2026 Ridgeview High Graduation Recap

Ridgeview High School’s Class of 2026 was celebrated Friday night at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, where 218 graduates crossed the stage in a ceremony filled with reflection, humor, and hard-earned perspective. Families filled the venue to watch seniors close one chapter and step into whatever comes next, carrying with them lessons shaped by change, risk, and connection.

The ceremony opened with Senior Class Speaker Diane Catacutan, who delivered one of the most personal reflections of the evening. She began by recognizing the people who supported the graduating class along the way, thanking “our principal, teachers, counselors, and staff for the guidance, patience, and support they’ve given us throughout our high school journey,” and adding gratitude for those who believed in students “even during the moments when we struggled to believe in ourselves.”

Catacutan’s speech traced a journey that stretched far beyond the walls of Ridgeview. After moving from the Philippines to the United States in 2024, she described the disorientation of starting over in a place where everything felt unfamiliar. “Overnight, everything became unfamiliar,” she said. “I left behind the people, places, and routines that had shaped me, and for the first time, I found myself starting over.”

She spoke openly about isolation, academic struggle, and the emotional weight of transition. “While others were making memories and spending time with their friends, I often found myself sitting alone in classrooms or standing alone in the hallways,” she said. At times, she admitted, she questioned whether she would ever feel at home again.

The turning point came not in comfort but in choice. “No one could make this journey for me,” she said. “I had to decide for myself whether I would keep moving forward.” From there, she reframed adaptation as a deliberate act rather than a passive experience. “Adapting is about continuing even when it’s uncomfortable. Adapting is about growing even when you feel lost.”

By the end of her speech, Catacutan connected her past and present, honoring both the school she left behind and the one she grew into. “One taught me who I was; the other taught me who I could become,” she said, encouraging her classmates to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it. “We are entering a chapter filled with uncertainty,” she said. “And that’s okay.”

Salutatorian Hunter Lewis followed with a speech grounded in humility, humor, and perspective. He opened with a reminder that comparison can distort accomplishment, sharing a story from Steelhead Falls where a cliff jumping experience left him feeling outmatched. After attempting a cliff jump he admitted he walked away discouraged, thinking, “Wow, I am never going to be as cool as these guys.”

But that moment became a lesson in perspective rather than defeat. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” Lewis said. He reminded classmates that there will always be someone ahead of them in some area of life, but that does not diminish their own achievements.

“Don’t ever compare yourself, your abilities, or your character to anyone else’s because it will only keep you below them and below your own potential.”

He encouraged graduates to focus instead on incremental growth. “Try to be better than the person you were yesterday,” he said. “If you end up failing that one day, it’s alright. You can try again tomorrow.” In closing, he urged his peers to live intentionally and recognize the impact they will leave behind. “At the end of your journey, all that will remain is that mark, that legacy.”

Valedictorian Zachary Lester followed with a speech that balanced humor, individuality, and reflection. He began by challenging expectations of what a valedictorian should look or act like. “What do you see?” he asked the audience. “You may look up here and see an archetypal valedictorian… or maybe you saw me wearing the combo of flip-flops and a tie.”

Lester used that contrast to make a broader point about authenticity. He described years of memories built on spontaneity and friendship, from “playing hackysack in the halls while barefoot” to inside jokes and shared traditions. While lighthearted, his message carried a clear theme. “If I were to constantly act in a way that makes me look normal, I would be reciting a speech about how crazy it is that we have made it this far,” he said. “Instead of remembering this speech as an old cliche, I hope you remember the importance of chasing your dreams while having a little bit of fun on the way.”

He closed by emphasizing that identity is shaped by attitude more than appearance. “The shoes you wear may either be freeing or self-confining,” he said. “Make sure to put on the right shoes because life is a balance of having business on the top and casual on the bottom.”

Faculty Speaker Rhys Owens offered a reflective and often humorous address shaped by years in the classroom with many of the graduates. He opened by acknowledging parents and staff, then turned to the students themselves. “We are a little older, a little wiser, and in my case, a little grayer,” he said, joking that some of those gray hairs were “named after some of you.”

Owens focused his message on three key ideas: hard work, positive relationships, and time. He encouraged students to take pride in their efforts, noting that success comes from persistence and adaptability. He also emphasized the lasting impact of everyday interactions. “Memory is a fascinating thing,” he said. “You have left your physical mark in the brains of every person you have ever had an interaction with.”

His final lesson centered on time itself. Quoting Gandalf, he reminded students, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” He encouraged graduates to work hard, be present, and not take life too seriously. “Life’s too short not to,” he said. “You are all going to crush it.”

As tassels turned and the ceremony came to a close, the message across Ridgeview’s graduation was clear. Growth often begins in discomfort, identity is shaped through experience, and success is defined less by comparison and more by the paths each student chooses to follow.

For the Class of 2026, the moment marked both an ending and a beginning, carrying forward the shared reminder that they are still becoming who they are meant to be.