LINN — Linn High School seniors crossed the stage Sunday afternoon as family members, friends, teachers, and community supporters gathered inside the fieldhouse to celebrate the Class of 2026 during the school’s 86th commencement ceremony, which also coincided with Mother’s Day.

Osage County Prosecuting Attorney Amanda Grellner, a 1989 LHS graduate chosen by the senior class, delivered a keynote speech built around five pieces of life advice she said would help graduates succeed regardless of where life leads them.

“Today I want to give you something more useful than a diploma cover,” said Grellner. “I want to give you a blueprint. Five simple things that, if you do them consistently, will carry you further than any degree ever could.”

She opened her remarks humorously while acknowledging both changing technology and generational differences since her own graduation.

“The last time I was up on this stage speaking, I was looking down on my own classmates,” Grellner said, joking, “I won’t mention what year that was as I would hate to give away how young I really am, as that is a closely guarded, well-kept secret that I actually pay people to keep quiet. We had never heard of a cell phone — thank God — or Life360. Now those were the good ol’ days.”

She also joked about seeking speech-writing help from artificial intelligence before deciding to rely instead on life principles that had served her well.

“I reached out to ChatGPT and Claude.ai for some help with a joke or two to get things started — and found they were worse than mine,” Grellner said.

She introduced the “KISS method” — “Keep It Simple, Silly” — before outlining five core principles she encouraged graduates to carry with them.

Her first point focused on simply “showing up.”

“Woody Allen once said that 80 percent of success is just showing up,” Grellner said. “I’d argue it’s even higher than that. The world is full of talented people who never showed up. Brilliant people who slept in. Gifted people who talked themselves out of the room before they ever walked in.”

She noted that success does not require you to be the smartest person in the room or be the most prepared. “But you do have to be there,” Grellner added. “Show up for the job. Show up for the relationship. Show up for yourself — even on the days you don’t feel like it. Especially on those days. Consistency beats talent every single time when talent doesn’t show up.”

Her second point centered on perseverance and learning through failure.

“Life is going to knock you down,” Grellner said. “I’m not saying that to scare you — I’m saying it because it’s true, and you deserve honesty more than you deserve a pretty speech.

“You will fail, and I want you to fail,” she continued. “You will face setbacks that feel unfair, because sometimes they are. Doors will close. Plans will fall apart. People will disappoint you.”

Grellner told graduates they would learn more from failures than successes. “Your failures will show you who and what you truly are,” she said. “Don’t perceive mistakes as failures — perceive them as feedback.”

Drawing from her legal career, Grellner described filing repeated motions she expected to lose because she believed the process itself would ultimately lead to growth and improvement. “Did it stink? Yes,” Grellner said. “Was it, in essence, a waste of time? No. Why? Because we had one this past week, and we won. We learned.”

She also reflected on the advice she frequently gave her sons during difficult moments in school and life. “They would call to debrief and decompress,” Grellner said. “I would listen, and then I would say, ‘Okay, what’s next?’ It’s never the end. You just take the next step, and you just do the next right thing, and soon enough you end up where you were going — one step, one bite, at a time.”

When they were overwhelmed, I would inevitably always say, ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.’ Just keep going.”

Grellner stressed that failures and setbacks should never define a person’s future. “The most successful people you will ever meet are not the ones who never fell or failed,” she said. “They are the ones who got up one more time than they fell down.”

As an example of persistence, Grellner pointed to President Abraham Lincoln’s many setbacks before eventually becoming president. “Abraham Lincoln suffered more than a dozen major setbacks before reaching the presidency — failed businesses, bankruptcy, the death of his fiancée, a nervous breakdown, and seven political defeats spanning nearly three decades,” Grellner said. “He finally won the presidency in 1860 after 28 years of getting back up.”

Grellner’s third point centered on faith and remaining grounded during difficult times.

“In the middle of all of life’s challenges, you need an anchor,” Grellner said. “Something that holds you steady when everything around you is shifting. For me, that’s faith. Stay grounded in something bigger than yourself — whether that’s your God, your values, your family, or your community.

“The world will try to pull you in a hundred directions,” she continued. “Grounded people know which way is up and where they are anchored.”

Her next point encouraged graduates to intentionally choose the people they surround themselves with. “You are the culmination of the five people you choose to spend the most time with,” Grellner said. “Choose wisely. Choose people smarter than you, more successful than you — people who challenge you and who make you want to be better. You’re not looking for ‘yes’ men. You are looking for those you want to learn from — who support you, yet challenge you to be more.”

Grellner shared a personal example involving a longtime friend from high school who continues to inspire her through personal and professional growth. “She is a part of my clan,” Grellner said. “She is an example of all the things I want to be when I grow up. She makes me better — those are your people.”

Her final point urged graduates to continually pursue growth and move beyond their comfort zones. “Growth comes in so many shapes and sizes,” Grellner said. “It can be as simple as learning something new and as big as a new career. It doesn’t matter where you are in life — you should never stop learning new things.”

Grellner described recently meeting with an elderly, terminally ill man who still completed crossword puzzles every morning because he understood “life wasn’t about being stagnant.”

“He knew that life is always about growing and moving forward,” Grellner added.

She emphasized that courage does not mean the absence of fear.

“Here’s a truth nobody tells you: courage doesn’t come before fear,” Grellner said. “It comes after it. You don’t wait until you’re not scared to do the hard thing. You do the hard thing while you’re scared — and that’s what courage actually is.”

Grellner noted that nothing great lives in the comfort zone. “Go find the thing that scares you a little — and walk toward it anyway.”

Referencing President John F. Kennedy’s famous moon speech, Grellner encouraged graduates to pursue difficult goals rather than avoid them.

“‘We choose to do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard,’” Grellner quoted. “‘Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills.’ Never stop growing. Never stop learning. Never let the world convince you that you have arrived and there is nothing left to reach for. The moment you stop growing, you start shrinking.”

Near the conclusion of her remarks, Grellner acknowledged that uncertainty is universal regardless of age or accomplishment. “None of us know what we are doing,” Grellner said. “We didn’t know when we got out of high school, and most people don’t know when they get out of college, or out of anywhere.

“Some days, every one of us in here asks ourselves, ‘What are we doing? Do we know what we are doing?’” Grellner continued.

She said the difference between successful and unsuccessful people is often simply the willingness to continue moving forward.

“Those who are successful just keep going,” Grellner said. “They did the hard things. They just kept taking that next step. Those who are not successful — they stopped at that line. They stayed in the comfort zone, and they refused to grow.”

Grellner closed by summarizing the themes of her address. “Show up,” she said. “Keep going. Stay grounded in faith. Push past your fear. And never, ever stop growing. Class of 2026 — now go to the moon.”

Co-valedictorian Reid Baker reflected on the memories, relationships, and support systems that shaped the graduating class throughout their school careers. “Class of 2026, our day has finally come,” Baker said. “We have looked forward to graduation for 13 years.”

Baker reflected on the changes students experienced entering high school and the lasting relationships formed along the way. “When we started high school four years ago, everything was new to us: a new building, new teachers, and new classmates,” he said. “Now, four years later, we have built strong friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Baker noted the unique timing of this year’s ceremony, which fell on both Mother’s Day and his father’s birthday. “Graduation is already a special occasion, but this year feels even more meaningful because it falls on both Mother’s Day and my dad’s birthday,” he said. “I think that is a reminder that none of us got here alone.”

Throughout his remarks, Baker repeatedly emphasized appreciation for the teachers, coaches, administrators, and staff members who helped students throughout their school careers.

He reflected specifically on longtime educator and counselor Shannon Wolfe, who taught him in elementary school before later serving as the class counselor during middle school and high school.

“I started school in the old elementary building in town, then moved to the new elementary in third grade, where I was lucky enough to have Mrs. Wolfe as my teacher,” Baker said. “She was an amazing teacher in third grade, and throughout middle school and high school, she has continued looking out for us and helped prepare us for our next step in life.”

Baker also credited Linn agriculture instructor and FFA advisor Megan Niederhelm for helping shape his leadership skills and confidence.

“My four years in FFA gave me opportunities to grow in leadership, responsibility, and confidence,” Baker said. “I appreciate Mrs. Niederhelm for the time she invested in me and for pushing me to take advantage of every opportunity FFA had to offer.”

Baker highlighted several opportunities and experiences made possible through FFA participation, including the Missouri Agribusiness Academy, contest teams, and the Washington Leadership Conference.

While reflecting on the support system surrounding Linn students, Baker praised the community’s continued encouragement of school programs and activities. “I am proud to be from Linn,” Baker said. “Our community truly supports our school and students. Whether we were selling items to raise money for trips and activities or competing at events, our community was always behind us. That support does not go unnoticed, and I think that is one of the things that makes a small town special.”

Baker also spoke about the experience of having his mother, high school librarian Robyn Baker, serve as one of the class sponsors during his senior year. “One thing that made this year really memorable was having my mom as one of our class sponsors,” Baker said. “Most people here know her as Mrs. Baker, the high school librarian, but I have always just called her Mom. Having her involved in our senior year gave us a lot of memories that we will laugh about for years.”

Baker said the graduating class should remember not only accomplishments, but also the shared experiences that defined their school years together.

“The memories we made decorating the halls, building homecoming floats, going on field trips, and spending time together in the classroom will stay with us forever,” he continued.

Sports also played a major role in many of Baker’s favorite memories.

“From cross country’s early morning practices running in the dark before school, to afternoon track practices under a blazing sun, sports taught me perseverance, discipline, and how to push myself even when things get difficult,” Baker said.

He shared one lesson repeated often by his mother and coach throughout the years. “One thing my mom, Coach Baker, always tells our class is to ‘kill them with kindness,’” Baker said. “That is something I think all of us should remember because no matter the situation, kindness always matters.”

Baker encouraged classmates to pursue their goals confidently while remaining proud of their roots. Quoting Henry David Thoreau, Baker told graduates to “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. As we leave here today, remember to be bold, work hard, and do everything to the best of your ability. Do not cut corners. Be proud of who you are and where you came from. I am proud of every one of you.”

Baker encouraged classmates to remember more than grades and assignments as they move forward into adulthood. “I hope we leave this school remembering more than test scores and assignments,” Baker said. “I hope we remember the bus rides, the track meets, the FFA contests, the Friday nights, the class trips, the inside jokes, and all the little moments that made these years memorable. Most importantly, I hope we remember the people who helped us get here.”

Baker closed by thanking his parents, teachers, mentors, and fellow graduates for their support and friendship throughout the years.

“To our parents, families, teachers, and mentors: thank you for supporting us, encouraging us, and believing in us even when we doubted ourselves,” Baker said.

“And Mom and Dad, thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” he added. “It feels pretty special to share this day with both of you.”

He also thanked his sister for her support and assistance in preparing the speech.

“To my sister, thank you for always supporting me and encouraging me to work hard,” Baker said of Myra Baker. “You have set a great example for me throughout the years.”

Baker concluded with a familiar phrase often repeated to Linn students throughout their school careers. “And fellow graduates, for the second to last time: ‘Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Amazing, Be a Wildcat!’”

Co-valedictorian Sophia Voss encouraged members of the Class of 2026 to embrace uncertainty, continue growing, and move confidently into the next chapter of their lives. “I am honored to stand before you all as valedictorian and speak on behalf of the Class of 2026,” she said.

Voss thanked mothers, teachers, family members, and community supporters for the roles they played throughout the graduates’ educational journeys. “Without your constant care and tireless effort, we would not be who we are now,” Voss said. “I also want to express my gratitude to the teachers, staff, friends, family, and community members who have come together to celebrate our accomplishments. Your love and support have encouraged us throughout our high school journey and have contributed immensely to our successes.”

Reflecting on the speed at which high school years passed, Voss described graduation as both exciting and emotional. “Today has been a long-awaited day by some and served as a bittersweet milestone for others,” she added. “A day that once seemed so far away four years ago has somehow arrived in what felt like the blink of an eye. We transitioned from eager, impressionable freshmen into independent, ambitious seniors.”

Voss highlighted the many experiences that shaped the graduating class throughout high school. “The sports games, school trips, club activities, late nights, and early mornings changed us every day,” she said. “Their challenges and lessons prepared us for where we are right now, waiting to walk across this stage, receive our diplomas, and start our own lives.”

She described graduation as both an ending and a beginning.

“Today is a day of change,” Voss said. “It marks the end of our high school chapter, but opens an unknown and exciting future.”

“We will be leaving the familiar, traveling in different directions and working to become the people we wish to be,” she added.

Voss acknowledged that entering adulthood can feel intimidating, especially while trying to remain true to personal values. “Creating your own life can seem overwhelming,” she said. “And sticking to morals in a world that often disvalues them is difficult.”

Voss encouraged classmates to embrace the uncertainty ahead rather than fear it. “My advice to you is to let this day change you,” she said. “Let it scare you, because it will also grow you. Let this new beginning motivate you to create your own opportunities and take chances. You now get to ask yourself who you want to be based on the truth of who you are, where nothing is decided yet. Embrace the uncertainty of the future and let it pull you toward discovery, not away from it.”

Voss also reminded graduates that mistakes and setbacks are an inevitable part of growth. “Feel free to make mistakes, but always learn from them,” she said. “Strive for success, but don’t be afraid of failure.”

Quoting Winston Churchill, she added, “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

“So no matter what, continue,” Voss said. “Do it tired. Do it unmotivated. Do it even when no one is watching, because one day you will look back, and realize that you gave this life everything you had.”

As she concluded, Voss reminded classmates that graduation represents a transition into something larger than school itself.

“Today is the day we become more than just students,” Voss said. “We become the change.”

Salutatorian Kristine Wieberg reflected on growth, uncertainty, and perseverance while encouraging classmates to continue searching for meaning and possibility even during life’s most difficult moments.

She described graduation as both exciting and emotional as classmates prepare to move into adulthood and separate paths. “We are faced with a wonderful question,” Wieberg said. “What happens next?”

She acknowledged that uncertainty can feel intimidating, but said it also creates opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

“There’s so much more to try, to learn, and to become,” Wieberg said.

Throughout her remarks, Wieberg repeatedly returned to the idea of hope existing even during difficult or discouraging moments. “I still believe there are miracles,” Wieberg said.

She described life as a process of continuing to search for meaning and purpose despite setbacks, mistakes, and disappointments.

“Through all my mistakes, the more I learn to find,” Wieberg said, encouraging classmates not to allow fear, disappointment, or uncertainty to prevent them from continuing forward. “We now have to be open to all the possibilities around us.”

She urged graduates to hold onto optimism while remaining willing to grow through challenges and change. “It’s a wonderful feeling not knowing the answer,” Wieberg said. “Even when it’s scary.”

Wieberg also reflected on the importance of continuing to move forward one small step at a time. “Sometimes it starts small,” Wieberg said. “A small thought in the back of your mind.”

She encouraged classmates to embrace both hope and perseverance as they move into the next chapter of life.

“As we gather today, we carry our courage into a new period of change,” said Wieberg, who reminded classmates that each person has value and purpose beyond the uncertainty ahead. “May you all discover your own voice.”

Superintendent Bob James recognized the significance of the graduation falling on Mother’s Day and asked mothers in attendance to stand and be recognized. “To the mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, and other women who raised, guided, encouraged, supported, and sometimes carried these students to this very moment, we thank you,” James said. “The accomplishments you’re celebrating today — late nights, early warnings, hard conversations, immediate prayers, the encouragement, sacrifices, and unconditional love — have helped shape the young men and women seated before us today. Graduates, I hope you take the moment today to recognize that your success rests upon those who loved you enough to invest in you every single day.”

He added that every graduate had been supported by a network of people who believed in them, challenged them, celebrated them, and helped them persevere. “This ceremony belongs to all of you as well,” said James of the many guests there to witness the milestone. “Graduates, you’re stepping into a new reality, beginning today. You’re no longer simply students passing through our hallways. You’re young adults. You’re members of this community in a new and very meaningful way. The world begins to ask much of you, but it also offers you great opportunities and will allow you to shape the lives of others as you move forward, whether it’s in college, the military, the workforce, apprenticeships, or family businesses. Remember that strong communities are built by people willing to contribute. Communities need individuals who work hard, serve honestly, read others with dignity, keep their word, and leave them better than they found. This community is invested in you because we believe in you. It. We believe we are capable of doing meaningful work, building strong families, serving others well, and living lives marked by character and by purpose. No matter where life takes you, you always have roots here, and we hope you’ll hear the values of this community with you. Class of 2026, congratulations, we are very proud of you. We’re very grateful for you, and we did not wait to see what comes next.”

Principal Erin Sassmann centered her commencement remarks around an unusual but memorable theme, asking graduates to look down at the shoes they wore into the ceremony and consider the journey those shoes had already carried them through.

“Those shoes, along with the shoes that you wear every day, have a story,” Sassmann said. “They walked you into this building on your very first day, maybe a little nervous and trying to pretend not to be.”

She reflected on the many experiences students encountered throughout their school careers. “They carried you down these hallways, into classrooms, onto fields, stages, and courts,” Sassmann said. “They’ve stood through long practices, big games, tough tests, and, let’s be honest, a few classes you were probably just trying to stay awake for.”

While acknowledging the memories attached to those experiences, Sassmann said commencement represented more than reflecting on the past.

“Today isn’t just about where your shoes have been,” she said. “It’s where your shoes are going to take you.”

Sassmann described the variety of shoes worn by graduates as symbolic of the different paths and experiences students have already faced.

“Some of you are wearing brand-new shoes, cleaned, polished, maybe saved for just this moment,” she noted. “They represent fresh starts and big dreams ahead. Some of you are wearing shoes that are a little more worn. They’re comfortable, dependable, the kind that have already brought you through a lot. Those shoes tell a story of hard work, perseverance, and miles already traveled.”

Sassmann emphasized that success is not determined by appearances, but by character and perseverance. “Life isn’t about having the perfect pair,” Sassmann said. “It’s about what you do in them.”

She reminded graduates that their futures will follow many different paths.

“As you leave Linn High School, you’re stepping into a world where no one path looks the same,” Sassmann said. “Some of you are headed to college, some to careers, some into the workforce, and some of you are still figuring out what you’re going to do next, and that’s okay.”

Sassmann told graduates that some days would feel easy, like they’re walking on a smooth, flat road. “And then there will be days where you feel like you’re walking uphill in the rain in shoes that weren’t made for that day,” she added.

Sassmann encouraged graduates to remember the resilience they have already demonstrated. “You’ve already done hard things,” she said. “You’ve already made it through lots of challenges. You’ve shown resilience even when it wasn’t easy. If you made it this far and through high school group assignments, you can make it through anything.”

Sassmann also encouraged students to appreciate those who supported them along the way. “Don’t forget the people who tied your shoes along the way,” she said. “The ones who supported you, pushed you, believed in you even on the days when you didn’t believe in yourself.”

Sassmann challenged graduates to provide that same support to others in the future. “Someday somebody is going to need you to do the same for them,” she said. “Be that person.”

Sassmann also urged graduates to continue moving forward courageously, even when life becomes difficult.

“Walk boldly in your shoes,” Sassmann said. “Walk kindly, walk with integrity. And when you fall — and you will — get back up and dust your shoes off, because falling isn’t failure. Quitting is.”

She reminded graduates that the moments they ultimately remember will not necessarily be academic. “Years from now, you won’t remember every test, every class, everything you did in high school,” Sassmann said. “But you will remember the steps you took, the risks you took, the people you helped, and the moments you chose courage over comfort.”

Sassmann concluded by encouraging students to embrace opportunities and challenges alike. “Wherever your shoes take you, make it count,” Sassmann said. “Make it meaningful and make it matter. Walk into rooms that challenge you. Walk toward opportunities that scare you. Walk beside people who make you better.”

Quoting Dr. Seuss near the end of her remarks, Sassmann reminded students that their futures are now in their own hands. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose,” she said. “Your shoes are laced, your future is waiting, and your story is just now getting started.”

During the ceremony, administrators also recognized scholarship recipients, A+ scholarship qualifiers, and students who earned associate degrees through East Central College while completing high school.

The ceremony included performances by the Linn High School Chamber Choir and Band, along with a rose presentation in which seniors recognized individuals who made a meaningful impact on their lives.

Members of the top-10 are co-valedictorian Reid Baker (4.00), Sophia Voss (4.00), Christine Wieberg (3.99), Mac Klouzek (3.98), Evan Grellner (3.97), Elizabeth Sprenger (3.959), Sydney Skirvin (3.954), Jason Greer (3.949), Gus Peters (3.949), Miranda Berry (3.946), and Emerson Bowser (3.946).

Seniors earned $1,134,722 in scholarships.