A crowd of nearly 2,000 community members gathered at Wildcat Pride Field on May 16 to watch as 102 graduates of Cuba High School’s (CHS) Class of 2026 claimed their diplomas.

“Tonight is a night that you will remember for the rest of your lives,” CHS Principal Michael Clutts said in his opening remarks. “For some of you, this moment feels like it took forever to get here. For others, it came far too quickly. But no matter how you got here, tonight we’ll celebrate the journey that brought you to this stage.”

Clutts told the seniors they were made for more than just getting by and it’s up to them how they respond to obstacles.

“More than fear, more than doubt, more than allowing failure or disappointment define who you are,” Clutts said. “Each of you was created with unique gifts, talents, purpose and potential that this world desperately needs. There will be moments in life where you are tempted to settle for comfort, to play it safe or to believe the lie that you are not capable. Do not believe that. Some of the greatest opportunities in life come when you are willing to step outside your comfort zone. 

“Success will not come easy. There will be setbacks and there will be failures. But your future is not determined by obstacles that you will face, it is determined by how you respond to those obstacles.” 

The seniors arrived and took their seats on the track in front of the grandstand as the CHS band played the processional. Superintendent Dr. Scott Davidson welcomed those in attendance and, after Clutts’ remarks, senior class Secretary Cailyn Hulsey welcomed the first senior class speaker, Amanda Davidson to the podium. 

Davidson is the daughter of Sarah McLain. She will attend State Technical College of Missouri to study digital marketing, and plans to build a future in the business world using her creativity and communication skills. 

Davidson spoke about the process of being in high school and finding oneself in the process. 

“High school, in many ways, has been a kind of masquerade — a place where everyone is figuring out who they are while also trying to be who they think they’re supposed to be,” Davidson said. 

“We’ve all played different roles over the past four years. Some of us were athletes, artists, overachievers, or quiet observers in the back of the room. A lot of us were a mix of everything, constantly changing depending on the day or the people around us. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing.”

Davidson credited her drama class to her development throughout her time at Cuba High School. 

“For me, one of the biggest places where that happened was drama class. And yes, I know it’s ironic that the person from drama class is talking about masks and roles, but drama didn’t just teach me how to act — it taught me how to connect with people. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me that it’s okay to mess up, try again, and not have everything figured out immediately.”

After a special performance by the Advanced Chorus under the direction of Matt Sherrill, senior class treasurer, Ariann Hahn, introduced the second student speaker, Ella Storie. She is the daughter of Michelle Riley and Donald Storie. After graduation, Storie plans to attend cosmetology school and pursue her passion for hairstyling. 

Storie addressed the many feelings that come with graduation and highlighted dealing with fear. 

“Right now, I think most of us are feeling the same thing: excitement, but also fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failing, fear of making the wrong decision—and that’s okay,” she said. “Actress Carrie Fisher once said, ‘Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.’ 

“I don’t think fear is something we are supposed to get rid of. I think it’s proof that we are growing. After all, you don’t get scared when you’re doing something familiar. You get scared when you’re stepping into something bigger, something new. The future isn’t waiting for us to be comfortable, it’s waiting for us to begin.”

Storie concluded by advocating for her classmates to not let fear or wanting to be comfortable stop them from trying something new. 

“As we walk across this stage and into whatever comes next, let’s not wait until we feel ready,” Storie said. “Let’s move to that new city, go to that college, and introduce ourselves to new people. Take the risk. Seek the happiness that comes with it.”

The CHS band was joined by the seniors for a special performance before graduates were recognized by high school counselor Tonya Hulbert for their after-high school plans, from going to work, trade schools, and colleges to the military, academy achievements, A+ honors, and scholarships earned. 

Lillian Baker, senior class vice president, introduced the graduation speaker selected by the students, Jeri Ann Herwig. 

“ This class holds a very special place in my heart because I had the privilege of teaching some of them in kindergarten and more of them when I moved to second grade, including a few students who were in both of my classes,” Herwig said.  

Herwig’s speech was highlighted by the idea of change, and how it is necessary to be adaptable when dealing with others while being OK with accepting change in oneself. 

“Change is exciting when we choose it. It’s hard when it chooses us,” Herwig said. “The truth is, change doesn’t stop after high school. Some of you are heading to college, trade schools, entering the work force, joining the military or following other paths.

“For a lot of you, life may not go exactly as planned and that’s okay because success is not about avoiding change, it’s about learning how to grow with it. The world you are entering changes constantly. The people willing to learn, adapt and continue moving forward even when life becomes uncertain, are the ones who tend to thrive the most. Don’t be afraid to outgrow old versions of yourself. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to discover new dreams. You are allowed to fail, recover and start again.”

“Change is inevitable, like it or not. However, there is comfort in knowing that some things won’t change; that they will stay the same,” Herwig said. “For example, at the end of each school day, I hug my students, I say have a good night, I‘ll see you tomorrow, and I love you. In your case, I can’t come down to give you each a hug, but I can give you a token “A little pocket hug,” which I’ve placed in each of your graduation packets. So I’ll leave you with this: here’s your hug, have a good night and I hope to see you again soon, and I love you. That’s something that will never change,” Herwig concluded.

The graduates then received their diplomas after hearing their names read across the loudspeaker as they walked across the stage and were greeted by Cuba R-2 District Board of Education President Jennifer Moreland and other school board members for a photo opportunity.

Emma Harris, CHS senior class president, guided the audience and her classmates in a prayer before leading the transferring of the tassels for her fellow graduates. 

The graduates were then dismissed and exited to the sounds of raucous applause and air horns.