Glen Rock High School proudly celebrated its Sixty-Eighth Annual Commencement Ceremony on Tuesday, June 23, at 7 p.m. on Stadium Field at the Glen Rock Middle School/High School campus. Surrounded by family, friends, and faculty, 201 members of the Class of 2026 officially became Glen Rock High School alumni. Collectively, the graduating class was offered approximately $16 million in academic scholarships, a testament to seniors’ hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.
The Glen Rock High School Band and Orchestra played Pomp and Circumstance as graduates processed onto the field. Senior Class Treasurer, Mia Corcoran, welcomed attendees and led the flag salute, followed by The National Anthem. Graduates were then addressed by Senior Class President,
Anna Heuss, who brought her classmates back in time to second grade in 2014. Anna opened her speech by reflecting on receiving her first school email address in second grade. She recalled a classmate asking why every email ended with “26,” and her teacher explaining that it represented the Class of 2026. "To seven-year-old me, that year felt impossibly far away. Like a thousand lifetimes in the future,” Anna remembered. “And yet... here we are."
Looking back, Anna said she once believed graduation was the destination. Instead, she realized the true value of the journey was the people who shared it with her. “The people who sat beside us in classrooms. The people who helped us through difficult moments. The people who made us laugh when we needed it most. The people who encouraged us when we doubted ourselves. The people who shaped us, little by little, into who we are today.”
She concluded by reminding her classmates that the Class of 2026 would be connected not by the year on their diplomas, but by the impact they had on one another. “So as we move into our next exciting chapter, never forget the people who helped you become who you are,” she said. “Because in the end, our greatest achievement was never what we accomplished alone, but who we became together.”
In her address to the graduates, Ms. Michele Giurlando, GRMS/HS Principal, encouraged graduates to embrace life’s unexpected twists rather than focusing only on the destination. Drawing on the geometric principle that “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line,” she acknowledged that life can easily be viewed as a linear model. “You can keep your eye trained solely on the goal ahead, traveling the shortest amount of distance possible between each milestone,” she continued. “But I really hope you don’t.”
She reminded students that life’s detours, from unexpected opportunities and new relationships to unforeseen challenges, are often where the greatest growth occurs. “The side roads are filled with chances to learn and to grow,” she said, encouraging graduates to embrace the moments that shape who they are. “My hope is that each and every one of you embraces the detours, big and small, that you will inevitably encounter in life because those are the moments that shape who you are, how you think, and what you feel. Focusing solely on the destination and believing there is a singular path to get there can rob you of enjoying the journey.”
Jay Kreibich, Class of 2026 Salutatorian, reflected on the transition from the structured path of K-12 education to the freedom and responsibility that await him and his fellow graduates. He noted that, until now, students have shared many of the same experiences—from selecting classes and completing assignments to taking tests and earning grades. But after graduation, he said, “there won’t be a guidance counselor helping us make our schedule, and no checklist telling us exactly what to do next. The responsibility of choosing a direction is now fully ours.”
As classmates prepare to pursue college, careers, military service, and other opportunities, Jay reminded them that their paths will naturally diverge. Rather than fearing those differences, he encouraged graduates to embrace them. “There is no single finish line waiting for all of us,” he said, emphasizing that each person's journey will be uniquely their own. “As our paths diverge, the comparisons that once felt so important will matter less and less.”
Amber Wang, Class of 2026 Valedictorian, delivered a heartfelt address to her classmates about how success is often wrongfully measured by numbers. She encouraged the graduates to not forget their value. “While our test scores, grades, and later our salaries and number of degrees are part of the story, they do not define us,” she continued. “Numbers do not speak to the way we worked together for a successful Senior Service Day or competed passionately during our first-ever Rockfest.”
Continuing their lives beyond the walls of Glen Rock High School, she reminded them to focus on sharing love and comfort with friends and family, spend meaningful time with those who have supported them, and to never take goodbyes for granted. “These are the experiences that make us unique, and these are the memories people will remember us by,” she said. “Find your value and success in life will naturally come after.”
Introduced by Senior Class Corresponding Secretary, Emma Reiman, Social Studies teacher and Faculty Graduation Speaker, Mr. Brian Greppo shared three pieces of advice with the Class of 2026. First, he encouraged graduates to discover what brings them joy and let that guide the choices they make throughout life. “If you fill your life with passion and joy it will permeate everything you do,” he said. “It will make you a better person, a better father, a better mother, a better sibling, a better lawyer, a better teacher, better at whatever you pursue. Figure out who you are and what brings you joy," he said, reminding students that it is never too late to change course.
His second message emphasized the importance of authentic communication without the constant use of AI. Encouraging graduates to think independently and express themselves with confidence, he urged them to “take every opportunity to speak for yourself, especially when it matters.”
Mr. Greppo concluded on an optimistic note, telling students they gave him confidence in the future. “You work hard. You care about your friends. You ask insightful questions. You pursue your passions, whether academic, athletic, artistic, or otherwise. And you bring that special something that makes you, you, into my classroom every day.” Mr. Greppo insisted that the graduates don’t buy into the belief that our best days are behind them. “Our best days are ahead of us,” he continued, “because the future belongs to you.”
Mia Vergel de Dios, Senior Class Vice President, and Maggie Rundell, Senior Class Recording Secretary, presented the 2026 Class Gift, a dedication to the teams inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. This dedication, in the form of an engraved plaque, will be placed in the sports lobby for students, families, teachers, and fans to see as they walk into the gymnasium. Additionally, the class will be gifting the senior lounge a new couch to commemorate the moments that were shared in that space. Under the direction of Mr. Carl Helder and Ms. Anna Lilikas, the Women’s and Senior Choirs then performed a beautiful rendition of “Slipping Through My Fingers.”
Mrs. Elizabeth Calvez, Glen Rock Board of Education Vice President, presented the Citizenship Awards to two outstanding seniors, Anna Heuss and Neil Saxena. Voted on by staff members and students alike and sponsored by the Glen Rock Administrators’ Association, this award honors two seniors who have demonstrated strong character and who have positively impacted both their peers and Glen Rock High School as a whole. Congratulations to this year’s winners who exemplify respect for others, kindness, empathy, loyalty, and personal responsibility.
Mr. Gregory Van Nest, Acting Superintendent of Schools, addressed the graduates, their families, and guests, highlighting the remarkable accomplishments of the Class of 2026. He celebrated academic, athletic, and artistic achievements and recognized several students who have chosen to serve our country through military service. Congratulations to Izabela Samu who will be attending the United States Naval Academy and to Noah Inbar who will be attending the Norwich University Military Academy. Additionally, accolades were given to those entering the ROTC programs at their respective colleges: Mia Corcoran, Jenna Yim, and Dylan Lee.
Mr. Van Nest reminded graduates that every generation inherits challenges it did not create, and that the Class of 2026 would be no exception. Reflecting on the disruptions they experienced during the pandemic in middle school, he noted that they persevered through hybrid learning, masks, and uncertainty while continuing to grow academically and personally. He said that these students are more prepared than they may realize.
He also recognized the many responsibilities students balanced throughout high school—from rigorous coursework and extracurricular activities to jobs, family obligations, and personal hardships. “The world you are entering will continue to change,” he said, but reassured graduates that they will be okay. He credited their resilience and adaptability, reminding them that they had already “proven that uncertainty does not prevent progress.”
Mr. Van Nest led the Certification of the Class of 2026, presenting the graduating seniors to the members of the Glen Rock Board of Education. Mr. Robert Lockatell, Engineering and Robotics teacher, led the roll call of graduates while diplomas were distributed by Dr. Damali Robinson, Glen Rock Board of Education president, alongside Ms. Giurlando and Mr. Van Nest. Student Council President, Charlotte Cassin, concluded the ceremony by leading the Class of 2026 Tassel Ceremony. Audience members were then invited to greet graduates on the field. The Glen Rock Public School District congratulates the Glen Rock High School Class of 2026!
