Senior Series: Celebrating the Firsts of the Class of 2026

As we continue our Senior Series leading up to graduation this Saturday, we take time to recognize something truly special about the Class of 2026 they have been a major part of the growth, history, and many milestone moments at Burns Sci Tech.

This graduating class is only the fourth graduating class in school history, but their impact on our campus has been significant. Over the years, they have helped shape traditions, built programs, and create a foundation for future students to follow. Many of the “firsts” our school has celebrated happened with members of this class leading the way.

One of the biggest milestones for this group is that they are the first graduating class to spend all four years inside the current high school building. Previous graduating classes began their freshman years across campus in what is now the 5th and 6th grade building before the high school building was completed. This class was the first to fully experience the growth and opportunities that came with having a dedicated high school campus from their freshman year through senior year.

The Class of 2026 is also our largest graduating class to date, with 60 graduates preparing to walk across the stage this Saturday. Watching the high school continue to grow year after year has been incredible, and this class represents just how far Burns Sci Tech has come in such a short amount of time.

Athletics has also seen tremendous growth during their time at Burns. Members of this graduating class were part of our inaugural Beach Volleyball season, helping launch a brand-new program for the school. Starting a new sport takes commitment, leadership, and a willingness to build something from the ground up. These students helped create excitement and lay the foundation for future athletes who will continue growing the program for years to come.

Four seniors from this class were also part of the first winning basketball season in school history. That accomplishment represented more than just wins on a scoreboard. It symbolized the growth of our athletics program, the dedication of our student athletes, and the culture of perseverance and teamwork being built within Burns athletics. Those players helped show future teams what is possible through hard work, commitment, and belief in one another.

This class also helped launch one of our school’s most exciting STEM opportunities by participating in the first Sea Perch teams at Burns Sci Tech. Sea Perch is an underwater robotics program where students design, build, and compete with remotely operated underwater vehicles. Through the program, students apply engineering, teamwork, problem solving, and real-world STEM concepts in a competitive environment. These students helped establish a program that has already brought recognition and success to our school while opening doors for future students interested in engineering and technology.

The Class of 2026 also helped launch the BST Podcast, another exciting first for our school. The podcast, which is available on platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more, gave students the opportunity to help create content, share stories, highlight events, and further grow the voice of the Burns community. Through this project, students gained experience in communication, media production, teamwork, and storytelling while helping showcase all the amazing things happening across campus.

Academically, this class has also helped shape the future of Burns Sci Tech by becoming the first graduating AP Capstone class. AP Capstone is a rigorous diploma program focused on research, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Students complete advanced coursework involving research projects, presentations, analysis, and problem solving that prepares them for college and future careers. Having graduates be the first to complete this program is a major accomplishment and reflects the academic growth and opportunities continuing to expand at Burns Sci Tech.

What makes all of these accomplishments even more meaningful is that these students were willing to step into opportunities that did not yet have a history or tradition behind them. They helped create those traditions. Whether in academics, athletics, STEM, leadership, or student life, the Class of 2026 has consistently stepped forward with determination, school spirit, and a willingness to help Burns continue growing.

As graduation approaches, we celebrate not only what these seniors accomplished individually, but also the legacy they leave behind for future students.

The Class of 2026 will always be remembered as a class of leaders and builders of tradition at Burns Sci Tech, and we cannot wait to see how high they soar as they continue to aim toward their goals and futures.

Senior Class 2026 Firsts