WEST LIBERTY, OH — West Liberty-Salem Schools proudly celebrated the Class of 2026 during the district’s 65th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Ninety-two seniors crossed the stage to receive their diplomas surrounded by family, friends, staff, and community members. The ceremony opened with welcomes from High School Principal Dr. Greg Johnson and Superintendent Mr. Kraig Hissong. Class officer Amani Grantham welcomed the audience on behalf of the graduates and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and High School Counselor Mrs. Molly Smith recognized the Top 10 Seniors of the graduating class. Dr. Johnson introduced Salutatorian Emma Smith, who delivered her address titled “Stepping Outside of Our Comfort Zone.” Co-Valedictorian Geneva Estep followed with her speech, “Dear Younger Me,” and Co-Valedictorian Dylan King concluded the student addresses with “What’s at the Finish Line?” Closing remarks were delivered by class officer Emery Longaberger before Garrett Wallen led the traditional moving of the tassels. Musical selections throughout the evening were provided by the West Liberty-Salem Band under the direction of Mr. Paul Waibel and the West Liberty-Salem Choir directed by Miss Anastasia Hiatt.
The Class of 2026 leaves West Liberty-Salem with an impressive record of academic achievement and future readiness. Of the graduating class: • 46% will attend a four-year college or university • 13% will attend a community college or trade school • 36% will enter the workforce • 5% will serve in a branch of the United States Armed Forces
The class also achieved remarkable success through the College Credit Plus (CCP) program. Collectively, the Class of 2026 earned 1,577 free college semester hours, representing more than $551,000 in tuition savings based on the average tuition rate of a four-year public university. In total, 55 seniors earned college credit during high school, averaging 28 semester hours per student and saving nearly $10,000 each toward future college degrees.
The academic leaders of the Class of 2026 were recognized as: • Co-Valedictorians: Dylan King and Geneva Estep • Salutatorian: Emma Smith • #4: Emery Longaberger • #5: Lyndee Harrison • #6: Elijah Christison • Tied #7: Levi Miller and Victoria Douthwaite • #9: Caleb Ling • #10: Brevin Louden
Military Recognition: • Ohio Air National Guard – Sam Strapp • U.S. Army Reserves – Tevis Cox, Bradley Petry, and Jake Lauck
Special Awards & Scholarships: • “That Tiger” – $500 – Brock Burgel • “That Tiger” – $500 – Sadie Paul • Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000 – Geneva Estep • Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000 – Dylan King • Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000 – Emma Smith • Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000 – Emery Longaberger • Governor’s Merit Scholarship – $20,000 – Lyndee Harrison Scholarship Presentations: • Bellefontaine Rotary Club – $1,000 – Ella Vondenhuevel • Beth Brown Memorial – $1,500 – Kaylee Blair • Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000 – Brock Burgel • Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000 – Naomi Cole • Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000 – Lyndee Harrison • Beth Brown Memorial – $1,000 – Marisa Smith • Birt Family – $1,000 – Levi Miller • Birt Family – $1,000 – Elijah Christison • Birt Family – $1,000 – Marisa Smith • Birt Family – $1,000 – Ava Astorino • Birt Family – $1,000 – Lyndee Harrison • Birt Family – $1,000 – Geneva Estep • Birt Family – $1,000 – Caleb Larson • Birt Family – $1,000 – Gavyn Greenhill • Birt Family – $1,000 – Kaylee Powell • Birt Family – $1,000 – Abbie Thoman • Champaign County Cattlemen’s/TC Memorial – $1,500 – Cooper Titus • Champaign County Cattlemen’s/TC Memorial – $1,500 – Ella Vondenhuevel • Champaign Logan Education Foundation – $16,000 – Alayna Hackley • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Brock Burgel • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Naomi Cole • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Ava Astorino • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Lyndee Harrison • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Levi Miller • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Kaylee Powell • Christy Knotts and Ranae Donohoe Memorial – $1,000 – Dylan King • Civista Bank – $500 – Olivia Deere • Clara F. Beck Trust – $2,000 – Sadie Paul • Columbus Foundation Matthew Curtis Roach Memorial – $2,000 – Cooper Titus • Columbus Foundation Mary “Betsy” E. Rueb Memorial – $26,000 – Cooper Titus • Grimes Foundation – $2,500 – Ava Astorino • Grimes Foundation – $2,500 – Lyndee Harrison • Headings Family – $1,000 – Brock Burgel • Headings Family – $1,000 – Naomi Cole • Headings Family – $1,000 – Lyndee Harrison • Headings Family – $1,000 – Marisa Smith • James & Pat FitzRandolph/WL-S Educational Foundation – $500 – Kaylee Blair • James & Pat FitzRandolph/WL-S Educational Foundation – $500 – Levi Miller • James Forsythe Milroy Foundation – $2,500 – Cooper Titus • Jillian Ripley Fund – $500 – Lyndee Harrison • Junior Achievement – $1,000 – Abbie Thoman • Lions Club – Rushsylvania – $1,000 – Kaylee Blair • Lions Club – West Liberty – $1,000 – Ava Astorino • Lions Club – West Liberty – $1,000 – Kaylee Powell • Lions Club – West Liberty – $1,000 – Taylor Cook • Lions Club – West Liberty – $1,000 – Dylan King • Lions Club – West Liberty – $1,000 – Cooper Titus • Lions Club – West Liberty – $1,000 – Abbie Thoman • Logan County Electric Cooperative – $2,500 – Levi Miller • Logan County Electric Cooperative – $1,500 – Breece Gullett • Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000 – Addyson Mattox • Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000 – Breece Gullett • Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000 – Lyndee Harrison • Mary Rutan Foundation Dr. Joseph C. and Florence C. Longfellow Memorial – $1,000 – Marisa Smith • Masonic 15th District – $1,500 – Cooper Titus • Matthew Calland Memorial – $1,000 – Alayna Hackley • Matthew Calland Memorial – $1,000 – Cooper Titus • Matthew Calland Memorial – $1,000 – Ella Vondenhuevel • Meghan Vogel – $1,000 – Brevin Louden • Michael McGill Memorial – $500 – Caleb Larson • Ohio Daily Digital Senior of the Month – $500 – Kaylee Blair • Ohio Daily Digital Athlete Spotlight – $500 – Brevin Louden • Pioneer Trade/Technical Scholarship – $750 – Ella Vondenhuevel • Pioneer Electric Cooperative – $500 – Ava Astorino • Pioneer Electric Cooperative – $500 – Brock Burgel • Pioneer Electric Cooperative – $500 – Lance Campbell • Ohio Electric Cooperatives Trade – $750 – Ella Vondenhuevel • Quest Federal Credit Union – $500 – Brevin Louden • Raising Arrows – $500 – Lydia Schmidt • Rotary Club of Urbana – $2,000 – Addison Hutton • Springfield Foundation/John Dale Urbana Firefighter – $3,469 – Brock Burgel • The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Champaign County – $1,000 – Lyndee Harrison • West Liberty Business Association – $500 – Abbie Thoman • West Liberty Business Association – $500 – Ella Vondenhuevel • West Liberty Business Association – $500 – Marisa Smith • West Liberty Business Association – $500 – Levi Miller • West Liberty-Salem Boosters – $500 – Naomi Cole • West Liberty-Salem Boosters – $500 – Taylor Cook • West Liberty-Salem Boosters – $500 – Geneva Estep • West Liberty-Salem Boosters – $500 – Lyndee Harrison • West Liberty-Salem Boosters – $500 – Dylan King • West Liberty-Salem Boosters – $500 – Abbie Thoman • White Tiger – $500 – Tru Maxam Department Awards: • English – Emery Longaberger • Social Studies – Geneva Estep • Math – Dylan King • Science – Emma Smith • Art – Alexa Cheetham • Agricultural – Ella Vondenhuevel • Ohio Hi-Point Satellite – Lydia Schmidt • Foreign Language – Jeremiah Johnson Athletic Department Awards & Recognitions: • OHSAA Scholarship Nominees – Brevin Louden and Tori Douthwaite • OHSAA Scholar Athlete Awards – Geneva Estep and Dylan King • Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Awards – Garrett Wallen and Emery Longaberger • Iron Tiger Award – Brevin Louden
Senior athletes continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level include: • Naomi Cole – Volleyball – Queens University of Charlotte • Chloe Griffith – Track – Tiffin University • JJ Johnson – Baseball – Southern Maine Community College • Dylan King – Cross Country & Track & Field – Ohio Northern University • Caleb Larson – Cross Country – Ohio University • Wyatt Longaberger – Soccer – University of Findlay • Elise Longshore – Track & Field – University of North Carolina Pembroke • Brevin Louden – Basketball & Track – Heidelberg University • Sadie Paul – Bowling – Muskingum University • Carson Poppe – Football – Ohio Northern University • Lydia Schmidt – Color Guard – Wingate University • Isaac Sertell – Baseball – Mount Vernon Nazarene University • Abbie Thoman – Soccer – Huntington University • Ellie Ullery – Bowling – Edison State Community College • Corbin Wallace – Football – Marietta College • Garrett Wallen – Cross Country & Track & Field – Muskingum University