On Thursday, June 11, Valencia High School (VHS) celebrated its commencement ceremony, honoring the Class of 2026. The event took place at Bradford Stadium, where 585 seniors were awarded their high school diplomas.
The Class of 2026 demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and college readiness. The graduating class included 68 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma candidates, 143 Val Tech Diploma recipients, 17 Cambridge Diploma recipients, and 30 students who earned both an IB or Cambridge Diploma and a Val Tech Diploma.
The class also produced 14 National Merit Finalists, including National Merit Scholarship winner Noah Choi. Valencia students earned second place in Orange County Academic Decathlon competition and third place in Southern Section FBLA competition. In addition, Jason Chun received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, while Shivam Parmar earned a full-ride Army ROTC scholarship to attend Virginia Tech. These accomplishments reflect the exceptional dedication and success of the Class of 2026.
The ceremony welcomed several distinguished guests, such as Board of Education President Carrie Buck, Vice President Tricia Quintero and Trustee Marilyn Anderson. Representatives from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District included Assistant Superintendent Renee Gray, Director of Secondary Education Mr. Michael Young, Assistant Directors Jose Cabrera and Tonya Gordilla.
The commencement speeches were delivered by students Sanjana Sawant, Dylan Nguyen and Ainool Tahiyya Hisham Abdul Jabbar. Their speeches reflected on cherished memories and expressed heartfelt gratitude towards VHS, their fellow graduates, and supportive loved ones. Tigers of the Year Delilah Yick and Jason Chun were also recognized.
After Trustee Quintero formally accepted the Class of 2026, acknowledging they had met all requirements for graduation, Principal Herzfeld extended his congratulations. He then instructed the graduates to move their tassels from right to left. The stadium erupted in cheers, and the newly graduated Tigers tossed their caps into the air, marking the joyous conclusion of their high school journey. Congratulations, Tigers!
Click here to view Valencia’s ceremony on the district’s YouTube Channel.
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