Vanhook said. “At the time it felt like one of his usual ramblings, but after finally regaining my breath I realized Coach Josh might have been onto something.”
“The suck looks different for all of us. That suck will come in varying forms for everyone here: overtime hours at work, failing classes at college, raising a family, et cetera,” he continued. “It is truly going to suck, but the mistake is believing that those moments mean you are failing. In reality, those moments are often where the most growth occurs. Character is not built when everything goes according to plan … and if there is one thing this class has proven over the past four years, it is that we know how to move forward.”
“We all made it here in one piece,” Vanhook said.
Reporter Shelby Powell can be reached at reporter@thefranklinpress.com.