Delcastle Technical High School proudly celebrated the Class of 2026 during its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center.
This year, 388 seniors crossed the stage, representing 23 career areas and marking the end of an unforgettable chapter at #CougarNation. The ceremony celebrated not only the graduates’ academic accomplishments, but also their leadership, technical skills, work-based learning experiences, college coursework, service, creativity, and resilience.
Principal John Greenly welcomed graduates, families, faculty, staff, district leaders, and members of the Board of Education to the ceremony, reflecting on the many ways the Class of 2026 shaped Delcastle’s culture.
“From the very beginning, this class helped shape the culture of Delcastle in positive and lasting ways,” Greenly shared during his remarks. “You didn’t just show up each day, you contributed. You led. You supported one another.”
The Class of 2026 leaves Delcastle with an impressive record of career and college readiness. Nearly 80% of eligible seniors are employed, 154 seniors participated in dual enrollment college coursework, and 96% of eligible seniors took part in work-based learning, college classes, or both. Greenly described that preparation as “the Delcastle difference.”
Delcastle students also achieved major success beyond the classroom this year. The Class of 2026 helped lead Delcastle to 40 gold medals in SkillsUSA competition, with students preparing to represent Delaware at the National SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta. Graduates also earned honors through HOSA, Educators Rising, Science Olympiad, Poetry Out Loud, athletics, Esports, and other leadership and technical competitions.
The ceremony also marked a new academic tradition for Delcastle and the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District: honor cords. Graduates were recognized for earning Honors, High Honors, and Distinguished Honors based on their cumulative grade point averages. Students were also recognized for leadership, military enlistment, National Honor Society membership, National Student Council involvement, CTSO achievement, and career and technical excellence.
The Class of 2026 heard from two student speakers: Marcos Leon-Gonzalez of Technical Drafting and Design, recipient of the Principal’s Leadership Award, and Annia Medina-Mejia of Technical Drafting and Design, recipient of the Principal’s Service Award.
Leon-Gonzalez, a SkillsUSA State Officer in 2025-2026, reflected on the pressure students face and the way Delcastle prepared graduates to move forward with purpose.
“Delcastle gave us more than skills and opportunities,” he shared. “It gave us a standard. It taught us to stop asking, ‘Can I do this?’ and start asking, ‘How do I do this well?’”
Medina-Mejia, who served as Student Council President, spoke about gratitude, family, first-generation pride, and the importance of leaving a legacy.
“Today, we say goodbye not with sadness, but with gratitude,” she said. “Wherever life takes us after today, a part of us will always remain connected to Delcastle.”
Superintendent Dr. Joseph Jones also addressed the graduates, encouraging them not to allow fear to control their futures.
“Do not spend your life hiding from imaginary ghosts while real opportunities pass you by,” Jones told the Class of 2026. “Walk into the room. Take the chance. Apply for the job. Start the business. Ask the question.”
The ceremony also held special meaning as it marked Mr. Greenly’s final Delcastle graduation before retirement. In his remarks, he thanked the Class of 2026 for allowing him to be part of their journey.
“After nearly three decades in education, including the last five years here at Delcastle, I can honestly say there is no better way to close this chapter than by celebrating a class like this one,” Greenly said.
The ceremony concluded with Class of 2026 Executive Board Member Gabriel Browne leading the tassel ceremony. With their tassels moved from right to left, the graduates were officially declared graduates of Delcastle Technical High School.
Class of 2026, #CougarNation is proud of your accomplishments, your leadership, your resilience, and your future. Congratulations, graduates. Once a Cougar, always a Cougar.