Brookfield school Supt. Toby Gibson hands Xavier Axe a lucky nickel — pennies are no longer minted — at graduation on May 24.
As he worked his way through his high school years, Brookfield High School senior class President Tyler Miller found himself counting down – to the next day, the next bell, the next weekend and ultimately to the final goal – graduation.
“Now that we’re finally here,” Tyler said at commencement May 24, “I think all of us are realizing the moments that we may have rushed through are the ones we’re gonna miss.”
Those rushed moments include jokes at the lunch table and rooting on the sports teams in the student section, he said. He’s even rethinking moments he thought he wanted to forget.
“Maybe those days were not as bad as we originally thought,” Tyler said.
Those moments, as important as tests and homework, “are what makes us all family,” Tyler said. “When I look at this class, that’s what I think of you all as – Family.”
“I am so very grateful to share this moment with you all.”
Brookfield High School seniors Alexia Baker, left, Rylie Burdge, center and Braydon DeMaria, switch tassels to the other sides of their caps, signifying that they have graduated.
Brookfield graduated 55 students – a small class, but smallness allows for a degree of closeness.
“Thank you for the memories, the friendship, the laughs, the fun times and even the stressful moments that we survived together,” said Co-Valedictorian Braydon DeMaria.
It was a class shaped by perseverance and resilience, said Co-Valedictorian Rylie Burdge. There are plenty of setbacks, obstacles and failures to come, but the students of the Class of 2026 are ready for them, she said. They know that they are not defined by setbacks, just as they’re not defined by successes.
“We are capable of more than we imagine, stronger than we realize and ready for whatever comes next,” Rylie said.
The challenges of high school allow for growth and the development of strengths that an individual student might not otherwise know he or she was capable of, said Co-Valedictorian Alexia Baker.
“These next few months bring so much change and naturally with that comes fear,” Alexia said. “Fear of being in a new place, fear of starting a job or even fear of not being sure what comes next. We can’t let fear get in the way of our decisions for how we want to live our lives.”
They won’t, Braydon said.
“This class, without question, has the ability to make a difference wherever we go,” he said.
@@@
Brookfield High School graduated 55 students at commencement on May 24. The following lists the names of the students, the awards and scholarships they have received, and identifies their future plans.
Xavier Axe – Plans to attend Cleveland State University.
Alexia Baker – Co-valedictorian. Member of student council and National Honor Society. Wore a community service honorary cord at graduation. Received an honors diploma. Took college courses under the school’s College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Ohio State University. Received the Ohio Governor’s Merit Scholarship, $20,000; Norma Jean Kirsch Scholarship, $2,000; and the Masury Brookfield Women’s Club, Mark J. Sydlowski and Team Rich scholarships, each for $1,000.
Teagan Barbe – Plans to attend Ohio University.
Alana Bartlett – Undecided on future plans.
Richard Blake – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Culinary Arts Academy. Plans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Rylie Burdge – Co-valedictorian. Member of student council and National Honor Society. Wore a community service honorary cord. Received an honors diploma. Took college courses under the school’s College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Youngstown State University. Received the YSU Governor’s Merit Scholarship and the YSU Trustees Scholarship, $20,000 each; and the YWCA Bright Futures and Brookfield Federation of Teachers scholarships, $500 each.
Noelys Caraballo – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Fire and EMS Academy. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Ethan Carlisle – Plans to enter the workforce.
Alyvia Carpec – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Digital Marketing and Management program. Plans to attend Casal Aveda Institute, a cosmetology school.
Braydyn Coleman – Plans to attend Warren Electrical JATC, an electrical trades institute.
Riley Coppage – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Electrical Technology program. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to enter the workforce.
Trista Jo Coxson – Plans to enter the workforce.
MaRae Craig – Plans to attend Charleston Southern University.
Jozlyn Cuebas – Plans to enter the workforce.
Dominic Daniels – Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to enter the workforce.
David DeJoy – Received an honors diploma and a community service honorary cord. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to enter an electrical apprenticeship program. Received the Ulysses S. Ward Scholarship, $500.
Braydon DeMaria – Co-valedictorian, member of National Honor Society, outstanding student in pre-calculus. Received an honors diploma. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Youngstown State University. Received the YSU Trustees Scholarship, $20,000 and the Tony Corbisello Memorial Golf Scholarship, $2,000.
Andrew Drummond – Completed the Trumbull Career and Technical Center Electrical Technology program. Plans to enter the workforce.
Anthony Emerson – Plans to attend Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.
Kaydence Evankovich – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Job Training program. Plans to enter the workforce.
Brandon Evans – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Construction Technology program. Plans to enter the workforce.
Henry Flores-Sandoval – Plans to enter the workforce.
Zoey Heckathorn – Plans to enter the workforce.
Jacob Hodge – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program. Plans to enter the workforce.
Jasmine Holler – Plans to enter the workforce.
Hunter Hoskin – Member of National Honor Society. Took College Credit Plus classes. Plans to go to college. Awarded the Columbian Home Corp. of America Scholarship, $2,000.
Jacob Johns – Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Gianni Kolat – Co-valedictorian. Member of National Honor Society. Received an honors diploma. Took college classes in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Youngstown State University. Received the YSU Trustees Scholarship and the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, $40,000 each, and the YSU Honors College Scholarship, $8,000.
Alexandria Lapikas – Received an honors diploma. Earned a community service honorary cord. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Florida Southern University.
Tristan Letcher – Outstanding student in film. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend Purdue Global University.
Sarah Lindholm – Member of student council. Received an honors diploma. Earned a community service honorary cord. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Kent State University. Received the Kent State Merit Scholarship, $20,000, and the Brookfield Board of Education Scholarship, $1,000.
Ayden McConnell – Received a community service honorary cord. Plans to enter the workforce.
Caroline McLain – Plans to attend Kent State University.
Ryland Mihalcin – Member of National Honor Society. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend Kent State University. Received the Robert C. and Walter E. Weber Scholarship, $4,025, and the Kent Academic Achievement Award, $4,000.
Tyler Miller – Co-valedictorian. Earned an honors diploma. Member of student council and National Honor Society. Outstanding student in journalism. Earned a community service honorary cord. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend John Carroll University. Received the JCU Scholarship, $25,000; the Atria Group Inc. Scholarship, $20,000; the Thomas Skulina Scholarship, $5,000; the Nick Strimbu Memorial Scholarship, $2,000; and the Masury Brookfield Women’s Club Scholarship, $1,000.
Brooke Montgomery – Member of student council and National Honor Society. Earned an honors diploma and community service honorary cord. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to attend Mount Union University. Received the Mount Union Founder’s Scholarship, $88,000; the Masury Brookfield Women’s Club and Rotary Club Scholarship, $1,000 each; the Brookfield Federation of Teachers and the Brookfield Parents Association scholarships, $500 each; and the Brenda Haun Scholarship, $300.
Skylar Myers – Earned an honors diploma. Member of National Honor Society. Completed the Trumbull Career and Technical Center Pre-Nursing Phlebotomy program. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend Youngstown State University.
Kaleb Nuel – Plans to attend college.
Michael Obermiyer – Salutatorian. Member of National Honor Society and student council. Outstanding student in Principles of Engineering and physics. Received an honors diploma and a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend Youngstown State University. Received the YSU Dean’s Scholarship, $12,000; the YSU Honors Program Scholarship, $8,000; the Columbian Hone Corp. of America Scholarship, $2,000; the John Vournous Memorial Scholarship, $900; and the Westside Maple Leaf and the BPA scholarships, $500 each.
Alison O’Neil – Outstanding student in human physiology. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend Thiel College. Awarded the Thiel Merit Scholarship, $88,000.
Stephen Perritt – Outstanding student in Mathematics Modeling and Reasoning. Plans to enter the workforce.
Mackenzie Peters – Received an honors diploma. Outstanding student in marching band. Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Pre-Nursing Pharmacy Tech program. Plans to enlist in the Army National Guard.
Makayla Plato – Plans to attend the Hope Center for Arts and Technology.
Angelena Purbaugh – Plans to enter the workforce.
Brayden Reed – Outstanding student in English 12. Plans to enter the workforce.
Caden Rodwanski – Plans to attend the YSU Police Academy.
Michael Roman – Plans to attend Stark State University. Received the Daffin’s Technical and President’s Scholar Award scholarships, $5,000 each; and the Joseph E. Vasbinder Scholarship, $500.
Torrance Schialdone – Received an honors diploma and a community service honorary cord. Member of National Honor Society. Participated in the College Credit Plus program. Plans to enter the workforce.
Anthony Smith – Participated in College Credit Plus program. Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Digital Marketing and Management program. Plans to enter the workforce.
Cody Thompson – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Auto Services Technology program. Plans to enlist in the Army National Guard.
Nichole Unruh – Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to enter the workforce.
Nikolas Vlaici – Outstanding student in Building Trades 2. Plans to enter the workforce.
Lyric Werner – Completed Trumbull Career and Technical Center Veterinary Science program. Plans to attend college.
Hunter Whitmore – Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend YSU.
Breanna Wolford – Member of National Honor Society. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to attend Casal Aveda Institute, a cosmetology school.
Nicholas Zelinsky – Outstanding student in robotics. Earned a community service honorary cord. Plans to enter the workforce.
