'Never stop growing'

PERKINS TWP. — On Sunday afternoon, 154 Perkins High School graduates gathered one final time as classmates before setting sail for their futures. For years, they shared classrooms, ballfields, stages and hallways, creating memories that will stick with them for years to come. Hundreds of families and friends filled the bleachers at Firelands Health Stadium to celebrate the graduates as they start a new chapter. During the commencement ceremony, several faculty members and four graduates addressed the graduating class. Perkins High School principal Jeff Harbal started off the ceremony with encouraging words for the graduates and reminded them to stay true to themselves as they enter a new chapter. "The diploma you're about to receive isn't just a reflection of credit hours completed or tests passed. It is a testament to your resilience, your evolving character and your unique vision," Harbal said. "Trust the foundation you built here, but never stop growing." Before receiving their diplomas, the class president, Natalie Mitchel, along with class representatives Blake Witter, Cooper Murphy and Talon Walton, delivered speeches on the importance of enjoying the present moment. "So as we move on into completely different paths — whether that's college, work, the military or figuring things out one step at a time — I hope we remember to stay present," Walton said. "Don't rush every stage of life trying to get to the next one. Appreciate the people around you while they're still around. Appreciate the small moments while they're still happening." Perkins High School Class of 2026 • Total graduates: 154 — 66% going to college — 11% enrolling in trade school — 20% entering the workforce — 3% enlisting in the military • More than $171,000 accepted in local scholarship money