Jeff Whitten, correspondent
PEMBROKE -- The 131 members of Bryan County High School’s Class of 2026 walked across the graduation stage Friday and on into the rest of their lives.
And they did so to a chorus of cheers in front of a standing-room-only crowd in Redskin Stadium in a ceremony that began about 20 minutes after the scheduled start time of 7:30 p.m.
The belated start due to a long line and security hardly seemed to dampen spirits on an occasion four years in the making.
“This is your night,” Bryan County Middle High School principal Russ Winter told members of the graduating class, urging them to celebrate with family and friends and make what he called the “when I was” moments they would later come to cherish.
“Moments from tonight may seem small right now,” he said. “But years from now they will come to mean more than you realize.”
Winter reminded graduates they will be challenged, but the challenges they face will make them stronger. He told them to live life with passion but also to be clear-headed when necessary, later adding this:
“And if nobody has told you today, I am honored to be the first tonight to say I love each and every one of you,” Winter said. “And, as always, go Redskins.”
More words of encouragement and appreciation followed.
Salutatorian Aubrianna Stewart, who will attend Georgia, told her classmates to take stock of what they’ve accomplished to date.
“We all have a story and have overcome something to reach this moment,” she said. “That’s why tonight is about so much more than academics. It’s about growth.”
That growth will continue, though it may take a winding road.
“There is so much pressure placed on people our age to have everything figured out,” Stewart said. “But life is not a race, and success does not just follow one path.
“Some people will find their direction quickly,” she added. “For others it will take longer. Some plans will change, some dreams will shift, and new opportunities we never expected will appear, but none of that means that we are failing; it just means that we are growing. Success is showing up when life feels heavy. Success is pushing through challenges no one else understands. Success is learning from mistakes instead of letting them define you. And sometimes success is simply refusing to give up.”
She also urged her classmates to realize their worth isn’t defined by grades or titles.
“What matters most is the kind of people we become,” she said. “Are we resilient? Do we lift others up? Do we keep going even when things get difficult? Those are the things that truly define success.”
Both Stewart and valedictorian Andrew Long, an aspiring engineer headed to Georgia Tech, thanked teachers and family members, and Long also spoke simply about his faith.
“Most importantly, I thank God, without him I would be nothing. I thank Him for the blessing of being able to not just attend school, but to excel in school,” Long said. “I thank Him for blessing me with all of the wonderful teachers, friends and family in my life. I thank Him for His love and grace that have upheld me all my life. Without him I truly could not have accomplished anything in my life. I pray everyone here will one day know and experience the love and grace He has for us.”
Long continued, “Once again I would like to thank the faculty and staff, my friends and my family. Congratulations, class of 2026. Thank you."
