From having to survive their final year without phones to being the first class to have Principal Sah Brown for all four years to being the last grade to avoid the freshman advisory course, the class of 2026 has had an eventful four years. Even after all seniors cross the stage on June 13 at CareFirst Arena, we hope they will remember their high school years, no matter what their future entails. The class of 2026 has too many talents and standouts to mention, so here are just a few.
The senior SGA leaders are off to great places, with President Charlie Ketchum planning on studying environmental sustainability at Michigan State University. She says becoming president was “a really important factor that contributed to what I want to do,” and it allowed her to “take on a lot of responsibility, make connections, and get closer to the senior class.” Ketchum loved the yearly Powderpuff Game and Homecoming, and added that “it is so cool to see how involved the students get and how much attention it brings to breast cancer awareness.” Vice president and track and field athlete Eva Okoobo will be attending Princeton University, where she will be majoring in molecular biology, with a minor in global health and policy.
JR sports have a strong showing in the class of 2026, and many athletes have fond memories of their JR teams. Okoobo is grateful for the “second family and home away from home” she found at Jackson-Reed through the track team. Memories like “laughing until our stomachs hurt at New Balance Nationals” and “lying out in the sun after hard workouts” still make Okoobo “smile ear to ear.” Okoobo will put her talents to good use on the Princeton Track and Field team.
TigerTV Live is losing the voice of Sam Bigge next year, who is off to Northwestern University to study journalism, with the hope of continuing sports broadcasting. Bigge’s role with TigerTV solidified that dream because of “the appreciation and respect that so many people showed [him] over the years.” Commenting on the recent baseball state championship win “felt like a super fitting way to close out [his] time with TigerTV Live.”
This year’s seniors are especially artsy, too. JRHS Theater’s Eve Gardullo will study theater at Hofstra University next year. She loved her time doing theater at JR and was especially proud of the recent Mamma Mia performance. She said, “Me and my best friend have manifested doing that show for our senior year for so long.” Ryan Crean, who was in the Audio Visual Production Academy, is headed off to the Dodge School of Film. He plans to work on making his first pilot episode for a TV show.
Despite the hard work and struggles of school, many seniors have spotlight memories from their classes. Lucinda Schaible, who will be attending Virginia Tech to study biomedical engineering, remembers “arguing with 15 year olds in [her] Model United Nations class.” Maya Goldman, who will study architecture at the University of Virginia, recalls her freshman biology class that didn’t have a teacher, where she and her class watched Marvel movies.
We hope that their high school years will have a lifetime impact on the seniors, and many have already taken important life lessons from their time here. Carys Gray, Director of Art and Design for The Beacon, shared that “drawing for The Beacon taught [her] collaboration in a typically solitary practice.” For Goldman, JR taught her how to advocate for herself. Gardullo added that having Robert Geremia as her AP US History and AP Comparative Government teacher “taught [her] how to prepare for tests, not procrastinate, and plan ahead.”
The class of 2026 has made great friends during the last four years, and we hope they continue these friendships. Crean shared, “JR showed me how important it is to make friends, and I’m most excited to meet new people in the future.” Schaible added that some of her favorite memories are eating lunch with her best friends everyday.
Even though the entire school is banned from the National Zoo due to an ill-fated freshman year field trip, we will all miss the class of 2026’s presence in our halls. Their achievements, hard work, and leadership will not be forgotten. We wish them all the best in their next steps in life and hope that in their future, they will still be Tigers at heart. •
