Choosing their class motto, “Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat,” Galva Class of 2026 will end their high school years to the sounds of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.” Blue carnations and baby’s breath are the class of 2026 flowers.
Leading their classmates are valedictorians McKenna Anderson, Allison Nordstrom and Kailynn Townsend.
Anderson is the daughter of Pat and Heather Anderson. She plans to study elementary education at Illinois State University. An Illinois State Scholar, she is the recipient of 11 scholarships, including the Mary Evelyn Conelly Music Award, the Edgewise Scholarship, the Galva Masonic Lodge Scholarship, the Galva Rotary Scholarship, Janet and Ken Russell Scholarship, the Keppy Foundation and Galva FFA and Alumni Scholarship, the Marvin Warner Scholarship, the P.E.O. Chapter BR Scholarship, the Shanna Thomson Scholarship and the Sheldon and Dorothy Dornick Scholarship.
Nordstrom’s parents are Larry and Terri Nordstrom. She plans to study art and psychology at Monmouth College. An Illinois State Scholar, she is also the recipient of the Galva Arts Council’s Fine and Creative Arts Scholarship.
Townsend is the daughter of Kraig and Sarah Townsend and plans to attend Black Hawk College’s west campus to study nursing. An Illinois State Scholar, she is the recipient of the Galva Mason’s Vocational Scholarship, the Rebekah Lodge Scholarship and the Melissa Bates Award.
Classmates who also received awards are:
Ryanne Hutchinson, daughter of Jesse and Misty Hutchinson, was awarded the Bates and King Memorial Scholarship, Beta Sigma Phi – Lambda Nu Award and the Keppy Foundation and Galva FFA and Alumni Scholarship. Ryanne will enter Western Illinois University in the fall to study agriculture education.
Braden Murphy, son of Sheena Murphy and the late Brian Murphy, was awarded the Community State Bank Scholarship, Pam Foley Memorial Scholarship, Kenneth Speed Memorial Scholarship, Galva Lions Club H. Ray Young Science Award and the Sanford Bittle Memorial Athletic Scholarship. Murphy will pursue a Doctor of Dental Science at the University of Iowa.
Cyrus Hurd, son of Jaydee and Shelly Hurd, received the Galva Lions Club Scholarship. Hurd has enlisted in the National Guard and plans to join an electrical union as an apprentice.
Ella Ingels, daughter of Alex and Carol Ingels, received the Health Professional Scholarship. Ingels will attend Black Hawk College next fall and work towards an associate degree in dental hygiene.
Each of the remaining students has post-high-school plans.
Those attending Black Hawk College, East Campus in the fall are Hallie Denise Anderson, plans to transfer later to a four-year institution to study Criminal Justice; Shelby Lynn Charlet will study nursing; Wyatt Rohrig has plans to transfer later to Bradley University to study Media Production; John Patrick Sloan plans to transfer later to a four-year school to study Physical Education and Colin Wigant will study towards a degree in Agriculture Production.
Those attending Black Hawk’s West Campus are Blake Stahl, who is seeking a physical therapy assistant degree, and Reese Sumner, who will work toward a certificate in medical assistance.
Jatavius Smith, will enter Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, to study criminal justice; Sarah Burris will attend Tricoci University to study cosmetology; Zaydi Jo Ensley plans to attend culinary school; Ian Pacheo is pursuing a career in real estate; Alexander Davis is enlisting in the National Guard; Alexander Traff will enroll in the Quad City Electrical Training Center as an apprentice electrician, and Lycan Stach is pursuing a career with the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Milan Craig, Kimber Dailey and Wyatt Johnson are still deciding what fields of study or work experience they wish to pursue.
Graduation ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m. in the Junior/Senior gymnasium. An hour later, these graduates will launch new endeavors, taking their education and experiences to a new level.
