BY KARISSA MILLER
The gymnasium at South Iredell High School was buzzing with excitement Saturday morning as the 467 members of the school’s 60th graduating class marched in to “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Attendees rose from the bleachers, as seniors, donning navy robes and gold stoles, took their seats. Family, friends and faculty cheered for the Class of 2026 as they arrived to graduation and a huge moment in their lives.
South Iredell’s Marine Corp JROTC Color Guard presented the Colors and the school’s Viking Voices performed the National Anthem.
Felina Harris, a Troutman native, council member and mother of graduating senior Andrew Harris, delivered the keynote address. She challenged the graduates to believe in themselves and step confidently into the future. She emphasized that success is built through perseverance, resilience and faith in their own abilities.
“Do not let fear stop you from becoming who you were created to be,” Harris said. “The road ahead may not always be easy, but you already have the strength to overcome challenges because you’ve proven that here.”
Speaking directly to the graduates from the perspective of someone who sat exactly where they were sitting 36 years ago, she delivered a message centered on overcoming personal adversity. She told the Class of 2026 that she battled with depression, loss and career hurdles.
Harris told students that success is rarely a linear journey.
“Graduates, your journey may not always be a straight path. It may have twists. It may have turns. It may completely reroute when you thought you had your GPS set perfectly,” she explained.
“And unlike your GPS, life won’t politely say, ‘Rerouting.’ Sometimes life just lets you figure it out while you cry in a parking lot. Or, for some of us moms … in the car parked in the driveway or garage,” she added.
Principal Robert Little told the Class of 2026 that the day represented far more than academic achievement.
“This celebration is not only about academic success, but also about the friendships formed, the lessons learned and the support and guidance that brought each student to this moment.”
Little congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to continue pursuing their goals with determination and integrity.
Senior Class President Ella Troutman reflected on the bonds created during their four years together, from football games to stressful exams and unforgettable classroom memories.
“We made it,” Troutman said. “There were moments that tested us, but we kept going and supported one another through it all.”
By the Numbers: Class of 2026
• $3.9 Million in scholarships
• 154 – Graduates heading straight into four-year colleges and universities.
• 109 – Students enrolling in community college programs to advance their education.
• 103 – Graduates transitioning directly into the workforce to launch their careers.
• 37 – Graduates attending community college while working.
• 13 – Seniors to enlistment in the various branches of the U.S. Military.
• 8 – Graduates securing specialized, hands-on professional apprenticeships.
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