WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=jRvP-_fGsoA

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: jRvP-_fGsoA):
- 00:00:28: Principal's Welcome and Introduction to the Ceremony
- 00:01:59: Senior Class President Address - Andrea May Jones
- 00:05:25: Salutatorian Address - Amara Reed's Reflections
- 00:08:23: Valedictorian Address - Noah Parker's Gratitude, Advice
- 00:13:27: Introduction of Graduation Speaker, Mayor Paul Young
- 00:17:48: Mayor Paul Young's Speech - Memphis Needs You
- 00:29:47: Presentation of the Class of 2026, Awarding Diplomas
- 00:32:48: Recognition of Justice Salsbury, Honorary Diploma
- 00:35:03: Reading of Graduates Names and Diploma Ceremony
- 00:43:24: Class of 2026 Recites Invictus Poem, Concluding Remarks


Part: 1

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Good evening, Mustang Nation. I know you all can do better than that. This is a celebration. Good evening, Mustang nation. I would like to welcome each and every one of you to the 2026 commencement

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ceremony for a phenomenal group of young people. They were my first group coming into the principal ship and we have definitely had some highs and lows but they have helped me to grow as an individual as an administrator and I'm

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so very proud of each and every one of them. I hope you all see the group of distinguished guests that are here for you today. We've got the mayor. We have the regional superintendent, our board chair. We have directors, chiefs, all

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for you because each and every one of you are special. I hope that you all enjoy tonight's ceremony as we celebrate each of the members of the class of 2026. So, enjoy. Let's celebrate this

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evening and have a phenomenal time. We are going to begin our ceremony this evening with our senior class address from our senior class president. You all might know her as May, but I'm going to call her Miss Andrea.

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If you could come on up, Miss Jones, and give your senior class their bit of due. Hello friends, family, special guests, and most of all, the Memphis East class of 2026. Welcome to graduation. My name is Andrea May Jones, and I have had the

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honor of being the class president for the seniors this year. First off, I want to address the guests. Whatever your role is, you're here because of your relationships with one of the students I've had the honor of going to school with for the past few years. I want to thank you for the support you

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provided. Maybe that was in the form of sitting and helping through homework, giving rides to school or practice, or any new extracurricular, being a shoulder to cry on, or your senior's biggest fan. We could not be where we are today without some form of support system to get us through it. So, for that, thank you. This day is meaningful

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to the guests in a different way than it is to us students. This is the day you will see your child, cousin, teammate, best friend, or whoever walk the stage and get their diploma, literally and figuratively, crossing that milestone and stepping into a new chapter of life. A graduation can mean so much in so many

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different ways. So, whatever makes today special for you and your senior, hold on to it and remember it. This day is the consummation of y'all's support and will be revered in such a special light. So, cheer as loud as you can and take all the pictures. This is graduation. Now, for the guests of honor, the

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seniors and soon to be graduates. Our lives, as we know it, have been defined by school. For better or worse, the 8:15 to 3:15 bells have run clear and true every day of all of our lives for the past 12 years. Maybe today is the mark of the last day of schooling you'll ever do. Or maybe it's the first diploma you'll receive of many. Whatever your

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future holds, this day will be a notable memory for the rest of your life, like a core memory from the movie Inside Out. This day will be preserved in a little golden orb in all of our minds. It's okay to cry or laugh or do whatever feels right throughout these next few hours. This is your graduation and your special day. Walk the stage with pride and remember all the effort that went

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into getting to this point. You worked so hard to get here and I am so so proud of all of us. We've had so many experiences through East this year with prom, the lockin, and all of our senior events. And then all the memories over the years. Maybe you're graduating with your drones license or hours accumulated in Mr. Brown's shop. Or you spent your

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time in art or the kitchen. Maybe you racked up AP credits suffering through chemistry, calculus, or any of the other anxietyinducing subjects. Or you devoted yourself to the gym or the field or the track. Whatever your takeaway is, you've ended up here sitting next to someone who probably has completely different memories from their time at East.

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Whatever your personal perspective is, we're all here together. We're all here as part of the Memphis East class of 2026. We all have so many aspirations we're constantly striving towards. But for tonight, I want everyone to forget about those and just take a step back. I'm not saying to lower your standards or lose sight of your goals, but just

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acknowledge the achievement you're fulfilling right now. Graduation is a once in a-lifetime thing. High school might only be four years of your life. They're years that form and shape you and they're over now. Tonight is the culmination of all your achievements from the past 12 years. So breathe and take it in. Acknowledge what

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you have done and be proud of yourself. For the next couple hours, just sit and appreciate your accomplishments. We did it, guys. At this time, we will have our saludiatoran address. If I could get Miss Amara Reed to come on up.

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>> Good evening, family, friends, teachers, and class of 2026. My name is Amara Reid and I'm so honored to be delivering this speech as a 2026 Saludiatoran. I'm so happy to to be able to finally say we made it. No one's journey has been the

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exact same. I mean, I know I for one didn't leave high school with the same people I came in with, except for my amazing, intelligent, talented, beautiful best friends, Deja and Juel, who I am so thankful for. This class is filled with so many remarkable students

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and gifted students. I'd even argue that we're one of the best classes that Memphis East has ever had. >> Despite the challenges that we faced this year as a senior class, we still managed to make the most of it and have fun along the way. Before I entered 12th grade, I had heard from many people

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years before that 12th grade is the hardest. After going through the challenges that I experienced in 11th grade, I just didn't believe them. However, what I quickly learned was that although 11th grade was academically hard, where I spent so many late nights studying for AP Chem, writing essay

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after essay for AP Lang, and completing readings for AP African-American studies, none of it compared to the daunting decisions we had to make in senior year as 17 and 18year-olds that would affect us for the rest of our lives. These past four years have been an experience I'm glad I only have to go

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through once. I never want to go through AP testing again. I never want to take eight classes in a day again. And to be honest, I never want to ask to go to the bathroom again. But all those small inconveniences can't compare to the things that I will miss.

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I'll miss that last week of junior year where I had the most fun with my class, but ended with a bittersweet goodbye to my favorite teacher, Miss Foron. I'll miss when we had the Memphis East height man and our very own 67 boys at our pep rallies. But what these experiences, but this is

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what these experiences are all about. Getting to look back on the tragic and cherishable moments that help us shape what we want the rest of our lives to be like. Like Katie Herren from Mean Girls wisely said, "The limit does not exist." Out of context, I think this quote pretty much sums up the power that we

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have over the rest of our lives. It's so freeing to know that we're able to choose the next decision, the next moment, and the next memory. This is truly only the beginning. So, what I would say to you, class of 2026, is don't hold anything back. Life is short,

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and for now, for the most part, now that we're adults, the only thing holding us back is ourselves. Be proud of yourself for making it this far and don't ever give up. With that being said, I'd now like to introduce the class of 2026, valadictorian, Noah Parker.

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Yep. Thanks, Grayson. Yeah. Um, hi everybody. I'm Noah Parker. I know you all have really busy schedules, so I'm glad that you're all able to make it out tonight to help celebrate the class of 2026. So, can we get a round of applause for that? All right. So, um, before I get started,

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there are a few people that I want to thank first. So, of course, I'm going to thank my parents. Um, my mom has spent the last 18 years of my life being the most caring, involved, and supportive woman imaginable. She was always there when I needed help with a project or came down with some sickness. She always

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knew about the school's events and activities, sometimes before I did, and she just pushed me to stay involved and keep myself active. My dad has also been very important not just my entire life but the last four years especially. He's one of the most driven, determined, disciplined people I know, and I can

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only hope that these qualities were passed down to me. Watching him the last four years has inspired me to be better than I thought I could be. He is the standard by which I judge my success and I don't think I'd be where I am without him. I also want to thank all of my amazing teachers I've had here at East. Um, Miss Wharton, Dr. Dancy, Miss

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Walters, Coach AC, Mr. Kimler, Mr. Madison, Mr. Dage and many more were all great teachers to me. Whether it was how they taught, what they taught, or just who they were as people, they all stand out as what made the school special. I remember Miss Foron would spend hours after school and tutoring with me, even

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if I was the only one there. Dr. Dancy would always push me in class, know what I more than what I did the day before, and Miss Walters created an environment in her classroom where I could use my special skill of talking too much to contribute to her discussions. I believe that learning is only half the battle. To excel, people need great

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people willing to teach as well. And I'm thankful that I had that here. Finally, I want to thank some of my peers that I feel deserve a special shout out. So, Kate Ashby, Amara Reed, May Jones, Deja Brandon, and Sam Leowitz, I want to thank you specifically. These are the

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people that I would message at 11:00 at night asking if we had homework for a certain class or when I needed help remembering a certain formula or couldn't figure out how to work a certain problem. And no matter how late it was, they still responded. sometimes like 20 30 minutes late, but you know, they responded. So, they helped me when

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I often needed the most. And so, I want to thank them for that. Now, while I'm thankful for the experiences, opportunities, and people here at East, they only make what we're doing here tonight harder. Because tonight isn't just a celebration. Tonight is a transition. Tonight is the last step of one very long journey and

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the first step of one that's just beginning. When we leave here tonight, we aren't just leaving this building. We're leaving our friends, our routines, our comfortable, consistent lives that we spent years creating, all to venture out to new frontiers. After today, real life sets in and it will push us all

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every which way. Some of our paths may intersect, others may never meet again. And although no one knows all the places you'll go, no matter where you end up, I want to offer you all some advice. The first piece of advice I want to give you is to cherish the people that surround you. We spent four years, that's 1,460

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days together, all in the same city, most of which were spent all in the same building. And in that time, many of us have grown close to each other. Some of us were strangers until this school year, and some of us are strangers to each other even now. While I won't claim to have a personal connection with each and every one of you, I can say that I

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appreciate each of you for the contributions you made to our class. Your laughs, your jokes, your compliments, your smiles, you all brought something valuable. And it's my hope that as you move on and find yourself in new unfamiliar environments, you will learn to appreciate these things, too. My second piece of advice

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is to keep an open mind. I know that this is a big accomplishment, and it's easy to let it go to your head and feel like you're done with everything, but we still have so much to learn. There are things you don't know you don't know. So, as you continue on your journey, stay open to being taught a thing or

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two. My final piece of advice for you, class of 2026, is to find your passion. I know that that's a bit cliche, but it really is one of the most important things that you can do with your life. I'm fortunate enough to have found my passion in flying here at East. And I hope that as we take the torch of

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adulthood, you will find a passion that challenges you to go beyond the great expectations placed on you. That you will take these passions and not just make them your own, but use them to inspire those behind you to pursue their own dreams. I'm a firm believer in the idea that once your dreams come true, it's your turn to offer them to others.

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So wherever you go, you should impress. Wherever you meet, you should inspire. And in whatever you do, your goal should be to amaze, amaze, amaze. Thank you very much. Good evening graduates, families, faculty, staff, and honored guests.

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Tonight, we celebrate the class of 2026. A class that may be small in number but a truly mighty mighty talented and very high in leadership and achievement.

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This class has given us so much to be proud of. Among them are 18 members of the 30 plus club, one student with a perfect ACT score, one national

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one national merit scholar, four seal of biiteracy recipients and one seal of multi-iteracy recipient. They have also represented us with excellence beyond the classroom,

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including an AutoZone Liberty Bowl high school all-star game participant, a Tennessee Allstar girls soccer team player. I know.

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And a top 10 athlete in the district. And together, the class of 2026 has earned an outstanding scholarship total of $9 million 226,336. graduates. These accomplishments are a

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reflection of your hard work, your determination, your family support, and the dedication of the educators who have poured into you along the way. Class of 2026,

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we are incredibly proud of each of you. As you move forward, continue to lead with purpose, work with excellence, and remember that your size never determines your impact. You have already proven

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that you are small but mighty. Congratulations. At this time, it is my pleasure to introduce our graduation speaker, the Honorable Paul Young, mayor of the city of Memphis.

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Mayor Young is not only the leader of our city, but he is also a proud Memphian, a husband, a father, and an alumnest of East High School. So today, he's not just speaking to our graduates as the mayor, but as someone

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who once walked these same halls and understands what this moment means. He was sworn in as mayor on January 1st, 2024 with a vision to help make Memphis stronger, safer, and better for every

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person who calls this city home. Long before becoming mayor, he was already doing the work of serving Memphis. Through his leadership with the Downtown Memphis Commission and the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development, he worked to strengthen neighborhoods, support

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families, and create spaces where people could live, grow, and thrive. Mayor Young's journey shows our graduates what's possible when education, purpose, and service come together. He earned a degree in

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electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee along with degrees in urban and regional planning and business administration from the University of Memphis. Today, he continues to lead with the belief that the future of Memphis depends on

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investing in our people, our students, and graduates. That most certainly includes you. So, at this time, please join me in giving a warm Memphis East welcome to one of our very own Mustangs

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and the mayor of Memphis, Paul Young. >> Thank you. Thank you for that amazing introduction. And I'm just so honored to be here uh in this moment. And I was sitting there taking it all in as uh I was hearing about the scholarships and

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hearing uh the class representatives speak and it's just so amazing to be here and see you all in this moment. And yeah, man. All right. So, I have a lot of prepared remarks, but oftent times when I get in front of groups, I just

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like to go where the spirit takes me. So, I'mma I'mma mix it all up if that's all right with y'all. All right. Yeah, y'all can loosen up. This is a celebration for Oh, y can y'all give it up for these young people. This is graduation night, so we going to loosen

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up a little bit. There we go. Uh to the faculty and staff of East High, thank you all for uh pouring into our young people and what you do every single day. Uh to the families, young people, can we give it up for our families right now?

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You all made it families. your sacrifice, your prayers, your presence, it's all up on this stage tonight. So take this moment. This is for you. And to the East High class of 2026, welcome to the rest of your life.

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You are ready for what comes next and we are ready to welcome you to the work of creating a better Memphis. Um, I want to start off by just telling you a little bit about me, uh, in my journey. Uh, I sat exactly where you are

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right now. I walked the exact same halls as you at East High School many years ago. I won't say I'll say I tell you it was class of 97. Class of 1997. All right. There goes somebody. All right. All right. There we go. 97 in

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the building. And two of my classmates are actually here. One of them text me. If you saw me on my phone, it was because she text me. And that was Shayla Green Williamson. And then Landa Johnson, whose daughter is graduating, Carrington Johnson. Shout out to

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Carrington. So Carrington, me and your mom went to school together. Uh and and what I will tell you is this school made me everything that I am. Uh it was here that I decided that I wanted to be an engineer. Uh that took me to the University of Tennessee Knoxville and

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eventually it took me into urban planning because I realized that the most important thing that we could ever build wasn't just a structure, it was community. And that led me to being mayor of Memphis. And let me tell you that nowhere on my cards was being

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mayor. When I was sitting where you were sitting, there was nowhere in my sighteline. I wasn't thinking about being mayor. And I don't say that to impress you. I just say that to tell you because every step of your journey from

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school to where you will be in the long term and where I am right now sitting in this office, it's been about one thing and that's been service. Service to the city, service to neighborhoods, and service to people. The degrees changed, the titles changed, but the decision

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that I made as a teenager sitting right where you are to do something that mattered for other people, that never changed. Uh, and I'll just tell a quick story. I'm not going to take too long because I know we're trying to get to the to the passing out diplomas, but I had this moment when I graduated from

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college. When you graduate from college, you just assume that your job is going to be waiting on you. But it just so happened that it wasn't waiting on me. And so, I had to work a lot of different jobs. And I graduated and I I was down because I had friends that had gone on

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and they were doing other things and they had moved to other cities. And I was back here and my parents are both preachers and my mom just happened to be preaching one ser one Sunday and I was sitting in the back and the title of her sermon was called the purpose-driven

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life and what she said in her sermon changed my life. You know I had just graduated with a degree in it electrical engineering couldn't find the job that I wanted. Wasn't sure if that's what I wanted to do. And when she was preaching it was like one of those moments when a spotlight shines on you and you feel

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like it's just you and that person talking. And when my mom was preaching, she said that God's purpose for your life will never be about you. I'm going to say it again. God's purpose for your life will never be about you.

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His purpose for your life will always be about someone else. And that changed my whole trajectory. I started thinking about what can I do with my life where I can do something for somebody else but still earn a good living. And I decided that I wanted to help rebuild neighborhoods in the city that I love,

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which is Memphis. And that set me on a whole different path. And God does a funny thing. My dream job was to be the housing director for the city of Memphis. And in 2016, it happened. And there was a long journey to get there, but it's a funny thing that happens

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because once you achieve a goal, then God will move the flag just a little bit further. And he'll push you further than you thought you would go. And I say all that to say that you might not have it all figured out just yet. You might not know exactly what you want to do. You

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might have already enrolled in school or technical school or have your your job lined up. All of those things matter. But you don't have to have all of the pages written just yet because if you just take the next logical steps, then

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you will get where God has you to go, has for you to go. Now, I want to just jump into this really quick. Some of you might feel like Memphis isn't for you. Maybe you heard it from somebody who meant well. Maybe you heard

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them whispered in the back of your and you hear whispering in the back of your own mind at night. But if you really, really want to make it, you might feel like you might need to leave. You might feel like Atlanta's calling your name or Nashville's booming or

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Houston's got an opportunity. And those are great cities. But I can't stand in front of young people without reminding you that Memphis needs you. Memphis needs your talent. We need your insight. We need your knowledge.

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And those cities, they're they're great places. They are. But Memphis is special. And Memphis is special because of you. We want you to be the next medical researcher who changes outcomes for sand families all across the planet. We want

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you to be the next AI programmer. We want you making sure that we're using technology for good. We want you to be the entrepreneur that builds here something here that changes the world like FedEx did or like St. Jude did or everyone that uh came to do sing the

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blues and soul and rock and roll and hiphop. All of those things made Memphis a global powerhouse. And that kind of innovation is in our city's DNA. And that innovation is in you as well. We need future city council members, future mayors, future school principles. We

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need future business owners. We need people who are ready to transform neighborhoods. And in Memphis, that's not just a fantasy. That's attainable. It's possible. And it's waiting. So, I want you all to go. I want you to learn. I want you to get everything that the

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world has to offer you. And then I want you to come back. I want you to come back and I want you to build here. I want you to create here. I want you to invent here. I want you to invest here. I want you to uplift right here in Memphis because this is a city who isn't

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waiting for someone else from somewhere else to do the work. We want our people that were born and bred here to come back and change the world here. I also want to be honest with you because you deserve honesty tonight as much as you

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deserve applause. You still have some work to do and that's completely okay because almost nobody's ready at 18. I think most of us sitting in the back would have would attest to that. I know I wasn't. But what tonight means is that you have been cleared for takeoff.

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The runway is ahead of you. College, trade school, military, entrepreneurship, whatever path you have chosen. And what you do on that runway is going to determine everything. So here's what I need you to do with the time between now and when you come back or step up to lead. I want you to grow

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with purpose. Don't let life just happen to you. Seek out people who challenge you. Put yourself in rooms where you're uncomfortable. I want you to study hard. I want you to fail forward. And when Memphis calls, and it will call, be ready to answer. And I want to speak to

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something else tonight. But I want to speak to the power and importance of lived experience. Some of you have seen and lived through some hard things. You've navigated neighborhoods, situations, and pressures that most people will never understand. And you

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showed up anyway. You studied anyway. You graduated anyway. And that's not a small thing. That's a mighty thing. Your lived experience is going to make you stronger. It's going to make you more empathetic and more world ready. So I don't want you to be apologetic about

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your path. In fact, your path has given you a real superpower. Uh one of the things that I've learned on this journey, I I used to get intimidated when I go in rooms with, you know, powerful people or smart people or people that you think are cool. You feel somewhat of intimidation until I

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realized one thing. No matter how smart the person is that you're interacting with, no matter how cool they are, they still don't have your experience, your background is special. So when you walk in any room, this gives me confidence wherever I go cuz no matter how smart

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they are, they still hadn't been through what I've been through. And so your story is enough. And I want you to know that if your path wasn't always easy, don't count yourself out. know that it makes you prepared in ways that other people are not. And so as you close this

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chapter and open the next one, I want to leave you with three things. I want you to dream bigger than what you've seen, your zip code is not your ceiling, your circumstances are not your conclusion. The fact that you've seen someone who looks like you doing what you want to do

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doesn't the fact whether you've seen it seen it happen from somebody you've known or not it doesn't mean that it can't be done. It means that you're the one who's supposed to do it first. Number two, I want you to serve something bigger than yourself.

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Most fulfilled people I know are not the ones who chase the biggest check paychecks. They're the ones who found something worth fighting for and poured themselves into it. So, I want you to find your cause, find your community. I want you to give back before you think

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you're ready. If you go away, come home. If you stay, jump in. I want you to go learn, grow, but remember that your city wants you here. If you go, come back to Memphis with what you've gathered because we are building something here

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right now. I am building something here and a table that we're setting is being set for you all. We're making this city worthy of what you're going to become and when you come back, we need you at the table. So, class of 2026, you are

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East High. You are Memphis. You are proof that this city produces greatness. And tonight is just the beginning. Congratulations. I'm proud of you. This city is proud of you. Now, go show the world what a Memphian can do. Thank you

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all so much. At this time, if I could get Mrs. Natalie McKenna to come forward as I present the class of 2026 in preparation for awarding diplomas. Good evening everyone,

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family, friends, and to the class of East Tide 2026. By the power vested in me by the state of Tennessee and Memphis Shelby County Schools, I hereby release diplomas to be

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awarded to the members of the 2026 graduating class of Memphis East T STEM Academy. Congratulations. So at this time, parents, I want you all to take the next 60 seconds to give your

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loudest clap, your loudest scream for the class of 2026. We want to make the walls shake for the greatness that sits before us. We want the city of Memphis to know that these

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scholars are headed their way and they are doing great things the Mustang way. Congratulations. All right. Thank you so much, Mustang Nation. Thank you,

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families. As we begin to call the names, we want to ensure that every family member can hear their child, their family member's name called as they cross the stage. If you all could please assist us in making

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sure you leave your applause, you hold it until the very end so that every student is heard, is seen, and is acknowledged as they take their walk across the stage. for the class of 2026.

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Justice Salsbury. I would like to take a moment as the Salsberries are walking up. Some of you may or may not know that this class has endured a great deal their very first year in high school. Today we take a

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moment to recognize a member of this class whose journey with us was far too short, but whose impact will never be forgotten. Justice began her high school journey with the class of 2026, bringing with her dreams, potential, and

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a presence that mattered deeply to those who knew her. Though she is not here with us physically, her spirit remains woven into the fabric of this class. in the friendships she formed, the

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smiles she shared, and the memories that continue to live on in the hearts of her classmates, her teachers, and her family. An honorary diploma is not just a symbol of what could have been, but a

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recognition of who she was and the place you will always hold in our hearts. Today we honor her life, her light, and the legacy she leaves behind. Mr. and Mrs. Salsbury,

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please know that we stand with you in remembrance and in love. And to the class of 2026, may we carry Justice's memory forward with kindness and with purpose and with

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gratitude for every single day. Justice is our butterfly in the sky and she will always be remembered and a part of this class. So, if we could please have a moment of silence as we celebrate justice today.

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Thank you. Okay. >> Noah Parker, Amara Reed, Andrea Jones, Michaela Horn, Deja Brandon, Abigail Engel, Catherine Ashby,

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Leila Brown, Romy Walkley, Carson Archer, Denise Agiraa, Muhammad Almanseri, Aiden Anderson, Madison Bailey, Tracy Barrett, Phoenix Battle,

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Maline Bearden, Triana Boatman, Briana Bradford, Aubrey Bernie Wilbanks, Juliana Casemayor, Parker Cole,

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Kelsey Connley, Anna Cook, Evelyn Cruz, Akuna, Kevin Cruz, Michaela Cummings, Natalie Davis,

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Trice Davis, Maita Dervo Fitzgerald, Jonathan Dorch, Sophie Doss, Houston Elim, Kevin Barrow, Carly Foster,

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Sean Gideon, Vanessa Gomez, Jeremy Gray, Jamila Griffin, Cedric Hall, Namazi Hampton,

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Nicholas Harrison, Addison Hines, Alicia Holidayiday, Michaela Holmes, Ariana Herd, Carrington Johnson, Kelyn Johnson,

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Marissa Johnson, Caitlyn Jones, Giovani Wararez de Laaloo, Finnen Kirk, Samuel Liowitz,

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Ethan Maldonado, Miller Manning, Sharia McCullum, Montterius McCroy, Zion McCarter, Jacob Meyer,

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Juel Morris, Darren Moss, Homer Nahara, Kayn Nixon, Jity Olgian, Caitlyn Parker, Zuri Pal, Brandon Payne, Calvon Register,

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Tia Richmond, Geraldine Rivera, Dylan Ran, Grayson Rodriguez, Gabrielle Ross, Tristan Rubin, Anthony Roupert, Judah Sandlin, Chloe Sanford,

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Aaron Schmmedi, Abraham Segao, Kyla Shelton, Ana Sims, Ashley Sinkfield, Titus Smith, Zuri Smith, Shamaya Springfield,

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Jasmine Settles, Kavon Sykes, Gyron Thompson, Samantha Thompson, Samuel Thornton, Maggie Towns, Messiah Turner,

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Nathan Varel, Jack Ward, Wim wear, Lindsay Whe and Jaden Woodis. All right, family. There's one thing we have to do before we finish. You all know what it is.

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If I could get the class of 2026 to send stand with me as we recite Invictus. Oh, y'all say it every year. It's in your program if you don't remember, but you all should.

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All right, class of 2026. Out of the night that covers me, black as a pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul. In the failed clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor

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cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is blooded but unbound. Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms, but the horror of the shade, and the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how

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straight the gauge, how I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul. Class of 2026, at this time, if you would please move your tassel from the

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right side to the left. It is official. I welcome each of you alumnest of Memphis East T STEM Academy. I would like to thank each and every one of you for joining us this evening as we

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celebrate this group of young people. I hope you all have a lot of fun tonight, but be safe. I thank each of you. I'm appreciative of each of you. Go forth and be great.

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Thank you. This concludes our ceremony. some ice to everyone What you doing? 2 2 Number two, >> no. people sit right there.

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>> Oh, okay.