The first High School Graduation took place on Friday evening.
Riverside celebrated the Class of 2026 in the Riverside High School gymnasium in DeGraff.
This year’s graduating class includes 53 seniors.
Emma Strayer has been named class valedictorian, while Lillian Huber earned salutatorian honors.
Both students spoke during the ceremony alongside Pastor Michael Mitchell of Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff and Quincy Methodist Church.
The Class of 2026 selected raspberry red and cornflower blue as class colors, the iris as the class flower, and the quote:
“May the rest of our lives be the best of our lives.”
Class officers include President Zoey Ransbottom, Vice President Ashley Roach, Secretary Allison Estep, and Treasurer Gillian Knight.
Riverside High School Principal Kelly Kauffman and Superintendent Dr. Scott Mann also took part in the ceremony.
Principal Kauffman gives her thoughts on the school’s latest graduating class.
Superintendent Dr. Scott Mann reflects on the Class of 2026
Scholarship and Award Recipients
Riverside seniors also earned $595,289 in scholarships and awards to continue their education and career training opportunities.
- Margaret Beaty — $19,540
- Bellefontaine Daily Digital Scholarship — $500
- Ohio War Veterans’ Children Scholarship (W05) — $19,040
- Sage Ervin — $1,000
- Logan County Career Launch Grant — $1,000
- Lillian Huber — $20,000
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship — $20,000
- Grady Jenkins — $7,833
- Riverside Athletic Booster Scholarship — $250
- Doris Wagner Memorial Scholarship — $333
- Boggs Lodge Scholarship — $500
- William C. & Esther Mohr Scholarship — $1,000
- LCEF Scholarship — $2,000
- LCEF Riverside Scholarship — $3,750
- Camden King — $500
- Riverside Music Boosters Scholarship — $500
- Gillian Knight — $123,933
- Franklin B. Walter Finalist Award — $100
- Doris Wagner Memorial Scholarship — $333
- Riverside Music Boosters Scholarship — $500
- Logan County 4-H Scholarship — $500
- OSU Lima Rudd Finalist — $750
- Bob & Susie Smithers Legacy in Education Scholarship — $1,000
- William C. & Esther Mohr Scholarship — $1,000
- OSU Logan County Alumni Scholarship — $1,600
- OSU Alumni Scholars Program — $2,400
- LCEF Riverside Scholarship — $3,750
- Kent State Academic Achievement Award — $24,000
- Columbus College of Art & Design Scholarship — $88,000
- Hayden McCully — $161,833
- Doris Wagner Memorial Scholarship — $333
- Bellefontaine Professional Firefighters Scholarship — $500
- Froman Scholarship — $1,000
- William C. & Esther Mohr Scholarship — $1,000
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship — $20,000
- Bowling Green State University Scholarship — $27,000
- Ohio Northern University Scholarship — $112,000
- Reaghan McDaniel — $77,250
- Quest Federal Credit Union Scholarship — $500
- Vincent Hill Scholarship — $750
- North Greenville University Scholarship — $76,000
- Madison Parker — $1,000
- Bellefontaine Rotary Scholarship — $1,000
- Zoey Ransbottom — $52,250
- Riverside Athletic Boosters Scholarship — $250
- Jacqualine Manahan-Baughman Scholarship — $1,000
- William C. & Esther Mohr Scholarship — $1,000
- Mickie Leagre Education Scholarship — $6,000
- Miami University Scholarship — $44,000
- Ashley Roach — $41,150
- Boggs Lodge Scholarship — $500
- John Minchin UAW Scholarship — $500
- Logan County Electric Cooperative Scholarship — $500
- Logan County 4-H Scholarship — $500
- Makayla Brandyberry Memorial Scholarship — $500
- Bob & Susie Smithers Legacy in Education Scholarship — $1,000
- William C. & Esther Mohr Scholarship — $1,000
- LCEF DCR Make A Difference Scholarship — $2,000
- James Forsythe Milroy Foundation Scholarship — $2,500
- Ohio’s Electric Cooperative Scholarship — $3,400
- LCEF Riverside Scholarship — $3,750
- Lyn A. Davidson Memorial Scholarship — $5,000
- Jim Redman Scholarship — $20,000
- Hayden Sanford — $26,500
- Bowling Green State University Scholarship — $26,500
- Camden Shoe — $34,000
- University of Toledo Scholarship — $10,000
- Wright State University Scholarship — $24,000
- Emma Strayer — $28,000
- Bellefontaine Professional Firefighters Scholarship — $500
- Huntsville Scholarship — $500
- Jacqualine Manahan-Baughman Scholarship — $500
- Vincent Hill Scholarship — $750
- Bellefontaine Rotary Club Scholarship — $1,000
- Buckeye State Bank Scholarship — $1,000
- LCEF Riverside Scholarship — $3,750
- Governor’s Merit Scholarship — $20,000
- Mariah Williams — $500
- Makayla Brandyberry Memorial Scholarship — $500
School officials also noted that the grand total includes a generous gift of $100 to each graduating senior, made possible through fundraising efforts by Scherer Premier Marketing.
Riverside High School Class of 2026 Graduates
- Margaret Beaty
- Carston Bell
- Westin Bower
- Joel Brooks
- Paul Brown
- Sydney Carnes
- Abigail Clary
- Chase Conrad
- Gage Ervin
- Allison Estep
- Lucas Foreman
- Jason Friend
- James Goings
- Zavier Herron
- Lillian Huber
- Jeremiah Huston Jr.
- Grady Jenkins
- A’liyah Johnson
- Kaylean Jones
- Cameron Jordan
- Elijah Kindle
- Camden King
- Gillian Knight
- Reid Legge
- Kaden Lillard
- Jackson Linet
- Hayden McCully
- Reaghan McDaniel
- Ayden Mees
- Cheyenne Oakley
- Madison Parker
- Leah Parrett
- Zoey Ransbottom
- Ashley Roach
- Kaylee Robinson
- Tony Robinson
- Raelynn Sagraves
- Hayden Sanford
- Blaine Shoe
- Camden Shoe
- Ashton Shoffner
- Preston Smith
- Caleb Snyder
- Jarrett Stahler
- Emma Strayer
- Evan Strayer
- Chelsea Trout
- Leland Warner
- Ce’Jay Watson
- Lilian Weese
- Mariah Williams
- Alexander Winfrey
- Dallas Young
Congratulations, Pirate Class of 2026!
