Seventeen young men and women were celebrated at Callaway High School on Sunday, May 10, in their final activity as a collective body - the CHS Class of 2026. For their class motto, the seniors selected Jeremiah 29:11.

Dressed in black robes adorned with hunter green stoles, the seniors were joined by family, friends, and supportive members of the community in the Mother’s Day commencement ceremony that began with a welcome by Superintendent J.D. Furrow, followed by a special vocal number by senior Angel Johnson titled “When God Made You My Mother”.

The first to address those in attendance and their fellow graduates was salutatorian Dylan Pandorf. “It has been a privilege to have spent the majority of my life laughing, learning, and growing with them,” Pandorf shared in reference to his classmates. He referenced the lyrics of a popular song from the 70s by the Eagles: “We may lose and we may win, but we will never be here again…” as he encouraged the graduates to look around at all of those who were there to celebrate them. “So live in the moment, and most of all, take it easy,” Pandorf concluded.

Next up was valedictorian Chenney Dishman. “We made it, and what’s really impressive is we did our entire senior year with no phones!” Dishman commented. “When we bring athletes, artists, leaders, thinkers and doers into the same space, you don’t just get a bunch of individual strings. You get a rope. And a rope is strong. That is what our class is. We built something strong. Not because we’re all the same, but because we’re not,” she shared.

Following the choir’s performance of “Carry The Light”, Guidance Counselor Denise Sughayar presented scholarships. The CHS Class of 2026, future plans, and scholarships received are as follows (an asterisk denotes honor diploma, a plus sign denotes National Honor Society): Aubrie Jo Birkel*+ - plans to attend UNK in radiography. Nic Ostergard Memorial Scholarship, Jennie M. Mellham Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship, Callaway District Hospital Scholarship, UNK Merit Scholarship, Ronald & Em Jorgenson Memorial Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Callaway Education Association Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, Callaway United Methodist Church Scholarship, Red Cross NHS Blood Drive Scholarship, Fred Werkmeister Memorial Scholarship Tyra Lei Brestel*+ - plans to attend UNL for elementary education. Elks Lodge 1688 Most Valuable Student Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Dorothy Redfern Scholarship, Red Cross NHS Blood Drive Scholarship, and 50% of her tuition through her father’s Montgomery GI Bill Devyn Hunter Denney - plans to attend Gillette College in Wyoming for welding. Chenney Grace Dishman*+ - plans to attend Wayne State College in pre-med.

Independent Order of Odd Fellows Scholarship, Nebraska Board of Trustees Scholarship, Broken Bow Elks Lodge Past Exalted Rulers Award, American Legion Auxiliary Healthcare Professional Scholarship, Do The FAFSA Scholarship, Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Callaway District Hospital Healthcare Scholarship, Ronald & Em Jorgenson Memorial Scholarship, Haven & Virginia Smith Scholarship, Bryson Booker Post 59 Scholarship, Fred Werkmeister Memorial Scholarship Zane Cole Ellison - plans to join the workforce. Erin Paige Fitzgerald - plans to attend Hastings College in elementary education.

Nebraska One Box Ladies Board Scholarship, Hastings College Track & Field Scholarship, Hastings College Ambassadors Scholarship, St. Boniface Catholic Church Scholarship, Ted & Sadie Griffith Memorial Scholarship Caleb Lee Furrow - plans to attend Hastings College in studio art. Jackson Scholar Award for full ride scholarship from Hastings College, Shari Wolken Scholarship for the Arts Nyachay Dawn Haidle - plans to attend Frontier School of the Bible. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3576 Scholarship, Lend a Hand George F. Holm Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship Angel Nevaeh Star Johnson *+ - plans to attend Chadron State College in elementary education. Angie Brown Miller Spread Kindness Scholarship, DK Get Going Scholarship, DJs Heroes Scholarship, Lend a Hand George F. Holm Scholarship, Broken Bow Elks Lodge Most Valuable Student Award, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Callaway Community Scholarship and Melodie Dunbar Award, Chadron State College President’s Scholarship, Western Nebraska Administrator’s Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, Red Cross NHS Blood Drive Scholarship, Sowers Club High School Seniors Scholarship Brayden Christopher Keeney - plans to attend Wayne State College in digital film production. WSC Dean’s Commitment Scholarship, WSC Academic Achievement Scholarship, WSC Communication Arts Achievement Scholarship, Callaway Education Association Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Shari Wolken Scholarship for the Arts, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, Callaway United Methodist Church Scholarship

Dylan Albert Pandorf*+ - plans to attend UNL in fisheries & wildlife. UNL CASNR Scholarship, UNL Nebraska Emerging Leaders Scholarship, Nebraska State Bank Hometown Scholarship, Elks Past Exalted Rulers Scholarship, Gary Scharf Memorial TeamMates Scholarship, SORC Sandhills Outreach Charity Scholarship, Nebraska One Box Foundation Bob & Carol Allen Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Col. Wayne E. Thurman Memorial Scholarship, St. Boniface Catholic Church Scholarship, Red Cross NHS Blood Drive Scholarship Conner Michael Paulsen+ - plans to attend Hastings College in K-12 physical education. Hazelle Jacobsen Headley Scholarship, Broken Bow Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship, Custer County 4-H Activities Scholarship, Nebraska One Box Stithem Family Scholarship, SORC Sandhills Outreach Charity Scholarship, Hastings College Crimson Scholarship, Hastings College Football Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, NHS Blood Drive Scholarship, Callaway United Methodist Church Scholarship, Estergard Vocational Scholarship Bindi Mae Peters - plans to attend NCTA for vet tech. Susan Thompson Buffett Scholarship, NCTA Rawson Scholarship, Custer County Foundation Board of Directors Scholarship, Broken Bow Lions Club Scholarship, Full Circle Irrigation Scholarship, Excelsior Scholarship, Larry J. Nelson Memorial Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award Neltje Ann Reiff* - plans to attend UNL in sports media and advertising. UNL Nebraska Opportunity Scholarship, Sowers Club Seniors Scholarship, Custer County 4-H Activities Scholarship, Callaway Education Association Scholarship, Neuman M.

& Mildred E. Harris Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Callaway Lutheran Church Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, Haven & Virginia Smith Scholarship Natalie LeAnn Trotter - plans to attend CCC in Kearney. Hazel M. Empfield Award Kaygan Jeffrey Kenna Witthuhn*+ - plans to attend Northeast Community College in animal science. Aksarben Foundation National TeamMates Scholarship, Broken Bow Lions Club Scholarship, Gateway Farm Expo Scholarship, Nebraska One Box Ladies Board Scholarship, Broken Bow Elks/Does Service Scholarship, Sowers Club Scholarship, Live Like Pat Memorial Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Larry J. Nelson Memorial Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, Custer County American Legion Auxiliary Educational Grant, NCC Livestock Judging Team for 50% of tuition Kelynn Elizabeth Joan Witthuhn+ - plans to attend Wayne State College in early education. Custer County 4-H Activities Scholarship, 2026 High School Senior Sowers Scholarship, Nebraska ALA Memorial Scholarship, WSC Growing Together Scholarship, Broken Bow Elks/Does Service Scholarship, Hazel M. Empfield Award, Nebraska One Box Ladies Board Scholarship, Hazel Walker Memorial Scholarship, Western Nebraska Administrators Scholarship, Ted & Sadie Griffith Scholarship