199 students graduate from Lexington High School during Sunday ceremony

The ceremony celebrated 199 seniors who earned their diplomas.

The 2026 class motto was: "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." — Mae West

The class flower was the peony, the class color was orange and black, and the class song was "We Are the People" by Empire of the Sun.

Ruby Solache-Telles began the ceremony with opening comments.

"The memories you created along this journey will forever stay with us," she said. "The moments I did cherish are the times where I had my friends to stay by my side through thick and thin. We got through this together.

"I don't think I'd be where I am today without them. They were my motivation."

STUDENT ADDRESSES

Gabrielle Diaz, Kamila Ortiz-Juarez and Ever Ayala-Barrios presented the student addresses.

Diaz said, "We've reached the end of a chapter, but this new chapter of our lives is just beginning. This new journey is only just starting, and when we walk out of these doors today with our diplomas, this chapter will be closed. And it will forever have the memories that came with the experience that live within the walls of the school that we all shared."

Diaz dedicated the final part of her speech to her parents.

"I stand here in hopes to make you proud," she said. "They left everything behind, everything they knew, their home, comfort, family, so that I could have a chance to have a better future.

"They built a path for me to walk on, even if it was sacrificing their own. I dedicate all my confidence to you. Everything I have done has been for you, and I thank you so much for everything you have done for me."

Ortiz-Juarez said, "From preschool to present day, we experienced some type of change within ourselves. We aren't the same kids we were when we started our education, and we will never be those kids again.

"We've grown through all our hard work, late-night study sessions and sacrifice. Today, all our efforts are recognized to become graduating seniors, receiving our diplomas."

"Now is our time to pursue our goals. Chase your dreams, take a risk, don't let your setbacks stop you," she said. "Don't be sad that it is over, be happy you're lucky enough to experience it."

The last student address was presented by Ayala-Barrios.

"Since I was a little kid, I wanted to speak at graduation. However, when I started to write this speech, I didn't know what to write," he said. "The one thing that came to mind was what my teachers said on my first day of biology.

"Biology is always changing. It's always coming up with new things, but there are two things that are certain in biology: death and change. We are about to embark on one of the biggest changes of our lives."

The closing statement was presented by valedictorian Gerardo Jimenez-Ambriz.

"Speaking here today feels surreal," he said. "For years, graduation always felt like something far off in the distance, something we always talked about and counted down to. Yet, somehow it is finally here."

Jimenez-Ambriz said they pushed through those mornings when they didn't feel like showing up and those nights when they stayed up wondering if the homework was worth the loss of sleep.

"We might all be dressed in a cap and gown, celebrating the same accomplishment," he said, "but the journey it took to get here looked different for every single one of us."

"It's bittersweet because while we are excited for what the future holds for us, we are also saying goodbye to a version of ourselves we will never get back," he added, "and relationships that might never be the same."

He offered advice to his fellow classmates: "As we step into whatever comes next, college, work or another path you're still figuring out — don't let anyone make you feel like your dreams are too big.

"The things you want for yourself matter. There will always be people who will doubt you, people who don't understand your vision, but don't let that discourage you. And don't let fear be the reason you hold yourself back, either.

"Standing here today proves something for a lot of us: that we are capable of more than we ever thought. And we owe it to ourselves to keep going, to keep believing and never settle for less than we know we can."

For the final part of his speech, he asked his parents to stand up in the crowd while he dedicated a part of it to "the people who made this all possible."

"My parents left everything behind in pursuit of a better life. A sacrifice many of us, including myself, take for granted," he said. "For years, their work in this country was reduced to a single piece of paper. One that would finally say they belonged.

"Today, I receive my very own important piece of paper, my diploma. But this one carries the weight of their sacrifices, and the dreams they set aside so I can pursue my own. This moment is theirs just as much as it is mine."

Among those who graduated, 171 scholarships were awarded to 77 seniors, of which 49 were full-tuition scholarships.

The total amount of scholarships offered to the seniors was approximately $2.87 million, with $102,148 coming from local or Lexington Community Foundation scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

• Keysane A. Abdikadir - UNL Habrock Scholarship
• Aubrey Linn Ackerson - Charles A. Walker Memorial Scholarship, Chapter FS PEO Star Scholarship
• Henry Lux Ahilion-Calmo - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar, College Access TeamMates Scholarship, LCF TeamMates Scholarship, Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Abas Hassan Ahmed - Central CC Educational Achievement Scholarship, El Camino Scholarship, Hurless Trade Scholarship, LCF Orthman Family Scholarship
• Asmaa Naji Ahmed - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Shuaib Redwan Ali - Hurless Trade Scholarhips
• Naomi Arias-Barrios - Student Council Leadership Scholarship
• Ever Eliseo Ayala-Barrios - UNL Habrock Scholarship, LCF Annual Scholarship
• Treyvan Berry - Northeast Community College Nebraska Open Scholarship, Dawson Public Power District Utility Line Scholarship, First United Methodist Church Scholarship, LCF Francelenne Skinner Scholarship, Lexington USBC Bowling Association Scholarship, Mid America Council Eagle Scout Scholarship, Mid-land Presidential Scholarship
• Gabriela Cardenas - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Christian Celestino Contreras - Central CC Gene Hass Foundation Scholarship, Mid America Council Eagle Scout Scholarship
• Zachary Evan Converse - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar
• Jennifer Cortez - LCF Otto and Esther Murdock Scholarship
• Gabrielle Jasmin Diaz - Chapter AN PEO Star Scholarship, Lexington Lions Club Scholarship, Red Cross National Honor Society Scholarship, Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Alondra Dominguez-Murguia - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Ryan Matthew Fitzgerald - Northeast Community College Nebraska Open Scholarship
• Marisela Micaela Francisco-Francisco - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar, Plum Creek Market Place Scholarship
• McKenzie Duane Furgison - LCF Warren and Leta Batie Scholarship
• Allan Goevany Galicia-Quinonez - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Davis Estuardo Garcia-Corzo - LCF Lexington Soccer League Scholarship
• Klarissa Michelle Granados - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship, Central CC Academic Aid Scholarship, LCF Athea Roberts Scholarship, Peru State College Nebraska Career Scholarship, Central CC Transition Advantage Scholarship
• Micah Andrew Hakonson - UNL Nebraska Emerging Leaders Scholarship, Coca Cola Minutemen Scholarship, Red Cross National Honor Society Scholarship, UNL College of Engineering Scholarship
• Paetyn Maylee Harvery - LCF Lune Shubert Scholarship
• Belinda Hernandez-Bonilla - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Eslin Yeraldi Hernandez-Zabala - Central CC Academic Opportunity Scholarship, Central CC Committed to Your Success Scholarship, LCF Orthman Family Scholarship, Lexington Lions Club Scholarship
• Ivonne Dayan Ibaven-Marquez - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship, LCF Lexington Soccer League Scholarship
• Gerardo Xavier Jimenez-Ambriz - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar, Susan T. Buffett Scholarship, Blanche Senior Scholarship, LCF Annual Scholarship, UNL Nebraska Emerging Leaders Scholarship, David Distinguished Scholar
• Jaydon Robert Kohn - Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Kimberly Elizabeth Lainez-Neri - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar
• Jacob Dean Lans - James D. Miller Scholarship, LCF Lexington High School Class of 77
• Julian Lopez-Ibarra - Central CC Wlater Scotts, Jr. Career Pathway, Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Dennis Arnoldo Lopez-Morales - EducationQuest Do the FAFSA Scholarship, John Deere Technician Scholarship, Central CC Transition Advantage Scholarshiop
• Jaime Lopez-Velasquez - Ruth Edna Reynolds Montgomery Memorial Scholarship
• Avery Tethloach Lul - LCF Gary Shubert Memorial, Ron Murdock UNL Scholarship
• Araceli Josie Martinez - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar, Susan T. Buffett Scholarship
• Enrique Martinez-Aldaco - Northeast CC Walter Scott, Jr. Career Pathway Scholarship
• Melanie Roxanne Mejia-Quixtan - LCF Central CC Foundation Scholarship
• Jatneil Adonay Melara-Vasquez - Northeast CC Peter Kiewit Scholarship, Richard A. Brown Wrestling Scholarship, Gene Ransdell Memorial/Lexington Plumcreekers/Kiwanias Club Scholarship, Hurless Trade Scholarship, Brian Mejia-Paxtor Memorial Scholarship
• Jackelin Ramona Miguel-Andres - Coca Cola Minutemaid Scholarship
• Felipe Molina - Mid-Plains Community College Nebraska Career Scholarship, Brian Greif Memorial/Floyd's Truck Center Scholarship
• Esmeralda Jasmin Morales-Navarrete - Susa T. Buffett Scholarship
• Sindy Damaris Morales-Orantes - Bill and Mary Ann Haksonson Memorial Scholarship, American Red Cross National Honor Society, UNL Nebraska Emerging Leaders Scholarship
• Ashley Paolette Najera-Castro - Southeast Community College Women's Wrestling Scholarship
• Maylin Novoa - Blanche Senior Scholarship, Brian Mejia-Paxtor Memorial, LCF Francelenne Skinner Scholarship, LCF Lexington Soccer League Scholarship, Peque Roofing Women's Soccer Scholarship, Lexington Athletic Booster Club Scholarship
• Marissa Lynn Oestreich - Fort Hays State Teammates National Scholarship Award, LCF Barb Batie Memorial Band Scholarship
• Andres Perez-Guiza - Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy Scholarship, Central CC Academic Aid, Central CC Gale and Paula Beirow Scholarship
• Luis Esteban Perez-Sanchez - Susan T. Buffett
• Isaias Omar Portillo-Munoz - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar
• Evelyn Elizabeth Ramirez-Garcia - Susan T. Buffett, Northeast CC Walter Scott, Jr. Career Pathway, Skills USA American Institute Culinary Association Scholarship
• Victor Daniel Renteria - Central CC Heartwell Renewables Scholarship
• Ashley Yazdel Renteria-Hernandez - Read Eazy Scholarship, El Camino Scholarship, LCF Housel Family Scholarship, Majestic Theatre Scholarship, Red Cross National Honor Society Scholarship
• Abel Juan Reynoso-Pedro - LCF Ron and LaJean Bossung
• Nevaeh Jo Renteria-Novak - Susan T. Buffett 
• Miriam Nyadiew Riek - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar
• Angel Eduardo Rivas-Gomero - Susan T. Buffett
• Angela Karina Rodriguez-Lopez - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar
• Keven Samuel Romero-Lopez - Susan T. Buffett
• Salima Issak Sadik - Susan T. Buffett
• Adamaris Yaricsa Sanchez-Rodriguez - Central CC Academic Opportunity
• Karlianys Michelle Santiago-Rivera - Susan T. Buffett
• Rub Amillary Solache-Tells - UNK Kearney Bound Scholar, Susan T. Buffett, Red Cross National Honor Society, St. Ann's Marian Kjar Scholarship
• Delilah Jade Solis - Aksarben Foundation TeamMates, Homestead Bank Scholarship, LCF TeamMates, Hastings College Women's Wrestling Scholarship, Hastings College TeamMates Scholarship
• Adrianna Gabriela Solivan - Susan T. Buffett, Central CC Academic Opportunity, Central CC Lexington Center Scholarship, LCF Micah's House Scholarship
• Abbriel Kemi Sutton - Alpha Delta Kappa Phi Chapter Scholarship, Chapter HV International PEO Star Scholarship, LCF Janelle Vermaas Memorial, Lexington Education Association Robinson Memorial, Red Cross National Honor Society, St. Ann's Knights of Columbus Scholarship, Lexington Athletic Booster Club Scholarship
• Manuel Alexander Torres-Gonzalez - Susan T. Buffett
• Ulises Isaac Vasquez-Donis - Central CC Skilled and Technical Sciences Scholarship, LCF Micah's House Scholarship
• Jennifer Vazquez-Garcia - Susan T. Buffett, UNK Kearney Bound Scholar, St. Ann's Marian Kjar Scholarship
• Chenen Aydelis Velasquez-Hernandez - Susan T. Buffett
• Hadlie Jean Wolf - Dawson Public Power District Employees Club Scholarship, Norman and Shirley Reynolds Memorial, Richard and Phyllis (Brown) Hendrix Scholarship

Forty-four students earned 12 hours of college credits from Central Community College.