The 126th annual commencement for the New Trier Township High School Class of 2026 took place on Sunday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates.
Per Trevian tradition, the 902 graduates wore white and black formalwear or white gowns. Handheld long-stemmed red roses stood out against the white or ivory dresses of many styles.
As the ceremony began, bringing in the American flag was Campbell Bach of Wilmette.
“I get to represent our country,” Bach said of the honor of holding the American flag.
From the podium, Peter Tragos, superintendent of New Trier Township High School District 203 since July of 2025, said, “This commencement may feel like an end, but I can assure you, it’s just the beginning of many great things to come.”
The commencement speaker was Blake O’Donnell from Kenilworth.
“While we are leaving here with diplomas, we are also taking with us the stamina of a class that has already proven that it can go the distance,” O’Donnell said.
The alumni speaker was Shams Charania of the New Trier Township High School Class of 2012, a reporter who focuses on professional basketball.
Two students, Cooper Cohen and Lily Dale also spoke from the podium about the class service project with North Chicago Community Partners (https://northchicagocommunitypartners.org/).
Both Cohen and Dale are from Glencoe.
Morgan Zibell of Winnetka, Rachel Elli of Wilmette, Lexi Circ of Kenilworth and Mia Ascione of Wilmette were among seniors wearing white dresses and holding a long-stemmed red rose.
All four teens agreed that New Trier Township High School offered them a great learning experience.
“I’m sad but I’m also really excited for the next chapter,” Ascione said, adding, “I feel very prepared for college.”
“It was very good,” Circ said of the education.
Zibell said about being a Trevian, “If anyone asked where you went and you said, ‘New Trier,’ it’s like an honor. It means everything.”
