Welcome to the Schaumburg High School’s ceremony! Below, we’ve provided copies of your graduation speeches. If you need to change the language on this page, click the drop down menu in the top right corner of this page to select a language from the list.
*Note, some speeches may not be available.
Congratulations District 211 Graduates
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Introduction
Mr. Tom Mocon
Principal
Good evening. I am Tom Mocon, proud principal of Schaumburg High School and
welcome to Schaumburg High School’s 53rd Annual Commencement Ceremony!
At this time, I invite our guests to stand, if able, and kindly remove your caps. It is my
pleasure to introduce a talented group of students who will begin our ceremony by
honoring our country with the singing of the National Anthem. Please welcome the
Schaumburg High School Concert Choir.
Thank you. Please be seated.
At this time, I would like to welcome Dr. Judith Campbell, Superintendent of Township
High School District 211; Board of Education President Steven Rosenblum; and Board
of Education member Anne Lopez.
Tonight is a celebration. It is a moment where we gather together to recognize just how
far the students in front of us have come.
To the Class of 2026 – each of you took a unique path to get here. At times during your
high school career, your unique path was smooth. Other times the path was filled with
challenges and moments that tested you. But what matters is this: no matter the path,
you made it. And tonight, those individual journeys come together as one collective
story – one graduating class, united in this moment.
At Schaumburg High School, our mission is to empower students to grow. And when I
look out at you tonight, I see exactly what that means. Growth does not happen in
isolation – it happens through meaningful relationships, through a strong sense of
community, through a commitment to inclusivity, through innovation, and through a
mindset of continuous learning. Those are not just words we say – they are the
experiences you have lived.
Over the past four years, you have grown academically and, more importantly, as
individuals. You have learned how to think, how to adapt, how to persevere, and how to
support one another. You have helped shape this school into a place where people feel
connected and inspired.
And while tonight is about you, it is also important to recognize that you did not get here
alone.
To the families in this arena tonight – thank you. Thank you for the countless ways you
have supported, encouraged, and stood beside your students. The early mornings, the
late nights, and the belief you carried for them, especially when they needed it most,
made all the difference. This moment belongs to you as well.
Graduates, as you leave Schaumburg High School, you carry more than just a diploma.
You carry your experiences, your relationships, and whether you realize it now or not,
you carry the responsibility to continue growing.
Our hope for you is simple: that you go out into the world ready to shine. Share your
talents. Take risks. Stay curious. Build meaningful relationships. Bring people in. Lift
others up. Keep learning. And wherever life takes you, show the world what it means to
come from Schaumburg High School.
We are incredibly proud of you – not just for what you have achieved, but for who you
have become. And while this chapter is coming to a close, your story is only beginning.
Go out, grow forward, and make your story one worth telling.
We cannot wait to see what you do next.
Congratulations, Schaumburg High School Class of 2026!
At this time, it is my pleasure to introduce our student speaker, Lukas Cabay.
SENIOR ADDRESS
Lukas Cabay
Class of 2026
Thank you Mr. Mocon. Good evening graduates, teachers, staff, administration, and parents, but more importantly, good evening to every Saxon in the building tonight. I would like to thank you all for your tireless effort and willing spirits that brought us all to this moment. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
As I look around, I see a myriad of students that all come from different backgrounds, have different beliefs, and all had different high school experiences.
Some of us were athletes or scholars; some lived for the stage and musical performances; others spent four years mastering the art of looking intensely busy when in reality, we all know you were just watching YouTube. To those of you in the last group, you must’ve gotten pretty good at it, because you still made it here tonight.
Regardless of our experiences, tonight we are one. We are not here to celebrate individual achievements, but to unify our class one last time.
I once read a book that said this: “Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest.”
So tonight I urge you to take a step back and see the forest. Notice everyone and everything here at once.
Look around. This sense of togetherness in the arena tonight didn’t happen by accident. It wasn’t just handed to us alongside our caps and gowns. It was built over the last four years and cultivated like our own forest.
Every shared moment we’ve had as Saxons is its own seed.
We’ve all felt that relief on the last day before winter break, we’ve all cringed when carrying those abnormally large and highly suspicious bathroom passes down the hall.
Most importantly, we’ve all felt the Saxon pride when representing our school.
All this time we’ve been planting seeds all around our community that created this bond that makes us inseparable, no matter how much physical distance grows between us in the future.
We are all individuals with different goals and different backgrounds, yet we are bound by this community and by the same drive that has fueled the Saxons since 1970.
Even though we all walked different paths, we were never alone. What truly defines us isn’t our differences, but the unity that carried us through thick and thin over the past four years.
My message onto all of you is to never forget the unity the Class of 2026 built. It is something you will carry with you far beyond tonight.
But let’s be honest, a lot of us probably didn’t feel that unity at times.
It is easy to miss the forest when you’re stuck on your own trail. We often focus too much on the differences, the competition, and our own desires.
If we focused only on high school gossip and jealousy, we could go on and on, and we could be the most divided graduating class in Saxon history. However, that is not going to be our legacy.
Yes, we compare grades. Yes we compare our successes. And yes, we even compare where we are going next in this world. Despite all of this, we cannot forget that we’ve been going through this together the whole time.
If you take a second to reflect, maybe we weren’t as separate as we thought.
For four years we’ve walked past the same red and yellow lockers, sat in the same tan combo desks, learning from the same teachers and counting down the time on the same clocks. For four years we all showed up together and we all pushed forward to this very day regardless of adversity.
Whether we realized it or not, we’ve been rooted into the same soil all this time.
Now, our lives are about to change. We’ll be following new paths and progressing towards our new lives.
But, the unity that we built here in Schaumburg doesn’t disappear after tonight.
It will live onward in the lessons we learned from each other and the understanding that no matter where any of us go, we will always be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
And if any of us happen to feel lost or disheartened down the line in the gigantic forest that is life, remember this: you are never truly alone. You know these woods. This community will always have your back and will always be here to welcome you home.
As we say goodbye for the final time and exit these doors, I challenge all of you to never forget the togetherness flowing through each and every one of us.
Our successes, our failures, our hardships, our graduation all mean more when they are shared amongst all of us.
Likewise, our future successes, our future failures, our future hardships, and our future lives will all mean more if we live them together in spirit.
Think of this unity as a lifelong lesson, mentor, and, most importantly, a friend. Tonight, we are no longer individuals, we are the one and only Schaumburg Class of 2026! Wherever life takes us, that will always unite us.
Thank you and I love you all.
PRESENTATION OF THE CLASS OF 2025
Mr. Tom Mocon
Principal
Thank you, Lukas, for your thoughtful and inspiring remarks.
At this time, I certify that the members of the Class of 2026 have successfully completed the graduation requirements established by the State of Illinois and Township High School District 211. It is my honor to present them to the Board of Education – President Steven Rosenblum and Board member Anne Lopez – as the graduating Class of 2026 from Schaumburg High School.
Before we continue, I would like to recognize several groups for their outstanding accomplishments and service.
Will all graduates who were inducted into the National Honor Society please stand to be recognized. Thank you for your commitment to scholarship, service, leadership, and character.
You may be seated.
Will all graduates who earned the distinction of Academic Scholar – achieving a minimum 3.90 unweighted grade point average or a minimum 4.70 weighted grade point average – please stand to be recognized. Thank you for your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to academic excellence.
You may be seated.
Now, I would also like to invite all seniors, as well as any guests in attendance, who have committed to serve in the United States military to please stand and be recognized. Thank you for your courage, your commitment, and your willingness to serve our country.
You may be seated.
Lastly, I would like to invite any alumni of Schaumburg High School in the arena tonight to please stand. Your presence here tonight is a powerful reminder of the strength of the Saxon community and the lasting impact of the experiences shared at Schaumburg High School. Thank you for continuing to support and celebrate the next generation of Saxons.
At this time, it is my pleasure to introduce the Superintendent of Township High School District 211, Dr. Judith Campbell, to address the graduating Class of 2026.
Remarks
Dr. Judith Campbell
Superintendent
Good evening, Class of 2026! As your superintendent in my first year serving this incredible district, it has truly been a pleasure to get to know you as Schaumburg High School students. What stands out most to me
about this graduating class is how each of you have shown up in your own unique way, while still carrying forward the shared spirit, pride, and greatness of this Saxon community.
You are not defined by one title or one accomplishment. Together, you represent scholars, musicians, technicians, artists, debaters, collaborators, innovators, athletes, and most importantly, Leaders. Each of you has added something meaningful to the culture and legacy of this school.
This year’s theme, “United in Purpose, Powered by Passion,” was not simply a slogan. I saw it come to life every time I visited your school, walked your hallways, attended performances and participated in events like Operation Snowball. I had the opportunity to hear your questions, ideas, and perspectives firsthand. You modeled what it means to be united, while still embracing yourself as individuals.
I also want to take a moment to recognize Schaumburg students that participated in my Superintendent’s Advisory Committee. Thank you for serving as a voice for District 211. Thank you for trusting me to listen, learn, and grow alongside you. Thank YOU for keeping me grounded in my “WHY.” The lasting impact you have provided this year is priceless!
Class of 2026, tonight is a celebration of your accomplishments and your future. Let me leave you with one of several things, I left with my advisory committee. No matter where you are and what you do,don’t forget to listen, learn, laugh, and then lead! This is your day, your time, and your moment.
At this time, it is my honor to welcome our Board President, Mr.Steven Rosenblum, to the podium to accept and provide remarks to you.Congratulations, Schaumburg Saxons Class of 2026!
REMARKS FOR THE CLASS OF 2025
Steven Rosenblum
Board of Education President
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you all tonight. This evening, we celebrate an incredible milestone in your lives.
Since 2018, I have had the privilege of addressing each graduating class of Schaumburg High School. The Saxons have always held a special place for me and my family. In 2008, my son graduated from Schaumburg High School and in 2017, my daughter sat where you are seated tonight, both preparing to take the next step in their life journeys. As many of you and your families know, since then, we have remained a Saxon family, and I love seeing many of you at Schaumburg High School events.
While today marks the close of one chapter of your lives, so much of your story is still yet to be written. I encourage each of you to take the experiences, tools, and opportunities you have gained during your time at Schaumburg High School and use them to make that story meaningful, fulfilling, and uniquely your own.
One of the great things about writing your own story is that it pushes you toward new experiences and new opportunities. It challenges you to step beyond what is familiar, to grow through change, and to continue discovering who you are and who you hope to become, while often creating new boundaries.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘Do not go where the path may lead…go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.’ Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously.’ From a different viewpoint, another famous philosopher once said, ‘You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.’ And thank you Winnie the Pooh! I believe that by embracing new opportunities and meeting life with courage and purpose, you will continue to grow, and in doing so, you will help make the world a better place.
To the families and friends joining us tonight, thank you. Your support, encouragement, sacrifice, and guidance have helped shape these graduates into the people they are today. You have celebrated their successes, helped them through challenges, and stood beside them every step of the way. This accomplishment belongs to you as well, and we are grateful for all you have done.
Graduates, I want to wish each of you much success and happiness wherever your story may lead. Continue to believe in yourselves, learn, grow, and seek opportunities that challenge and inspire you. Everyone here looks forward to all you will do and the impacts you will make.
On behalf of the Township High School District 211 Board of Education, I hereby accept the Schaumburg High School Class of 2026!