To the Class of 2026,
There is a moment at every graduation when time seems to stand still. A moment to reflect not only on what has been accomplished, but on what is now possible.
For the Class of 2026, that sense of possibility is extraordinary.
You are stepping into a world that is waiting for you, a world that needs leaders, innovators and problem solvers. But more than anything, it needs people of character, people who lead by example, people who lift others, people who leave every place better than they found it.
You do not have to search far to find that example.
Victor Glover, a graduate of Ontario High School, once sat where you are sitting now, filled with questions about what the future might hold. Through discipline, courage and a commitment to something greater than himself, he rose to become a U.S. Navy pilot and a NASA astronaut and helped lead the historic Artemis II mission that carried humans around the moon.
It is an extraordinary story. Yet it began right here.
What makes his journey so powerful is not just where he went, but who he chose to become along the way. He embraced learning. He stayed grounded in his values. He became someone others could believe in.
That same capacity to grow, to lead and to make a difference is within your reach.
Whether your path leads to college, career training, military service or directly into the workforce, your impact begins the moment you step forward. Being a role model is not about recognition. It is about integrity. It is about consistency. It is about choosing, every day, to do what is right and to bring others with you.
The Inland Empire is growing, changing and full of opportunity. From health care to technology, from logistics to the skilled trades, the future is being built all around you. And now, it will be shaped by you.
As you move forward, you are not just taking the next step. You are launching into something greater. There will be challenges that test you and moments that demand your best.
Rise to them. Push beyond them. And go farther than anyone expects, including yourself.
On behalf of our teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff, thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. We are proud of who you are and inspired by how far you will go.
Congratulations, Class of 2026.
Go forward. Build a life that matters. And wherever you go, be the reason someone else believes anything is possible.
Mathew Holton, Ed.D. – Superintendent