Piscataway High School honored and celebrated the Class of 2026 on Thursday, June 18, at an impressive 66th Annual Commencement Ceremony at Jersey Mike's Arena on the Rutgers University campus.

The 526 graduates finished their high school careers before thousands of friends, family members, and Piscataway educators in a grand celebration where the recurring themes were overcoming adversity and hope for the future.

GRADUATION PROGRAM & LIST OF GRADUATES

Tyler West, the senior student representative to the Board of Education, spoke of the idea of “falling forward” in the face of challenges.

“We are often told to play it safe, to have something to fall back on. But what if instead we chose to fall forward,” he said. “To take risks, to step into the unknown, and to trust that even our failures are moving us closer to success. The truth is, we will fail at some point. We will miss opportunities, we will struggle. But those moments do not define us. How we respond to them does.

“So as we step into this next chapter, the question is not whether we will fall. The question is will we fall back, or will we fall forward.”

Senior Class President Katherine Inigo spoke of the valuable sense of community offered at PHS, and interactions with custodians, school safety officers, counselors, and others that have helped to demonstrate that.

“Some of the most important lessons we learned were not written on a whiteboard or learned in a book. They happened in hallways, in cafeteria, in counseling offices. In quiet ordinary moments that were easy to overlook, but taught us the most about what it means to be human,” she said. “These people may never stand up in front of our classrooms, but they have taught us an incredible lesson. They taught us what community means. That each individual piece makes us whole. They have taught us that our community is shaped by the way that we show up for each other.”

She asked her fellow graduate to carry these lessons into the future and a world that often seems very divided.

“I hope you remember what this community has taught us: That no act of kindness is ever too small.”

The night was hosted by Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Cetta, who stood on a stage packed with the Board of Education, district administrators, and special guests. She gave a passionate speech about watching the students grow and becoming resilient under pressure.

“We watched you discover your identities and embrace difficulty. Every difficult class you passed, every practice you attended, every challenge you faced. Every time you thought, ‘I can’t do this,’ and then you did,” she said.

“And if you need a little reminder that progress happens one step at a time, just look at the New York Knicks. Championship seasons aren’t built overnight. They are built possession by possession, adjustment by adjustment, practice by practice. They chipped away until achieving something people had waited years to see – just like your family and friends here.”

Superintendent Erskine R. Glover began by reading a passage that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote as a student in 1947, saying “intelligence plus character, that is the good goal of education. Complete education gives one not only the power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.”

“Regardless of your path, take a moment to reflect on your journey as you have been here in Piscataway Township Schools,” he said, asking graduates to cherish their joyous moments, friendships, and accomplishments.

“But equally important, recognize those challenges. Because those challenges are what help create your identity. Those moments that tested you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, played a critical role in your personal development. Your resilience. Your superpower.

“I ask that you go forth in strength, you go forth in peace, you go forth in wisdom. May your journey be guided by passion, fueled by purpose, and defined by service.”

Board of Education President Nancy Salgado-Cowan shared a musical message with the graduates, singing a piece of “You're Gonna Be Okay” by Ashh Blackwood, to cheers from the crowd.

“I'm gonna be okay, I puff out my chest, Take a deep breath, I'm gonna be okay, Is it loud in my mind, I'll take my time, I'm gonna be okay.”

“That’s right, go ahead and shine real bright, Class of 2026,” she said. “You are the light. Congratulations, we’re incredibly proud of you. Now go out there and keep on shining.”

Principal Chris Baldassano emphasized to graduates that “wherever life takes you, you do not need to have every answer tonight.”

“The future will surprise you,” he said. “Some of your plans will change. New opportunities will appear where you least expect them. Some of your greatest accomplishments may come from paths you cannot yet see. When that happens, trust yourself. Trust the values you’ve learned here. Trust the people who helped you get to this moment. And never be afraid to be a guiding light for someone else.”

Standing on a stage with all the district’s other principals, from preschool to middle school, Baldessano told the graduates to “go forth with the support of the Piscataway family,” calling out all the schools they attended through the years.

“From Children’s Corner to Randolphville, from Grandview to Eisenhower, from Knollwood to Arbor and King, from Conackamack to Schor and Quibbletown, knowing that no matter where your journey leads, once a Chief, always a Chief.”