The North Callaway Class of 2026 has grown a lot over the years.

Thursday night's commencement ceremony at North Callaway High School meant so much to so many people such as Zachary Craghead, the student speaker. His reasoning was that the Class of 2026 once had “a reputation” for being “loud and chaotic” since kindergarten.

“Nothing about our journey has been typical, but maybe that’s what makes it so meaningful,” he said. “We learned how to adapt, how to push forward, and how to grow.”

According to Craghead, the turning point for the Class of 2026 started in sophomore year when they “absolutely crushed” the English and Biology exams and came together to show school spirit. He went on to say that since then, the class raised the standards.

This year’s senior class celebrated a number of accomplishments. As a class, they accepted $694,000 in scholarships, Wyatt Haden achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT, and the Ladybirds volleyball team set a single-season school record in wins and earned its first Eastern Missouri Conference championship, to name a few.

“We rise above expectations and we leave things better than we found them,” Craghead said. “The class is defined, not by its reputation, but our resilience, its achievements and its impact.”

Principal Travis Blevins said this graduation was special for him too because many of the graduates were members of his first kindergarten class when he was a principal at Auxvasse Elementary.

“It’s a very diverse group,” Blevins said. “We have tremendous fine arts, singers, performers in this group, a state champion wrestler — it’s a group that really represents all genres.”

Former Thunderbird, Rep. Kent Haden, volunteered to be the evening’s guest speaker.

“You have been prepared to succeed,” he said. “You’re very achieved, very accomplished.”

Rep. Haden said he knew Thursday’s ceremony was the first and last he would ever speak at. What he didn't know before volunteering was that his own grandson, Wyatt, would be named valedictorian. It is Thunderbird tradition to reveal the valedictorian and salutatorian only moments before they receive their diplomas.

Wyatt, son of Brent and Connie Haden, will be attending the University of Missouri where he plans to study economics in the fall. Valedictorian is something he has worked for throughout his high school career, but salutatorian Grace Rasmussen didn't make it easy for him.
“A long time ago, I used to be first,” Rasmussen said. “Junior year he kind of slipped ahead of me a little bit, but I’m just glad I kept it second.”

Rasmussen, daughter of Amy and Steve Rasmussen, will be attending the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where she will continue her swimming career and study bioengineering.

As families gathered in the cafeteria to celebrate with the graduates, Wyatt shared the best piece of advice he ever received, which came from his grandfather’s speech earlier that night.

“Make sure people know who you are, not what you did,” he said.

And to the Class of 2027, Wyatt and Rasmussen left some advice of their own.

“Make sure you stay strapped in, even in the fourth quarter, because it gets a little rough at the end,” Wyatt said.

“Just enjoy it,” Rasmussen said. “We’re from such a small town, so it’s kind of hard to find other opportunities if you have big aspirations, but as long as you look for those opportunities, they're always going to be there.”