Carmen NesbittBedazzled caps, lush floral leis and countless embraces signaled an end and a new beginning Thursday as West High School’s 2026 graduating class stepped into their futures.
More than 500 seniors graduated that afternoon at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center. It was one of four Salt Lake City School District commencement ceremonies hosted there that day.
Principal Wayne Culley addressed the West High graduates and around 1,000 of their friends and family members celebrating from the stands.
“One of the greatest strengths of West High School is that no one here walks the same path,” Culley said. “Every student here today has a different story, different challenges, different dreams, different experiences. Yet together you have built a community.”
Culley also quoted rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar, whose words, Culley felt, fit “this class well.” It prompted an echo of giggles throughout the stadium.
“‘Y’all have heart. Y’all have courage to be independent thinkers. There’s nothing more valuable than that,’” Culley recited. The quote came from Lamar’s 2024 commencement speech at Compton College in Compton, California.
Several students also spoke, including one who gave his entire speech in Spanish.
The ceremony lasted just over two hours and ended with the traditional “turning of the tassel.”
Approximately 1,700 students made up the entire Salt Lake City School District’s 2026 graduating class.
Photos from West High graduation ceremony:
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High graduates filter into the University of Utah Huntsman Center for their commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High school hosts its graduation ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Graduate Aadhi Umamageswaran beams as she looks up at family gathered for West High school's commencement ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lyvone Toakase Finau lines up with West High classmates for a commencement ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High principal Wayne Culley attends the commencement ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High graduate Angel Zepeda Castro delivers his “De la Lucha al Exito” speech entirely in Spanish during commencement at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mikayla Jimenez, left, and Emily Chairez, pose for a selfie as West High graduates line up for their commencement ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High graduate Dreyden Cervantes joins classmates for a commencement ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High graduates line up for their commencement ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High school hosts its graduation ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Vaipunaoleola Lautaimi gathers with classmates as West High school hosts its graduation ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) West High school hosts its graduation ceremony at the University of Utah Huntsman Center on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
