The Heritage Hall Class of 2026 is ready for what comes next.

Heritage Hall celebrated 91 graduates on Thursday, May 21, during its commencement ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, honoring a class headed to colleges, universities, and programs across Oklahoma and the country. Thirty-eight percent of the class will remain in state, while others will continue their academic journeys in 25 states beyond Oklahoma.

“The Class of 2026 has left an indelible mark on your alma mater and on those of us who were fortunate enough to work with you,” President Aaron L. Fetrow told graduates. “It is with great pride and immense pleasure that I accept the members of the Class of 2026 for the presentation of their diplomas.”

The ceremony opened with a greeting from Georgia Gray, president of the Class of 2026, followed by opening remarks from Audrey Flynn, salutatorian. Matthew A. Carolan, Head of School, served as the commencement speaker, and Stavros Chrysant, valedictorian, delivered the class’s valedictory remarks.

“There is no canonical way to measure your life,” Chrysant told his classmates. “No leaderboard, award, scorecard or progress bar will ever adequately measure your value in this world. Focus on the value you bring to this world and honing it ever better. We are strong, we are capable, and we have our future ahead of us.”

Among this year’s graduates are 29 Heritage Hall Lifers, students who began at HH in first grade and will now graduate as members of the Class of 2026.

The class’s most popular college destinations include the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma, Texas Christian University, and the University of Arkansas. The farthest destination is Boston University, while the closest is the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Class of 2026 also includes 16 signed student-athletes who will continue competing at the next level in baseball, football, golf, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.

Thirteen students will attend colleges with acceptance rates below 20%, including Boston University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Northeastern University, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, Vassar College, Washington University in St. Louis, and the United States Military Academy at West Point.

During the ceremony, Heritage Hall also recognized Betsy Jett ’91 with the Distinguished Alumni Award. The award was presented by Brett Bogert ’05 and Ian Self ’16.

Heritage Hall recognized members of the Cum Laude Society, Challenge Scholars, Challenge Artists, community award recipients, departmental award winners, and special honor recipients. Among the special honors, Graycen McKone and Caroline Hodges received the Elton Knutson Community Service Award; David Griffin and Sloane Travis were named Outstanding Senior Class Members; Kaylee Norman received the Laura A. Shoffner Award; Finn Martin received the Christopher B. Arnold Award; Hastings Grant received the Sara Brinson ’07 Award; Josephine Toll received the Beverly Kowalski Award; Andrew Fulton received the Chrissy Moorad ’95 Memorial Award; Audrey Flynn, Hannah Brown, and Morgan Buckner received the President’s Award; and Zeffie Elenburg received the Faculty Award.

Graduates in the Class of 2026 will attend Belmont University, Boston University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Case Western Reserve University, Coastal Carolina University, Colorado School of Mines, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Emporia State University, Florida Institute of Technology, Fordham University, Fort Hays State University, Furman University, George Washington University, Howard University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Miami University-Oxford, Northeastern University, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Soka University of America, Southern Methodist University, Southwestern College, St. John’s College-Annapolis, SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology, Texas Christian University, The University of Alabama, The University of Tampa, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of Texas at Austin, United States Military Academy-West Point, University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, University of Central Oklahoma, University of Connecticut, University of Kansas, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Oklahoma, University of Southern California, University of Tulsa, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Vanderbilt University, Vassar College, Washington University in St. Louis, Wichita State University, and Xavier University.

Congratulations to the Heritage Hall Class of 2026.