Casco Bay High School held its 18th graduation on Thursday, June 4th at Merrill Auditorium. While Casco’s graduates march to the stage to the traditional sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance,” what typically follows at Casco commencements is more unconventional. This year’s ceremony for the Class of 2026 was no exception, with good-natured jokes interspersing heartfelt personal testimonies and graduates jumping up from their seats to dance in the middle of the event.
The event included emarks by Superintendet Ryan Scallon and Principal Priya Natarajan. The event also included a reading from two designated class writers, remarks and “final words” from students, student musical performances and the presentation of diplomas.
History teacher Stewart Croft was the emcee of the ceremony. He noted that high schoolers today had dtheir middle school years disrupted by COVID and now face daunting challenges as they graduate, including political diviseiveness, economic uncertainity and envronmental crises. He said he often worries that students won’t be prepared for what life holds for them — but not the Class of 2026. “What I have seen gives me tremendous confidence — I’m not worried,” Croft said. “They’ve been throught a lot and I know they can meet whatever is next.”
Superintendent Scallon also expressed confidence in the 86 members of the Class of 2026. “When I look at this class, I see a powerful reflection of what makes this school so special,” he said. “You are a tight knit class defined by deep academic curiosity, a love for your community and a genuine desire to understand the “why” behind everything you do.” He told the graduates: “You didn’t just coast through high school, you excelled.” He highlighted a few examples of their many accomplishments. Excerpts from Superintendent Scallon’s remarks follow:
He said that “12 of you earned STEM endorsements and 18 of you earned the Seal of Biliteracy, with two earning it in a second language and one of you in a third. Your class includes four University of Southern Maine Promise Scholars and two Mitchell Scholars and together you have earned more than $600,000 in scholarships and grants to fuel your next steps. You also shone on regional and n ational stages. Your Mock Trial team reached the National Championship, one classmate represented Mdaine at the Natioal Geography Bee, another helped qualify for the national Odyssey of the Mind and one of you was named the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year for the entire state of Maine. From a junior Olympian an ultimae frisbee to a standout squash player to athletic captain at teams at Deering and Portland, your drive showed everywhere.”
The graduates, 100 percent of who have been accepted by at least one institution of higher learning, are now headed to colleges and universities that include the University of Southern Maine, Southern Maine Community College, Maine Maritime Academy, Bates, Bowdoin and Middlebury colleges. Swarthmore, Boston Collee the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Bennington, Pitzer, Skidmore, American University and the North Carolina School of the Arts.
He encouraged the graduates to follow he parth set by Gerald Talbot, Maine civil rights icon, community leader and the first Black legislator in the history of Maine. Talbot, for whom Talbot Commuity Scool is named, passed away May 9. “He led and in doing so he opened doors that many will walk through today. Class of 2026, carry his example with you,” the Superintendent said.
Principal Natarajan told the Class of 2026: “Stand tall, be happy — no matter where the journey of life takes you.”
While it was Casco’s 18th graduation ceremony, the school itself was founded in 2005. I is part of the El Education (formerly known as Expeditionary Learning) network and is deliberately small, with each class liited to a maximum of 100 students.