Families filled the Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center Saturday night as the Morristown-Hamblen East High School Class of 2026 celebrated graduation with cheers, tears, and plenty of Hurricane pride.

Traffic along U.S. 25E near the Expo Center was diverted ahead of the ceremony as graduates, families, and friends poured into the venue for the annual commencement exercises.

Guests entered through the main entrance and were wanded as part of security procedures before taking their seats.

Doors opened at 7 p.m., with graduation officially beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The evening opened with the processional and Presentation of Colors by the Hamblen County AFJROTC, followed by the National Anthem performed by the Morristown East choir.

East High Principal Randy Greene welcomed those in attendance alongside Assistant Principals Brad Hall, Traci Jefferson, and Summer Moore. Members of the Hamblen County Board of Education were also present, including Superintendent General Arnold W. Bunch Jr., who later assisted in the presentation of diplomas.

Senior Class President welcomed classmates and guests before the program moved into speeches from top academic honors students.

Valedictorian Ashley Sadlon and Salutatorian Emma Faxon delivered encouraging messages to their classmates as they reflected on the journey that brought the Class of 2026 to graduation night.

Bunch also challenged graduates to remain resilient as they move into the next chapter of life.

“Don’t be the person on the sidelines,” he told students. “Life will knock you down. The successful is determined by how you get back up again.”

He encouraged students not to allow negativity or fear to define them.

“Social media, bullies, difficult people are the 800-pound gorillas chasing you down,” Bunch said. “Don’t let those gorillas keep you down.”

Bunch also shared a quote from George Washington Carver that urged graduates to show kindness and compassion throughout their lives.

“Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these,” the quote read.

Following the ceremony, graduates received diplomas in the barn area behind the Expo Center before continuing celebrations with family and friends.

Many seniors also planned to attend “Midnight Milestone,” the annual overnight lock-in celebration held at College Square Mall. The community- supported event gives graduates a safe place to celebrate with food, games, and prizes throughout the night.

For the Canes, the evening marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another as classmates celebrated all together one final time.