THE 473 GRADUATES making up Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s Class of 2026 are poised for success as they move on to the next phase of their life journey.
During the 2026 commencement ceremony held May 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, school principal Cheri Wood announced some notable accomplishments from the graduating class.
PHOTOS BY IAN TRAN/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The graduates earned a total of 3,105 college acceptances and will attend 157 colleges and universities nationwide. Among the class are four National Merit finalists, 25 National Merit Commended Students and 19 full IB diploma candidates. Six graduates had perfect SAT scores and nine had perfect SAT math scores. Graduates are also part of 27 legacy families, with one or both parents being alumni of Santa Margarita.
“With the intercession of St. Margaret Mary, our patroness, may the Lord bless each one of you on your journey into the future, equipped with Caritas Christi (love of Christ) with compassion, humility, justice and goodness,” Wood told the class.
Dignitaries participating in the ceremony included the Most Rev. Thanh Thai Nguyen, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Orange, and Dr. Erin Barisano, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese.
Dr. Barisano told the graduates that they are moving on with more than just knowledge attained from a book.
“As you stand on the threshold of this new chapter, you carry with you a profound blessing,” the superintendent said. “And that is the lifelong gift of a Catholic education. You leave this campus equipped not just with academic knowledge, but with an unshakable foundation of faith, character and hope.”
Speaking to the graduates and the families and supporters who nearly filled the lower section of the Honda Center, school president Andrew Sulick shared a message centering on gratitude, legacy, resilience and faith.
“The story of Santa Margarita Catholic High School is not written only in trophies or test scores,” Sulick told the graduates. “It is written for sure in people. Each of you leaves a mark on this school, and each of you carries the legacy forward.”
The president reminded the graduates to prioritize their relationship with God, to look to God for guidance, moral clarity and the assurance that “we are never alone.” He encouraged the Class of 2026 to use their God-given gifts to serve others and let “love flow through everything you do.”
“Love is the foundation of everything we do,” Sulick said. “It gives purpose to our actions and meaning to our lives.”
Sulick also recognized the grief felt by the school community, stemming from the passing of two students—2025 graduate Brennan Miller-Jones and Brody Madison of the Class of 2027.
Class valedictorian Bridget Crafts centered her message on the importance of being present, even for the seemingly small moments.
Crafts encouraged her classmates to appreciate small, everyday joys and to recognize that growing up isn’t about certainty, but about learning to embrace meaningful moments as they happen.
“Today feels important because it is ending,” Crafts said. “But it is also a reminder going forward of how easy it is to miss the present while worrying about what’s next.”
Bishop Nguyen delivered an uplifting message, focusing on joy, gratitude and the importance of staying connected to Jesus as graduates begin the next chapter of their lives.
“If you are going to hold on to the enthusiasm you have for life today … you will need to get connected with Jesus as he said, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches,’” the bishop said. “Take a moment to thank God for the friendship made, for the lessons learned and for the strength to reach this milestone.”