Westfield Washington Schools celebrates Class of 2026’s “legacy of excellence”

Submitted by Westfield Washington Schools

Westfield High School’s Class of 2026 leaves behind a legacy of excellence, leadership, service, and student achievement across academics, athletics, performing arts, and student organizations.

During commencement at Grand Park, Principal Alicia Denniston reflected on the class’s impact and the many ways students embodied the district’s mission of becoming Life Ready.

“This is a class that has embraced leadership and has modeled the values of the Westfield Way: kindness, respect, positivity, and gratitude,” Denniston said during her address to graduates. “You have truly made WHS history.”

The Class of 2026 celebrated significant accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom.

Academic Achievement

The graduating class included numerous students recognized for exceptional academic performance:

• 65 Distinguished Graduates (grade-point average of 4.3 or higher)
• 36 Honored Graduates (GPA between 4.2 and 4.29)
• 2,117 AP exams taken, including this year’s testing cycle
• 89 percent AP passing rate thus far
• 166 AP Scholars thus far

Athletics

WHS athletics teams achieved multiple milestones during the school year, including:

• Football earning the state runner-up title
• Girls volleyball becoming regional champions
• Girls cross country winning sectional and regional championships
• Wrestling winning a sectional championship
• Gymnastics earning the program’s first-ever sectional championship
• Boys tennis earning a first-ever sectional championship
• Girls tennis winning both the HCC Championship and sectional championship

Performing Arts

WHS performing arts students also delivered historic performances and recognitions:

• Illumination earned three grand championships, four best vocal awards, three best choreography awards, six people’s choice awards, and one best crew award.
• Westfield Band and Guard Class of 2026 earned a collective 17 state finals appearances.
• The band program celebrated its 60^th state finals appearance this spring.
• Students appeared in eight World Championship finals.
• Students earned a collective 372 gold medals at State Solo and Ensemble.
• WHS theater productions were recognized for outstanding set build and design.

Clubs, Leadership & Student Organizations

Student organizations continued to make a meaningful impact on both the school and broader community:

• Dance Marathon raised over $117,000.
• WHS Best Buddies was named Outstanding High School Chapter for the state of Indiana.
• WHS yearbook earned statewide recognition through Quill and Scroll’s Yearbook Excellence Contest.
• Sham-Rock-Botics qualified for the state championship.
• WHS eSports League of Legends won the Indiana State Championship.
• FCCLA earned first in the state in restaurant management.
• Speech and Debate finished fifth in overall sweepstakes.
• DECA had 117 students qualify for state competition and a record number qualify for nationals.

In addition, a record number of students participated in internships throughout the community, gaining hands-on experiences connected to future careers and Life Ready learning.

As graduates prepare for their next steps, the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 reflect years of hard work, collaboration, perseverance, and growth.

“Once a Rock, Always a Rock,” Denniston told graduates. “I look forward to seeing where life will take you and how you will change it.”