On King's Plain, Woodsville High School graduates its 130th Senior Class

By Bernie Marvin

Outstanding weather greeted graduating Seniors, their families and friends for the 130th Woodsville High School graduation, held at the school last Saturday, June 13, 2026. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin

Woodsville, NH – The weather held back its pressing humidity for the special day of June 13, 2026, as the proud class of 50 Woodsville High School graduates under the twin batons of Class Marshals Taydin Glynn and Lincoln Williams stepped off for their short walk down the grassed aisle bedecked with high flying American flags, to the front of the gathering of family and friends assembled on the historic King's Plain.

The opening processional of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance was rousing, as the WHS Band, under the direction of Music Director Will Wright, provided the musical background of a very well-photographed group of handsome graduates as they paraded downfield to their seats facing the audience, their green and white gowns flowing in the gentle breeze that cooled the field.

The National Anthem followed, with opening remarks being offered by Principal Hayden Coon, a welcome by Katherine Houston. Makayla Walker offered the Salutatory Address. Makayla is officially recognized as the Class of 2026 Salutatorian by earning the second-highest academic ranking in the graduating class. She is a scholar-athlete and was recognized for maintaining elite academic standards while competing on the Woodsville Varsity Basketball team.

Ms. Walker, when thinking about what she was going to write about in her salutatory address, said to her mother, “I don't know." After that, she would follow up with a reminder that the speech would not be something she could just come up with; it would take time and meaningful reflection to anchor it all for the big day.

She said she caught herself returning to a specific novel by a novelist she had read, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a story about a young shepherd boy named Santiago, leaving behind routine and comfort in pursuit of the treasure he has only dreamed about, a treasure hidden far from what is familiar to him. His journey, he said, was driven by courage and the willingness to embrace the unknown.

"In many ways, his journey parallels ours," she said, describing how she encountered uncertainty and learned to adapt when expectations shifted. She closed her speech, “So to my classmates, sometimes uncertainty is thought of as something that needs an answer, ideally immediately. What we have learned, though, and what we will continue to learn, challenge that idea.

Ms. Walker offered, "At the start of Santiago’s journey, he is told, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” On the surface, those words may sound like external forces that always guarantee success. But the universe conspiring is about establishing a clear purpose, developing the eagerness to pursue it, and realizing that the universe will not simply hand out what you ask for. Rather, it will respond to those who are committed enough to pursue their goals.

“So, to my classmates: sometimes uncertainty is thought of as something that needs an answer, ideally immediately. What we have learned though, and what we will continue to learn, challenge that idea. What I want to leave with all of you is simple. Value change. Embrace challenge. Trust your journey. Know that fear is ever-present, but manageable. And remember that what is meant for you WILL find you if you continue to move with intention and persistence. Thank you.”

Getting to the center of the graduation ceremony, Senior Elijah Vasconcelos stepped to the microphone to offer his high honors speech, his Valedictory Address. He is the Woodsville Valedictorian for the class of 2026. He plans to study aerospace engineering.

He said, "As I stand here today, I am reminded of a book I first read in 5th grade, my first year in New Hampshire."

“The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a children’s book about a tree and a boy. The boy climbs the tree's branches, picks its apples, and rests in its shade. As the boy grows older, he keeps returning to the tree to ask for things. He picks its apples to sell, takes its branches to build a house, and cuts down its trunk to build a boat and sail away. In the end, the tree, reduced to a stump, offers its now old and frail friend a place to sit and rest for a while. And the tree was happy.”

“I believe we can all relate to the boy. But our trees don't grow leaves and apples."

"Our trees are the ones who packed our lunches and drove us to school before we could do so ourselves. They are the ones who helped us with our homework until we no longer needed help. They are the ones who showed up to soccer games and concerts without fail sacrificing sleep and time for our benefit, never once asking for recognition."

Valedictorian Vasconselos said that after today, “as we step into a larger world, we are not losing our families. Instead, we are carrying them with us in our work ethic, our resilience and our integrity. They are with us in the way we won’t quit when college gets hard. They are with us in our choice of a career.”

His speech was dedicated to the class families. “To the families of the class of 2026 – especially my own – this accomplishment is as much yours as it is ours. Thank you for being our trees.”

Others recognized as outstanding students from the class of 2026, Third Honors went to Ryan Walker, and fourth honors went to Grace McLellan. The top CTE Student was Dylan Marshall.

WHS Principal Coon and Assistant Principal Matthew Kelly presented scholarship awards to the Class of 2026, followed by the presentation of diplomas to the Class of 2026 by Haverhill Cooperative School Board Chair Sabrina Brown and Michelle Reagan.

The combined Class of 2026 and the WHS Band played and sang the school song, “On King’s Plain.” Graduate Ryan Walker offered the Farewell Address, tassels on the students’ mortarboards were turned, indicating that they were now graduates, not undergraduates.

They queued up and marched off the field to the congratulations, group photography and some gifts from parents and relatives. It was a happy occasion for all.

Class of 2026 Graduates include:

Leon Manuel Alcala, Samuel Milton Aldrich, Trenton James Alling, Isaiha Anderson, Riley Elizabeth Boutin, Thomas Gabriel Boutin, Jada Rose Brill, Jayde Lynn Brown-Colby, Trey Edward Colangelo, Morgan Elizabeth Crocker x, Kiarrali Minerva Cruz, Marion Jefferson Cummins Jr , Gavin Joseph Michael Davidson x, Josephine Iza Drake, Addison Jane Eck +x, Riley Marshall Emmerton x, Alyssia Maria Fenn x, Mason Lance Furyes, Felix Demetrio Garcia +, Eyrleigh Sedona Hambrick + x,. Katherine Ellen Houston x, Justin Sean Hutchins, Caleb David Ilsley, Kaleb Joseph Johnson, Cowan Peter Kimball x, Korina Lynne L’Heureux, Gavin Frederick Lakin, Dylan James Marshall +^ x, Taylor Ann McFarland, Grace Mae McLellan ^ x, Anthony Michael Mencia, Madison Leighann Monterosso, Savannah Marie Murray, Ethan Jacob Nalette, Wyatt Christopher Perkins, Michael Patrick Plachetzki , Gabriel Fernand Roy x, Jillian Iona Roy x, Kody Nickolas Sherman, Collin Michael Smith, Jaden Robert Ste. Marie, Shubh Ashishkumar Suthar , Ciarra Jasmine Therrien, Cassidy Ann Thompson , Calvin Staszek Tice, Elijah Roy Vasconcelos ^ x, Makayla Lyn Walker ^ x, Ryan Douglas Walker ^ x, Shawn Gavin Walker, Jameson Stephen Willard.

Key to Honors

*National Honor Society Members, ^ Magna Cum Laude, +National Vocational Technical Honor Society Members, +^Magna Cum Laude for RBCTC, x NH State Pin - Graduate met the requirement for an “Academic Diploma with Distinction.”