(Geronimo) – With graduation just hours away, Navarro High School’s top students are sharing more about their academic journey – leading this year’s Class of 2026.
Earning the title of Valedictorian is senior John Kehoe. Kehoe says his academic success grew naturally out of his passion for mathematics and engineering.
“I think it came along naturally with all the hard work that I’ve done. My big focus in academics technically was just mathematics. I did a lot of competition for UIL academics, placed in state for a lot of different math events. I just went a couple days ago. My passion kind of lies in engineering and everything. So, I guess, I’m lucky that one of the things I’m passionate about just so happens to be such a core part of academics. So, the title valedictorian kind of came along with that through my hard work and focus on math,” said Kehoe.
Following graduation, Kehoe says he plans to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio.
“I plan to go to UTSA for four years. I’m going to be studying mechanical engineering. I hope to get into a lot of the programs that they have there. I’ve been talking to some professors, trying to get some opportunities to work on major labs or do a lot of research before I even worry about my classes there. There are a lot of things that I want to do — specifically in turbo machinery, trying to figure out better, more efficient ways to produce energy. The last thing I want to be is a defense contractor. Hopefully, at UTSA, I’ll find people there who share my same goals and who respect all the stuff that I know,” said Kehoe.
Kehoe says he also plans to share a message with his fellow graduates – a message that will help inspire their next move.
“To be confident in who they are, to know that they have control in their lives and that regardless of what they see online or what other people tell them, social media kind of made it very (evident) that if you haven’t done this by a certain age or if you’re not a millionaire, then you’re falling behind and they make it seem like you have to be crazy successful to live a happy life. And I see that a lot now. S,o what I want them to take away is that no matter what, do what you can and do it well. Be happy. Find something passionate you want to do in life and do it. Don’t spend your life living someone else’s dreams,” said Kehoe.
Named Salutatorian for the Class of 2026 is Kathryn Dahlke. Dahlke says she was surprised but honored to finish second in her graduating class.
“I honestly like wasn’t expecting to be #2. It just happened to be like that. I always strive to work hard and like do my best in all my classes and obviously like wanting to get all A’s but it was kind of a surprise but I’m really happy with how it turned out,” said Dahlke.
After graduation, Dahlke says she plans to attend The University of Texas at Austin.
“I will be heading to the University of Texas at Austin to major in health and society for four years. And then, I hope to maybe go into an accelerated nursing program to get that and then become a nurse anesthetist,” said Dahlke.
Graduation ceremonies for Navarro High School’s Class of 2026 are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Erwin-Lee Stadium.