By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Commencement exercises for the Class of 2026 at Union City High School are set for Saturday at 10 a.m. at War Memorial Stadium.
Eighty-nine seniors will receive their diplomas as UCHS Principal Jacob Cross presents the widely-decorated class to family members and friends of the graduates.
Valedictorian Clare Elizabeth Atwill will address her classmates as the keynote speaker. Addison Elizbeth Carr, Class Salutatorian, will also speak to the graduates’ families, friends, and fellow graduates.
The remainder of the Class Top 10 includes Tristan Scott Lynch, Rylee Elizabeth Stone, Gracie Ruth Worrell, Bertie Lynn Jenkins, Landon Cole McAdams, Crickett Caroline Washburn, Madie Grace Theobald, and Rushdon Royce Howell.
Collectively, the Class of 2026 has become the latest chapter in the storied commitment to excellence of Union City Schools.
All totaled, the group has been offered over $4.2M in scholarships while performing 3,264 hours of community service. Sixty-one percent of the class qualified for the HOPE Scholarship, and members of the class have earned 519 dual enrollment credits through the University of Tennessee at Martin, Bethel University, and TCAT Northwest.
There are 15 graduates of the prestigious UCHS College Preparatory Magnet School, and those students average 29.53 on the ACT. A dozen class members scored 30 or higher on the ACT, with the average score of the entire class on the ACT being 21.88.
The class features 30 honors graduates, meaning they met all four benchmarks on the ACT. There are 32 Distinction graduates, 16 BETA graduates, and 11 Tennessee Scholars.
Thirteen members of the class of 2026 earned the national certification of Patient Care Technician, while one student earned the national certification from the CompTIA test.
Fifty-six percent of the class will attend a four-year college. Another 24 percent will attend a vocational or technical school, and 14 percent will go on to community college.
Six percent of the graduating class plans to join the workforce.
The class will arrive to the traditional Pomp and Circumstance processional, with Class President Byron Abbott welcoming guests. Each graduate received 22 tickets to give to persons of their choice.
Numerous school board members will award diplomas to graduates, with Director of UC Schools Wes Kennedy officially accepting the Class of 2026.
In the event of inclement weather, ceremonies will be moved indoors to the Union City Civic Auditorium.