Silver Creek Central School District celebrated its 74th annual commencement by encouraging the 64 graduating seniors to put in the hard work and seize the day.  

On Friday, the Class of 2026 proceeded to the stage to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance” and the program began with the National Anthem sung by senior chorus members. A traditional Seneca opening performed by senior Amirya Warrior and Encouragement in Seneca was said by Hailie Rybij. The senior chorus also performed the song, “Time,” by Lucy Cook.   

Superintendent Dr. Katie Ralston welcomed graduates and their families, offering advice from the song “For Good,” from the musical, Wicked. 

“Look around at your classmates. Look at the families, teachers, friends, and mentors who helped you reach this moment. Every one of them has shaped who you are, and you have shaped us. Let them help you – help them in return,” she said.  

Salutatorian Samuel Bowers thanked the teachers, coaches, mentors and family members who supported the Class of 2026 on their journey.  

“All of us reached this point in our own way and that is incredible. Some of us gained determination through athletics, some of us became perfectionists through academics, and some of us have already started to master our trades. We have all grown as people in our own ways. If there is one thing that I’ve learned these last few years of high school it’s this. Getting knocked down only hurts if you don’t get back up stronger,’ he said.  

Valedictorian Nathan Cross explained that he had no new advice for his peers that they had not already learned from the “life coaches” they had throughout the last four years.  

“Our teachers taught us math, English, history, and science. But in reality, they taught us much more than that,” he said. “They taught us confidence by believing in us before we believed in ourselves. They challenged us because they knew we were capable of more than we thought. And most importantly, they celebrated our accomplishments, making us feel proud of what we’ve done. Years from now I probably won't remember every equation I solved or every essay I’ve written. But I’ll remember the teachers who expected more from me than I expected from myself.” 

Teachers weren’t their only life coaches, Cross said, also thanking family and friends.  

“Our friends and family have been some of the greatest life coaches we could ask for, not because they always had the perfect advice, but because they were simply there for us. They listened when we needed someone to talk to and reminded us that we never had to face challenges alone,” he said. “So tonight, on behalf of the class of 2026, I’d like to thank all our life coaches who took on this role whether they realized it or not. Because of them, something happened that we probably didn’t even notice: we became experts.” 

Dr. John Falcone, Class of 1998 valedictorian, addressed the Class of 2026. Falcone attended Cornell University and the University at Pittsburgh to go on to become a surgeon. He was active in cross-country and music when he attended SCCS and continues both hobbies as a marathon runner and a musician for an independent Christian rock music ministry called Falcone Rising.  

“My piece of advice for you guys is to keep an open mind when it comes to the future. ... When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a bus driver. ... That's what I wanted to do. But keep an open mind. At class night, I didn’t know what I was going to do when I was older. I probably would have said that I was going to be a math, physics or science teacher. ... I didn't know. I just kept an open mind,” he said. “It was in my college years that I got very close to my grandmother, who had ovarian cancer. And that turned my eyes toward the medical field. ... I got into a really good medical school, and if you would have asked me what kind of doctor I was going to be my first day, I would have said, I don't know. ... And at the end of it, surgery was just the best fit for me. ... If you think about it, I do bring two of my kids to and from school a couple days a week, so I kind of am a part-time bus driver. I have medical students in surgical trainings with me during the course of the year, and so ... I am a teacher. So, I kind of am all the things that I thought I would be, just not the way I thought.” 

The ceremony ended with diplomas and handshakes from the board of education and Principal Heather Krystofiak led the traditional turning of the tassels.  

“Take a moment to reflect on how far you've come. Think back to your first school days, and look at yourselves now: confident, accomplished, and ready to make your mark on the world. That transformation didn't happen by accident. It came from your hard work, your willingness to learn, and your courage,” Principal Krystofiak said.  

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!