Harrison High School Commencement Celebrates Character, Compassion and Achievement of Graduates
Harrison High School celebrated the Class of 2026 at Commencement on Friday, June 26th. Family, friends, administrators, faculty, staff, and members of the Board of Education gathered to recognize the exceptional graduates at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center. The ceremony included a performance of When I Grow Up, from Matilda the musical, by senior members of the chorus.
Harrison High School Principal, Kimberly Beukema, welcomed family and friends gathered to celebrate the graduates before turning to address the Harrison High School Class of 2026 one final time. Ms. Beukema reminded graduates that as they enter a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, they are leaving high school with a quality that technology cannot replace, emotional intelligence, “You understand that someone else’s success does not diminish your own, and that is something worth celebrating. Harrison High School is a better place because of you and stands as a reflection of your choices, your character, and your humanity. The future does not simply need more artificial intelligence. It needs you.”
Board of Education President Kelly Kozak praised the hard work and perseverance of the Class of 2026, reminding graduates that they leave Harrison with one of their most powerful tools, their voice. She encouraged them to use it with confidence, listen to others, and have the courage to challenge what needs to be questioned as they begin their next chapter.
Dr. Louis Wool recognized the 274 graduates for their leadership, service, academics, athletics, science, music, and art, then set every achievement aside. These are the least interesting true things about you, he told them. What endures is the ethic of care this class showed one another.
He pointed to the students themselves. To the student who noticed and elevated their beloved lunch lady. To another who, as a result of her science research, built wells that brought fresh water to people across the globe. To the student artist who reminded us to celebrate the simple joys between a mother and a daughter. And finally, to the Summa cum laude students who, given the honor of selecting a class speaker, opened the choice to every senior. Small acts, repeated, formed an ethic of care that defined the Class of 2026. He reminded them that the world is transformed not by grand gestures but by the small, almost invisible acts of compassion we show one another.
Calling the Class of 2026 extraordinary young people, Dr. Wool praised the example they set through their choices, their character, and the way they lifted the people around them. “I am filled with confidence in them and could not be prouder of the Class of 2026.”
Three members of the graduating class offered reflections that captured the character of the Class of 2026 and the lessons they will carry into the future. Senior Class President Liam Azar celebrated the class’s collaborative spirit, noting that their willingness to support one another had become a defining strength. He credited both his classmates and the faculty who helped shape them, sharing, “Teachers have raved about our collaborative spirit and inviting nature in the classroom… I think this eagerness to work together is a major contributor to our success as a class, and I also think it’s a testament to the staff and faculty who’ve helped us become who we are today.”
Faculty-selected speaker Jessica Vukel encouraged graduates to focus on what truly matters as they begin the next chapter, urging them to pursue lives rooted in compassion and humility while appreciating the simplicity of the present moment. Student-selected speaker Jonathan Lewis concluded with an empowering message about authenticity, reminding his classmates that they cannot control others’ opinions, only how they choose to live. He encouraged the Class of 2026 to embrace their individuality, telling them to “keep being weird, keep being you.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of diplomas, the turning of the tassels, and the traditional cap toss, a joyful celebration of the Class of 2026 and the culmination of their high school years.