GENTRY, AR -- Gentry High School conferred diplomas on 157 seniors during its graduation ceremony Sunday — one of the largest graduating classes in the school’s history.
The students will go on to attend colleges and universities, join the military, and enter the workforce, with many receiving on-the-job training through Gentry’s Career and Technical Education programs while in high school.
During the ceremony, Arthur Lee was honored as the school’s valedictorian, and Samantha Hillis was honored as the school’s salutatorian. Additionally, the senior class officers recognized were Adeline McGhee, president; Briley Remer, vice president; James Hughes III, secretary; and Bailey Leonard, treasurer.
The speeches by Lee and Hillis were passionate and poignant, reflecting on their time in Gentry Public Schools while honoring the teachers who played important roles in their academic and personal development. Both also thanked the Gentry community for supporting the school district.
“Growing up in Gentry schools, we did not just get an education. We got a childhood,” said Hillis, who began as a kindergartener at Gentry Primary School and attended Gentry schools throughout her educational career. “I can see the people who helped build me into the person I am. Today, I am not mourning lost opportunities. I have found everything I’ve wanted in this small school.
“Today we all get to see the Gentry High School Class of 2026 change from children to adults, from mentees to mentors. And it has been an honor to make this change with each of you,” Hillis told her classmates.
Lee, a member of the school’s powerlifting team, began his remarks by recognizing his coach and mentor, Sean Seligman, who died tragically in April. He also recognized parents and teachers for their encouragement.
“My friends, we have had a great four years together as classmates, teammates, and friends," Lee said. "But now that high school is over, it’s time for us to pave our own paths. Sometimes that path may be smooth sailing; other times, it may be full of rough waters. This may make it seem impossible to push forward.”
He then shared a quote from famous mixed martial artist and film star Bruce Lee that he learned in second grade and said had stayed with him throughout his educational career:
“If you think a thing is impossible, you only make it impossible.”
Once you think something is impossible, you stop trying your hardest, Lee told the group, encouraging them to always give their best effort in the chapters ahead.
“I know all of us have a plan for after high school. No matter what you are doing, always try your best. If you are truly passionate and care about your dreams, make the impossible possible,” Lee told his classmates.
The class began the ceremony by presenting a rose to a person who had made a special impact in their lives, a tradition that has become even more meaningful to graduates and their families over the years. Students left their seats to find their selected person, leading to embraces and tears.