233 Soehl Students Advance to High School

The Scene

The gymnasium was packed. Families filled the stands. The energy was building.

Then the first student walked across the stage, and the cheers began—long before the diplomas were presented, long before the ceremony was officially over. Two hundred thirty-three Soehl Middle School students were crossing that stage on June 22 at Linden High School, closing one chapter and stepping toward the next.

They had made it through. And everyone in that gymnasium knew what that meant.

What Middle School Takes

Principal Gwendolyn Long framed her remarks around the district's ROAR philosophy—Resilience, Opportunities, Achievement, and Relationships. It wasn't just a slogan. It was the story of the graduating class.

"Middle school is not easy," Long said. "It tests you, it challenges you, it pushes you in ways you've never expected. But the great thing about you is you pushed back."

Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins opened with a question: how many students had spent the past three years just trying to survive? Then she shifted perspective.

"The great part about today is you finished it. But surviving is not the whole story."

She encouraged students to pause before reacting, think critically, and make decisions they can be proud of. She connected that lesson to the district's message—"We don't fight, we make it right"—and closed by calling high school "the runway you're ready for takeoff."

Board of Education President Malaysia Thomas urged graduates to take chances: join clubs, play sports, explore the arts, meet new people. "Some of your best memories will come from taking that chance," she said.

From the Top of the Class

The ceremony's most personal moments came from the co-valedictorians themselves.

Brandy Nguyen drew laughter reflecting on the friendships that kept him going. "To be honest, my friends kept me sane throughout this entire school year." He closed with confidence: "We survived middle school. An additional four years of high school won't bring us down."

Omar Abdallah spoke of gratitude, perseverance, and the reminder that success is measured by far more than grades or accolades. His brother Layth was the school's valedictorian the year before—so Omar knows what it means to follow in those footsteps and still find his own voice.

"There were difficult assignments, intense tests, and moments when we thought success was far beyond our grasp. Yet, we kept pushing forward and persevered," Abdallah said.

Salutatorian Lilliana Reyes joined the two co-valedictorians at the top of the class—three students who understood what it took to get here.

The Community Shows Up

Mayor Derek Armstead, members of the Board of Education, and district leadership joined families in the gymnasium for the celebration. For Union County Life readers in Linden, this is what a school community looks like when it shows up for its students—not just the high achievers, but the 233 who made it through.

Middle school tests you. These students pushed back. Now they're ready.

FAQ

Q: When was Soehl Middle School's 2026 Promotion Ceremony?
The ceremony took place on June 22, 2026, in the Linden High School gymnasium.

Q: Who were the top students in the Class of 2026?
Co-valedictorians Omar Abdallah and Brandy Nguyen led the class, with Lilliana Reyes as salutatorian.

Q: What is the ROAR philosophy?
ROAR stands for Resilience, Opportunities, Achievement, and Relationships. It's the district's framework for describing what students experience and need to succeed.

Q: How many students graduated?
Two hundred thirty-three students from Soehl Middle School were promoted on June 22.

Q: Why was Omar Abdallah's speech meaningful?
Omar's brother Layth was Soehl's valedictorian the year before. Omar spoke about perseverance, gratitude, and the reality that success means more than grades—themes that resonated deeply with the graduating class.