November

• Nov 3–21: Senior Headshot & Jersey Fundraiser

December

• Dec 11: College Night — FAFSA help, scholarship info, student panel, transcript ordering, and Bulldog Winner’s Circle photo booth.
  Show your college pride by wearing college gear!

January

• Jan 16: Cap & Gown Purchase Deadline — via [Jostens Website].
  No order = No participation.

March

• Mar 25: Senior Day — Financial literacy, banking, adult living workshops.
  All seniors must attend.

May

• May 8: Senior Class Grade Failures Due
• May 9: Prom — Alex D. Krassas Event Center, 7–10 p.m.
• Senior Trip: Date & Location TBA
• May 13: Senior Recognition — 6 p.m., Umsttad Auditorium (invite-only for awardees)
• May 15: Senior Last Day
• May 18: Cap & Gown Pickup — Field House, by appointment
• May 20: Senior Breakfast, Graduation Practice & Senior Sunset
• May 21: Graduation Ceremony

• Order Deadline: Jan 16, 2026 via Jostens Website ($30.50)
  Packages optional; cap & gown required.
• Pickup: May 18 (by appointment)
  Students must:
   
  • Complete the Senior Exit Survey
  • Return Yondr bags, iPads, and athletic gear
  • Pay any outstanding fees
     

Students who do not order by the deadline will not participate in commencement.

All college-bound seniors should complete the following:

Common App
Apply to multiple colleges using one platform.

SchooLinks
Request final transcripts to be sent to college.  Click here for step by step directions.

Explore careers, manage applications, find scholarships, and communicate with counselors.

FAFSA
Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid for grants, loans, and work-study eligibility.

Scholarships
Begin preparing essays (2–3 prompts recommended).
Most open after Jan 1.

College Visits
Available through Counselor Corner and SchooLinks.
Permission slips sent via ParentSquare.

Bulldog Winner’s Circle — Due March 2, 2026

Celebrate your post-graduation plans!
Submit through the Counselor Corner Google Classroom (Code: l5xcxg2).

To qualify:

• Accepted into a college, job, military, or trade program
• Upload unfiltered, school-appropriate headshot
• Include name of institution or employer
• Attach proof of acceptance or employment

Senior Jersey Order Form

Each senior creates a personal slide (through Counselor Corner Google Classroom) for display during commencement.

Guidelines:

• Photos must be clear, unfiltered, and school-appropriate
• No hand gestures or face coverings
• Only student-created slides will be shown

A full-day experience designed to help students prepare for life after graduation — including:

• Opening a bank account
• Building financial literacy
• Scheduling medical appointments
• Understanding driving and insurance basics

Attendance is required for all seniors.

Practice:

• May 20, 2026 — Required (McKinley Main Cafeteria, arrive by 9 a.m.)
  Missing practice = no commencement participation.
   

Ceremony:

• May 21, 2026 — Arrive 4:30 p.m. sharp. Gates open at 5 p.m.
  • No jeans, shorts, athletic shoes, or flip-flops
  • Caps may be decorated
  • Only school-approved stoles allowed
  • No phones, food, or personal items during ceremony

Stoles & Diplomas:

• Return stole after the ceremony to receive diploma, or pay $15 cash to keep it.
• Diplomas available after the ceremony — bring your receipt if purchasing your stole.

Parking and Photography:

• Graduate Parking: Unity Lot (student lot)
• Family Parking: Unity, Honor, Respect, and Courage Lots (enter via Southwest Gate)
• Photos: Lifetouch will capture commencement photos. You’ll receive a text once images are available.

To earn a diploma, students must:

1. Earn 21 Credits

• English: 4
• Math: 4
• Science: 3
• Social Studies: 3
• Electives: 5
• Fine Arts: 1
• Health: ½
• PE: ½
• Financial Literacy: ½
   

2. Show Competency
Pass Algebra I and English II tests or meet alternate requirements (credential, apprenticeship, military enlistment, or college coursework).

3. Show Readiness
Earn two Diploma Seals (one must be Ohio-defined).

Graduation Requirements Flyer

Seals Flyer

Academic Letter
Complete and submit Academic Letter Form

Honors Diplomas
Students who meet advanced academic and extracurricular criteria may qualify for an Honors Diploma in areas such as Academic, Career-Tech, STEM, Arts, or Civic Engagement.
Learn More About Honors Diplomas

McKinley Senior Recognition, Class of 2026

The accomplishments of the graduating Class of 2026 were celebrated during McKinley Senior Recognition, highlighting excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts, leadership, career and technical education, military service and community involvement. Students were recognized for outstanding achievement across dozens of programs and disciplines.

Class Officers & Leadership

• President: Ta'miah Sheeler
• Treasurer: Aniyah Bailey-Gooden
• Cabinet Members: Sofia Gonzalez-Pastor, Phoenix Radosevic, Zariyah Williams, Davie Dabney, Taylor Burton, Alaina Thorne
• Student Council Scholarships: Dajeun Dickerson Jr., Mikala Reynolds

Academic, Arts & Music Awards

• Outstanding Chess Player: Cayden Stoker
• Chess Leadership: Jesse Vogt
• Outstanding Senior Female Musician: Kiayanna Haynes
• Outstanding Senior Male Musician: Alexander Ketchum
• Paul Flad Scholarship: Anthony Mayle
• Janet Harner Smith Choir Award: Jesse Vogt
• Audrey Starkey Memorial Award: William Curry
• George Khoury Scholarship: Tre'von Morris
• Originality in Art/Rising Student Artist: Kole Shepler
• Art Faculty Award: Katelynn Beaver
• Art & Letters Award: Deziah McClendon
• Shaheen Memorial Scholarship: Martez Green II
• Spanish/ASL Award: Mateo Reynoso
• Seal of Biliteracy: Keiry Henrriquez Jacobo, Alexandra Pineda Aguilar, Wendy Mendez Balderas
• Creative Writing: Selene “Oliver” Wilkes
• Analytical Writing: Meghan Greenhill
• Social Studies Achievement: Brody Stivers
• Kettering Social Studies Award: Mateo Reynoso
• Helen Malone Economics Scholarship: Julian Brown
• Tom Love Mathematics Award: Kole Shepler
• Stan Becker Science/Baseball Award: DeTryk Daniels
• Science Achievement Awards: Brody Stivers, Meghan Greenhill

Yearbook, Speech & Debate

• Outstanding Senior: Tyreese Snell
• Editorial Leadership: Niejah Shipman
• Layout Designer: Dedrick Britt
• Section Editor: Damere McClellan
• Rookie of the Year: Malachi Nash
• Alan B. Rubinstein Awards: Dajeun L. Dickerson Jr., Kodie Hicks
• NFL Single Ruby: Meghan Greenhill, Ayata Muhammad, Alyssa Willaman
• NFL Double Ruby: Noah Tisevich
• NFL Triple Ruby: Skyler Shultz
• NFL Quadruple Ruby: Dajeun L. Dickerson Jr., Kodie Hicks, Selene “Oliver” Wilkes
• Speech & Debate Hall of Fame: Dajeun L. Dickerson Jr., Noah Tisevich, Skyler Shultz, Ayata Muhammad, Selene “Oliver” Wilkes, Kodie Hicks
• NFL Honor Cords: Alberto Medina-Santacruz, Meghan Greenhill, Alyssa Willaman, Dajeun L. Dickerson Jr., Skyler Shultz, Kodie Hicks, Noah Tisevich, Selene “Oliver” Wilkes, Ayata Muhammad

Athletic Awards

• Jim Neininger Awards: DeTryk Daniels (Baseball), Collin Hinkle (Football)
• Federal League Athletic Scholars: Nickolas Halm, K’Mya McCollum, Trent Hayden, Collin Hinkle, Thomas Mankowski, Brian Chaney, Jacob Baker, James Bates, Meghan Greenhill, Sha'Rayia Hall, Taylor Burton, Makyla Dave, Iyana McCoy, Gabrielle Waggoner, Zariyah Williams, Wendy Mendez Balderas, Adalyn Hoskins
• Archie Griffin Awards: Mia Taylor, Damere McClellan
• OHSAA Scholar Athlete: James Bates
• NFHS National Award of Excellence: Taylor Burton, Adalyn Hoskins
• Bulldog 100: K’Lynn Carter, Dedrick “Deejay” Britt
• Nickolas P. Douglas Award: Donte Hill
• Sam DiBlasi Commissioner’s Awards: James Bates, Meghan Greenhill

Career & Technical Education

• Allied Health & Nursing: Graciela Obrajero
• Automotive Technologies: Cayden Wilson
• Broadcast Media: Michael Holmes
• Business Management: Yanitza Oliva Lemus
• Commercial Photography: Martez Green
• Computer Science: Brody Stivers
• Cosmetology: Alexis Hunt
• Culinary Arts: Odilio Diaz Perez
• Exercise Science & Sports Medicine: Meghan Greenhill
• Horticulture: Zackery Critchfield
• Job Training: Megen Serafini
• Law & Public Safety: Sofia Gonzalez Pastor
• Performing Arts Dance: Samantha Spencer
• Performing Arts Theater: Kearstin “AJ” Smith
• Pre-Engineering: Kole Shepler
• Welding Technology: Alexander Miller
• ACE Mentor Scholarship: Miracle Eslich
• TRADESTRONG Scholarships: Ba'Rrocc Butler, Demyan Turner, Alexander Miller

Military & JROTC Recognition

• Veterans Service Commission: Tanner Ailes, Ezekiel Chavers, Jacob Collins, Collin Hinkle, Jada Horton, Estrella Imul Pu, Jerry Johnson, Benjamin Willis
• JROTC Cord/Stole: Markaylin Brooks, Skylah Brownfield, Jacob Collins, Megan Deskin, David Gastin, Collin Hinkle, Kailai Hinkle, Jada Horton, Steven Moats, Elizabeth Monahan, Xavier Pittman, Nakyia Proctor-Backie, Jamal Ragland, Mekenzie Ramey, Gabriel Ray, Jaslene Rivera, Zechariah Robinson, Leela Rouse, Charles J. White, Aiden Willis, Elijah Young

Scholarships & Guidance Honors

• Kent State Rising Scholar: Abby Jackson
• Ohio State Young Scholars: Jayden Boles, Lolia Cruz-Smith, Amena Juma, Jayden Moorhead, Olivia Moreland, Shawn Petrack, Alexandra Pineda-Aguilar, Kole Shepler
• Academic Letter Awards: Zariyah Williams, Abby Jackson
• David A. Kaiser Scholarships: Makyla Dave, Sha'Rayia Hall, James Bates, Iyana McCoy, Taylor Burton, K’Mya McCollum, Mikayla Roberson
• Donald & Thelma Eberly Scholarships: Alaina Thorne, Mikala Reynolds, Alexanndria Moyers-Chavez, Adalyn Hoskins, Meghan Greenhill, Dajeun Dickerson
• Edythe Hassler Vogelgesang Scholarships: Aniyah Bailey-Gooden, Taylor Burton, William Curry
• Robert Driz Young Scholarship: Elvira Potokii
• Jean Leavell AWAKE Award: Davie Dabney
• Houck Scholarships: Davie Dabney, Elyse McLendon, Erin Strain, David Thompson III
• Nancy D. Peterson Scholarship: Aniyah Bailey-Gooden
• Dream & Achieve/Tim Brookins/CPEA Roberts Scholarships: Zariyah Williams
• JM&M Scholarship: Mikala Reynolds
• David B. Klausner Memorial Fund/Philomena Ann Denayer Ondrejas Scholarship: Brooklyn Kauth
• Mary Regula Memorial Scholarship: David Thompson III
• Philomena Ann Denayer Ondrejas/CPEA Roberts Scholarships: Adalyn Hoskins
• CPEA Samuel Dorto Scholarship: Miracle Eslich

Governor’s Merit Scholarship Winners

James Bates, Taylor Burton, Brian Chaney, Makyla Dave, Zachary Engel, Meghan Greenhill, Jasira Harris, Adalyn Hoskins, Abby Jackson, Yonatan Lopez Ramirez, Iyana McCoy, Jayden Moorhead, Alexanndria Moyers-Chavez, Elvira Mariia Potokii, Phoenix Radosevic, Izak Selway, Domenico Serri, Da’Mariyah Skillern, Alaina Thorne, Noah Tisevich, Selene “Oliver” Wilkes, Alyssa Willaman, Zariyah Williams

Summa Cum Laude

James Connor Bates, Taylor Jouriann Burton, Brian Keith Chaney II, Makyla Renee Dave, Zachary Elias Engel, Meghan Greenhill, Jasira Makina Harris, Abby May Jackson, Iyana Ida-Mary Lucille McCoy, Jayden Vaughn Moorhead, Elvira Mariia Potokii, Phoenix Jayden Radosevic, Izak Hunter Selway, Da'Mariyah Richele Skillern, Noah Michael Tisevich, Selene “Oliver” Wilkes, Zariyah Jean Williams

Top Honors

• Outstanding Female Student: Zariyah Williams
• Outstanding Male Student: Dajeun Dickerson
• Miss McKinleyite: Meghan Greenhill
• Mr. McKinleyite: Brian Chaney II