James Buouie High School celebrates Class of 2026 at Austin ISD commencement

James Buouie High School conferred diplomas on the Class of 2026 at an Austin ISD commencement ceremony that featured district leaders, student speakers and musical performances.

Kayn Brett, the school’s academic director, opened the program and asked guests to maintain dignity and respect during the formal proceedings. Seniors Opel Burns Dryen and Nha Ragunathan led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas pledge.

Dr. David Kaufman, trustee for Austin ISD’s District 7, congratulated graduates and urged them to become ‘‘lifelong advocates for public education,’’ saying that schools face real threats without continued support and civic engagement. ‘‘I urge you to support public education and to fight for it when needed,’’ Kaufman said.

Superintendent Matias Sigura told graduates that the modern public square can be noisy and urged them to be ‘‘unshakable and intentional’’ rather than swept by online outrage. Sigura praised students’ resilience, noting that many graduates spent 13 years in Austin ISD and experienced pandemic-era schooling. ‘‘When you stand firm in who you are, your authentic voice cuts through the noise,’’ Sigura said.

The program included a performance by the James Buouie Silver Sound Choir. Dr. Katherine Mitchell, the substitute principal, then reflected on watching students grow from kindergarten through high school and thanked staff and families for their support.

School officials recognized 74 honor graduates and announced that the Class of 2026 earned a total of $2.7 million in scholarships — figures presented by campus leaders during the ceremony. The honors and scholarship totals were noted as measures of the graduating class’s academic achievements.

Salutatorian Reed Watts encouraged classmates to act even when the path is uncertain: ‘‘If you wait until everything is certain, you’ll never move at all,’’ he told the audience, thanking teachers, family and staff for their support.

Valedictorian Kayla Bueno reflected on the shared experience of pandemic-era schooling and the bonds the class formed at Buouie, and she urged graduates to bring their ideas and energy into the next chapters of their lives.

Following student speeches, district and campus leaders joined the Austin ISD Board of Trustees onstage for the formal certification that candidates had met requirements ‘‘as specified by district policy and state law’’ and a recommendation to award diplomas and certificates. Teachers and staff then called graduates’ names for diploma presentation in a long roll call.

Event staff gave final directions for the recessional, instructing graduates to shift their tassels and exit row by row and asking guests to remain seated until graduates had left the field. The ceremony closed with applause and celebration as families and graduates gathered outside to continue honoring the Class of 2026.