Seventy-four North Summit High School seniors took the stage on Monday night, celebrating with teachers, administrators and family members as they accepted their diplomas and said farewell to their fellow Braves. “I’ve had four years to figure out what it actually means to be a North Summit Brave,” said Emma Jasenovic, the Class of 2026’s valedictorian. “For a long time, I thought it just meant having a high tolerance for subzero temperatures at football games and wearing spirited amounts of purple and gold … but due to the things we’ve experienced together and the people we’ve become, I know being a Brave is not only about the colors you wear, but also about how you inspire those around you.” Jasenovic and a handful of other students, including co-salutorians Mylee Wilde and Bradley Woolstenhulme, offered advice and encouragement to their class as the tight-knit group heads separate ways this summer. “The world out there is big, and it’s pretty intimidating,” Jasenovic said. “It doesn’t always have the close community that we’ve grown used to, but because we grew up here, we carry something that others don’t: the knowledge that no one succeeds alone. As we head out into the future, I know that we will continue to live our lives with (a) Brave spirit.” A North Summit High School senior celebrates after receiving his diploma. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Seniors selected Austin Richins, a 2016 North Summit High School graduate who now teaches history, to give the commencement speech this year. He joked that his speech was the last time the group would need to take notes in his class, encouraging them to continue learning and remaining curious about the world around them as they take their next steps into adulthood. “We are all part of a larger society, and our work is our contribution to a free and safe life for all,” Richins said. “All of you, all of us, are part of things much bigger than ourselves. There is so much good in our world. Look for opportunities throughout your life to help continuously make the world a better place for everyone.” Richins also told the graduating class to actively choose happiness, sharing bits and pieces of advice he’d learned from “The Happiest Man on Earth,” a memoir written by Eddie Jaku. Jaku survived seven years in German concentration camps during the Holocaust, and his memoir was published in 2021 when he was 100 years old. Richins said Jaku’s memoir spoke about his time living under Nazi occupation, but it also provided insight into Jaku’s mind afterward and how he was able to lead a fulfilling, happy life despite the trauma he experienced. “He was imprisoned, beaten, starved, attacked by a dog, shot in the leg, and many times when there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel, he continued,” Richins said. “He lived in a nightmare for years. I’m sure there were days he did not want to keep going, days that felt too hard, but he kept getting up. He kept forming new friendships. He worked on new skills and showed others his values. He had hope. When life starts to feel too hard, keep going. Remember to have hope.” North Summit High School Principal Devin Smith addresses graduates before they receive their diplomas. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record North Summit High School Principal Devin Smith similarly pushed the class to stay positive and believe things will work out for the best when life gets tough, saying the person they grow into matters far more than the problems they face along the way. “Success is … choosing to keep moving forward,” Smith said. “I’ve watched students overcome challenges quietly. I’ve watched you recover from failure, disappointment, heartbreak, pressure and self-doubt. Tonight, as I look out at this graduating class, I don’t just see students who earned diplomas. I see future fathers and mothers, future business owners, teachers, coaches, tradesmen, nurses, missionaries, leaders, good neighbors, good citizens and good people.” The post North Summit High School Class of 2026 reflects on what it means to be a Brave appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less