SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Celebrates Resilience, Community and New Beginnings for the Class of 2026

SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Celebrates Resilience, Community and New Beginnings for the Class of 2026

Sixteen seniors crossed the stage during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) Commencement on Friday, May 15, celebrating a graduating class defined by resilience, adaptability and perseverance.

On a bright, breezy morning at the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus, family members, friends, faculty and staff applauded graduates as they marked the milestone together.

"As the Class of 2026, we have all experienced a variety of changes," said valedictorian Anthony Ayers. "We learned to adapt every single year."

Ayers encouraged his classmates to recognize the significance of their accomplishment and the resilience that carried them to graduation day.

"We didn't wait for this day to come," Ayers said. "We worked for it, and we built it."

Ayers, who will attend SIUE this fall as a Meridian Scholar, was recognized during the ceremony alongside fellow scholarship recipients and students honored for academic achievement and attendance.

SIUE Police Sgt. and school resource officer Kasey Hoyd introduced Ayers to the podium and reflected on his leadership, involvement and determination. Hoyd, who served as a mentor to many CHS students during the school year, described Ayers as a student committed to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

The ceremony also featured remarks from 2018 CHS valedictorian and East St. Louis native Lake Mitchell, founder of Lake Tax and Advisory Group, first lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard and a doctoral student pursuing a degree in industrial engineering and operations research.

Mitchell encouraged graduates to make intentional decisions about their futures and to remain grounded in possibility rather than limitation. During her address, she reflected on overcoming fear, trusting the decisions that shape a person's future and refusing to allow statistics or circumstances to define success.

"Where you're from is not your limitation, it is your origin story," said Mitchell. "Origin stories don't disqualify you, they fuel you."
Mitchell also encouraged graduates to remain intentional about the people, information and influences they allow into their lives, emphasizing the importance of faith, mentorship and personal accountability.

A CHS longstanding tradition at commencement is the Hope Rope presentation, an interactive part of the ceremony where students are tasked with identifying accountability partners and CHS mentors by sharing threads of woven yarn. The presentation symbolizes the lifelong support systems these students will carry with them beyond graduation.

During the presentation, class sponsors Bridget Nelson and Marquita Holton reminded graduates that even as they move into the next phase of their lives, they remain connected to the community and relationships built during their years at CHS.

"As your class sponsors, we've had the privilege of watching you grow into leaders, creators, teammates and young adults ready to make your mark on the world," said Holton during the ceremony.

For many students and families, the day represented not only academic achievement, but also perseverance through personal and collective challenges. The outdoor ceremony reflected this sentiment as wind swept across the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus, and graduates shielded their caps and gowns as the late morning sun intensified overhead.

Graduate Nazara Adams, who fought back tears as she collected her diploma, spoke on the bond shared by the Class of 2026.
"We were always there for each other, and we didn't give up," said Adams.

Adams, the first graduate to cross the stage during the ceremony, also shared the significance of the milestone for her family.
"I'm the oldest child," she said. "I'm the first to graduate in two generations, and we're all very proud."

Sheila Caldwell, the SIU Vice President for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion reflected on the role CHS continues to play in preparing students from East St. Louis and surrounding communities for success beyond high school.

"These types of programs are very important because they show the pipeline, strengthen community ties and also show the possibilities," said Caldwell. "Just being able to show the type of impact we're able to make throughout the region is very powerful."

As graduates turned their tassels from right to left, applause roared in celebration of a class defined by adaptability, encouragement and hope for what comes next.

"We might be small, but we're mighty," said director and principal Kimberly Allen.

• Nazara Adams
• Kenard Alverson
• Keya Anderson
• Anthony Ayers
• Jayda Batee
• Kashayla Campbell
• Akia Cotton
• Myron Floore
• Marquon Hunter
• Breon Johnson-Cavitt
• Destiny Jones
• Everett Newbern
• Jamilah Reeves
• Louise Rogers
• Lavont Suggs
• Rosie Washington

Photos by Howard Ash.