Seventy-three members of Canadian High School’s Class of 2026 will receive their diplomas this week in a graduation ceremony to be held at 10 am on Saturday, May 23, on Chris Koetting Field at Wildcat Stadium. 

Following the class processional, invocation and welcome, Salutatorian Adan Escamilla and Valedictorian Sage Saenz will each address those gathered. CHS Principal Rod Been will read the names of each Class of 2026 member as school board trustees present their diplomas. Superintendent Julia McMains will then announce this year’s winner of the coveted Liske Cup.

The award is named after Albert Paul Liske, who came to the Texas Panhandle in 1904 and settled in Canadian. Liske was one of the movers and shakers who encouraged the development and growth of Canadian and the surrounding area in an effort to promote business. He founded the Liske Grain Company and became prominent in the grain business in the Eastern Panhandle.

In 1930, the Liske Grain Company offered a beautiful trophy to the best all-around student at Canadian High School. A committee of high school teachers and administrators makes the selection each year, based on the student’s scholarship, leadership, citizenship, attitude and sportsmanship, as well as their participation in school activities and academic achievement.

Following that presentation, a benediction will be read, the senior members of the CHS cheerleading squad will lead the school song, and the CHS graduating class of 2026 will begin the recessional.

Members of the CHS Class of ’26 are:

Lindsay Ryan Anderson, Brianna Valeria Antillon, Erick Arellanes, Rebekah Isabel Avila, Keelan Neil Baileys, John Ross Baker, Luis Alfredo Barragan, Kolter Wayne Billings, Harlee Ann Blair, Shyann Hope Blair, Addison Grace Boyd, Brendan David Carr, Angel Carrisalez Martinez, Kaylyn Lyla Castellanos, Kylie Noelle Cavalier, Alyx Isabella Cedillo, Ezequiel Adrian Cervantes, Braden James Chumbley, Collier Ellis Cook;

Slayden Creed Dickinson, EJ Duenes, Adan Escamilla, Artemio Esquivel Villarreal, Cami Lynn Flowers, Miguel Angel Gallegos, Janet Tatianna Garcia, Naomi Garcia, Anna Rosaura Gonzales, Dakota Joseph Wayne Harris, Jonah Alexander Harris, Brenner Jack Hawkins, Mark Matthew Haygood, Victor Elias Hernandez Ramirez, Marcus Abraham Herrera, Christopher Jesus Jimenez, Daniel Jimenez, Emmanuel Jimenez, Yobelin Juarez, Sadie Eva Kauk;

Jacqueline Alexis Lerma, Addison Malee L’Esperance, Alexa Limones, Jacy Anne Long, Miley Grace McLanahan, Aiden Matthew Meraz, Ellsie Dawn Messner, Sophia Nicole Mills, Luis Enrique Mondragon, Kimora Micaih Morales, Sarahi Moreno, Iris Najera Cardoza, April Lisset Navarro, Melina Nunez Gallegos, Rene Osornio, Kyra Rovonda Page, Nathanael June Page, Edwin Alexis Pantoja, Luis Gerardo Pantoja, Octavio Pantoja, Tyler Riggs Pennington, Jackson Don Poe, Timothy Jarrett Purcell;

Karina Quezada, Jessica Lynn Raff-Benjamin, Sage Aubree Saenz, Chaynee Dawn Slavin, Alisha Elizabeth Stone, Jose Manuel Valenzuela, Santiago Valenzuela, Jessie James Vargas Murguia, Liam Wade Wallace, Harlow Jean Wampler, Tate Edward Wilhelm.

PHOTO OF KINDERGARTEN/CHS SENIOR GRADUATES COURTESY OF HEATHER SAWYER