Local graduates get ready for big day
By Melissa Knific and Jay Skurski
Thursday, June 10, 2026

No one ever said growing up was easy.

But according to local seniors, it sure is exciting.

“With high school ending, it just opens the door to a whole realm of possibilities,” Lewiston-Porter senior Alex Palumbo said.

In the next few weeks, a flood of graduation ceremonies will take place. Seniors will be faced with numerous challenges, including what to do after they receive their diplomas.

Like Palumbo, who will be heading to Arizona State University this fall, many have decided to further their education.

Wilson senior Scott Causer plans to attend State University of New York at Buffalo and study architecture. He believes his school prepared him to excel and meet his academic goals.

“I think I’ll be more prepared than most,” he said.

With the eagerness to move on comes a bit of nervousness about what the future holds.

Niagara Falls senior Brittany Pryor, who will begin a new phase of her life in August at Syracuse University, knows the transition will be difficult.

“I’m going to miss my friends and the connection I had with my teachers,” she said. “I’m not sure if that will be there in college.”

Others echoed the same sentiment about the split from their high school companions.

“They say about two-thirds of the people you know in high school you lose contact with, so I’m upset about that,” Niagara Falls senior Nicole Wallace said.

However, Wilson senior Christina Lambros understands it comes with transition.

“It’s just the whole part of growing up and moving on,” she said.

But before a new stage begins in the lives of local seniors, a number plan to do one thing important to every teenager.

“I’ll be sleeping a lot this summer,” Niagara Falls senior Anjum Kashmiri said. After catching up on rest, he hopes to attend Niagara University and major in political science.



High school graduations

- Niagara Catholic — 7 p.m. on Friday (June 11) in high school gym

- Grand Island — 7 p.m. on June 24 at Kleinhan’s Music Hall

- Niagara-Wheatfield — 7 p.m. on June 24 at Artpark

- Niagara Falls — noon on June 26 at the Conference Center Niagara Falls

- Lewiston-Porter — 7 p.m. on June 25 at Artpark

- Starpoint — 7 p.m. on June 25 in high school auditorium

- Wilson — 9 a.m. on June 26 at Artpark


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