The Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Class of 2026 closed one chapter and began another on June 5 as 415 seniors graduated during commencement ceremonies before celebrating together at the annual Project Graduation event later that evening.
The event began at 5:30 p.m., bringing together students, families, faculty, and community members to honor the graduating class. Two student speakers, Solaina Chandra, and Anna Li, reflected on the experiences, challenges, and memories that shaped the Class of 2026, highlighting friendships formed, lessons learned, and excitement for the future. As each graduate crossed the stage to receive a diploma, cheers erupted from the crowd. The ceremony celebrated four years of academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and personal growth.
The two student speakers, whose speeches are linked above, were selected through a competitive application process, which was open to all seniors. Students submitted their original speeches for consideration, which were reviewed and narrowed down to a group of finalists. Finalists then presented their speeches before a panel of staff judges, who then selected the two speakers featured at the graduation ceremony. This process gave seniors a chance to share their different experiences and perspectives while also helping select speeches that represented the class of 2026.
Superintendent Peter Light presented the William Ryan Community Service Award to the Acton Food Pantry in recognition for all they have done for the community, noting their impact since 1984. Lisa Gordon, Lindsey Miller, Tania Philipp, and Renee Soluk came to the stage to accept the award on behalf of the organization. The annual award began in 1995 and was named after Superintendent Bill Ryan in 2009.
The full commencement ceremony, including the procession and diploma presentations, is available to watch online through Acton TV’s recording of the 2026 graduation. Families, Friends, and community members who were unable to attend in person can stream the full event here: Acton Boxborough Regional High School Graduation.
At 10 p.m., graduates returned to ABRHS for Project Graduation, an overnight celebration providing a safe and memorable send-off. Running until 5 a.m., the event drew a large turnout and featured a basketball tournament, casino-style games, caricature drawings, raffles, and prizes. Numerous local businesses contributed food, refreshments, and gift cards, helping keep the energy high throughout the night.
“Graduation and Project Graduation was an experience… It was a great last send-off and chance to see some people I may not see ever again. I wish I could do it all over again,” said Hudson Schwartz, who will attend Syracuse University in the fall.
Together, the two events offered a fitting conclusion to the high school experience — honoring the Class of 2026’s achievements and the connections that made their time at Acton-Boxborough memorable.
As the sun rose on June 6, 415 graduates left campus ready to begin the next stage of their journeys.
Lucas Corbett is a senior at Acton Boxborough Regional High School who is interning as a writer at the Acton Exchange. He is planning on attending Syracuse University as a sports management major.
