The Bellport High School Clippers sent off their Class of 2026 in style on the evening of Friday, June 26, as graduates took their places in the bleachers of the school's football field while proud families and friends filled the field below to witness the milestone ceremony.

Under the leadership of Principal Erika Della Rosa, the commencement exercise honored the academic accomplishments, personal growth and community spirit of the graduating class. The Bellport High School Wind Ensemble opened the ceremony with the national anthem, setting the tone for an evening of reflection and celebration.

Principal Della Rosa addressed the graduates directly, acknowledging all they had overcome during their four years at Bellport. 

Tonight we celebrate not only your accomplishments but also your growth, she said. You have demonstrated resilience, determination and a commitment to one another that has made Bellport High School proud. She challenged graduates to carry those qualities into the future: Lead with kindness, act with integrity. Continue to advocate for what matters and never stop learning.

Class Essayist Joselyn Jara Lopez delivered a heartfelt address that wove together shared memories from elementary school through senior year — from the buddy bench to the class Olympics and prom. Lopez acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the moment before offering a call to perseverance: 

Remember the tears, the late night scaries or times where giving up was an option, but you fought back harder and with resilience to turn your challenges into learning experiences. You should be proud of yourselves. She closed with a line from Hannah Montana that drew knowing smiles from her classmates: It's so hard to say goodbye. Yesterday's gone. We gotta keep moving on.

Salutatorian Samantha Panasuk, who earned a cumulative GPA of 104.012, reflected on the quieter, steadier nature of growth — something she said many in the class came to understand over their four years together. 

Growth does not always happen as quickly as we would like, Panasuk said. Sometimes it takes patience and serenity and a willingness to challenge ourselves even when we are uncomfortable — because if we continue to move forward and remain open to new experiences, our growth will come slowly but surely. She also offered a personal tribute to her late father: Sadly, my dad is no longer here to see me in this moment, but his support and love for me will always be in the back of my mind.

Valedictorian Gabriel Andre, who graduated with a 104.52 GPA, reached for the stars — literally — in a speech that used stellar physics as a metaphor for the class's journey. 

All stars will burn out someday, he told his classmates. When these stars burn out, they go supernova, leaving behind nebular dust, which leads to the formation of new stars. He urged graduates to see their departure from Bellport as just such a transformation: When you leave the school, it's analogous to you going supernova — turning into something entirely new, while leaving behind material for new students to be born. Andre closed with a send-off drawn from the cosmos: Class of 2026, I'm proud of you. Keep burning bright.

Following the speeches, graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from the South Country Board of Education, officially completing the requirements of the State Education Department and earning their Bellport High School diplomas.

The Class of 2026 goes on to pursue paths in college, trade school, the military and the workforce — carrying with them the lessons, friendships and foundation built during their years as Clippers.