Families, friends, faculty, and graduates filled the auditorium as the Class of 2026 crossed the stage during the Marco Island Academy commencement ceremony on May 22, marking the close of a chapter shaped by late nights, pressure, friendships, and memories that many students said would stay with them long after graduation.
More than anything, the ceremony centered on reflection, not only on academic accomplishments, but on the people, struggles, and moments that carried the class through the past four years. Speakers reflected on resilience, gratitude, and the uncertainty that comes with stepping into a new stage of life, encouraging graduates to move forward with confidence in what they had overcome together.
The ceremony also took time to celebrate the students who shaped the school’s culture. Faculty members recognized Jonathan Jules as the recipient of the Faculty Award, and Principal Miss Scott presented the Principal’s Award to Elizabeth Chiscavage, Aubrey Guidry, Meghan Donaldson, Medney Garraux, Madison Stolinas, and Jonathan“JJ” Juels.
In presenting the faculty award, teacher Mr. Swope described Juels as “one of the most positive, kind, and compassionate young men I have met in my 11 years of teaching.” He was honored for consistently supporting those around him, bringing energy to classrooms, making people feel welcome, and serving as a source of encouragement throughout the school community. “He’s one of the strongest leaders and role models in the Class of 2026,” Swope said. Swope added that Juels’s peers had voted him “most likely to brighten your day,” and “best to bring home to your parents,” a reflection of the reputation he built over four years at MIA.
Miss Scott recognized the six seniors whose presence helped define the spirit of the Class of 2026 through the Principal’s Award. Chiscavage, Guidry, Donaldson, Garraux, Stolinas, and Juels were honored for the way they shaped the lives of those around them. Each student carried a different kind of presence, whether through quiet encouragement, unwavering positivity, leadership, or compassion; they each left a lasting impression on both their classmates and Miss Scott herself. “Together, they formed a family,” said Miss Scott.
Principal Melissa Scott later introduced valedictorian Aubrey Guidry, not only for her academic achievements — including a perfect unweighted GPA, a 1510 SAT score, service academy acceptances, and extensive community involvement — but for the person behind them. Scott described Guidry as “the definition of character.”
In her valedictory address, Guidry reflected on adversity, growth, and the uncertainty that comes with stepping into an entirely new chapter of life. Using the metaphor that “the world is your oyster,” she reminded graduates that some of the most meaningful opportunities come only after struggle and persistence. “As we look forward, I urge you to be bold in life, to live life to its fullest.” She encouraged classmates not to let fear, expectations, or past hardships limit the futures they choose for themselves, emphasizing that graduation was not simply the closing of high school, but the beginning of countless new paths.
“Right now, you have the remarkable opportunity to decide how you are going to live your life,” Guidry exclaimed.
Guidry also reflected on the importance of the relationships built throughout high school, thanking classmates, teachers, parents, and family members who helped shape the Class of 2026 along the way. She reminded graduates that “while we may all go in our separate ways, please remember the family you’ll always have here at MIA,” even though their high school years were nearly coming to an end.
As the evening continued, following the Class of 2026’s walk across the stage, filled with handshakes, smiles, hugs, and more than a few tears, the ceremony shifted to an ending. During her closing remarks, Scott reflected on the pressure students face entering adulthood — expectations surrounding college, careers, identity, and the fear of getting the future wrong.
Her speech became deeply personal as she spoke about losing her mother earlier this year and how grief had changed her understanding of time, relationships, and what truly matters. At several points, the auditorium fell silent as students and parents wiped away tears while Scott urged graduates to cherish the people around them while they still can, especially as the Class of 2026 prepares to step into separate and more independent chapters of their lives.
“None of us can control time,” Scott reminded the graduates, then she urged them to “use the time you have to love on each other.”
She encouraged students to stay connected to the people they love, appreciate ordinary moments, and not allow the distractions of daily life to overshadow what matters most. Near the end of the ceremony, Scott described the Class of 2026 as “sunflowers,” saying they brought warmth and light back into her life during a difficult year. “You made my days easier, the laughter louder, and tonight more special,” Scott said.
By the time graduates turned their tassels from right to left, the ceremony was both a celebration of achievement and a farewell to a version of life many students had grown up in together. Cheers echoed throughout the auditorium as classmates embraced one another for what was, for many, the last time all together in one room.
Still, the night focused less on endings than on what comes next — the uncertainty, possibility, and hope waiting beyond graduation. Or, as salutatorian Kayleigh Kemmish reminded her classmates at the beginning of the ceremony, “This is only the beginning of our future.”
