Rainier High School’s graduating class of 2026 — which featured 60 students from the local school — was celebrated in full force by the Rainier community on Friday, June 5, inside of a packed RHS gymnasium.
Though 60 chairs were set up for each student in Rainier’s graduating class, only 59 of them were filled. There was a feeling of grief and mourning inside of the RHS gymnasium, as the empty seat honored the late RHS student, Deven Borgen, who would’ve received his diploma and celebrated alongside his classmates at graduation.
Borgen and his brother Alexander Borgen were killed in a drive-by shooting on Nov. 14, 2025, in Lacey.
Deven Borgen was honored and celebrated during the ceremony by multiple student speakers from Rainier.
Additionally, Deven Borgen was given an honorary seat in the second row, which was decorated with an orange stole and a black gown. The Borgen family was also given a reserved row in front of the crowd, and RHS seniors presented a podium senior class gift that paid tribute to Borgen.
The front of the podium reads “In Honor of Deven Borgen.” Multiple photos of Borgen were displayed during the class slideshow, as well.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we also take a moment to remember a classmate we lost too soon. His absence is deeply felt every day. While Deven may not be physically sitting among us tonight, his memory remains part of the class of 2026 forever,” RHS Master of Ceremony Dorien Cano said during the graduation ceremony. “We remember the laughter he shared, the friendships he felt and the impacts he made on the people around him. Deven is a reminder of the importance of community, love and appreciating every moment we have with one another. As we celebrate our accomplishments, we also honor and remember Deven Borgen. His name, his spirit and his memory will never be forgotten by the class of 2026.”
Salutatorian Zach Hamilton dedicated his entire speech to sharing memories and reflections of his friendship with Borgen, including Fourth of July shenanigans spent at McDonald’s.
“Life is short, and you only have so much time. Make time for the people in your life that you’re closest to,” Hamilton said. “Make sure you enjoy the moments with them because you don’t know which one might be your last.”
Before Hamilton finished his speech, he also gave a shoutout to Borgen’s grandparents in the audience.
Valedictorian Katelyn Eckroth offered advice on career choices to the RHS graduating class of 2026, asking her fellow classmates to consider how their decisions may impact others.
“One night, when I was stressing and worrying about the future, my mom said something that changed the way I think. My mom asked me, ‘How do you want to help people?’” Eckroth said. “‘...Every job out there serves a purpose and helps people in some way or another. Your job is the way you make money, but if you don’t enjoy doing it, you’re not going to have fun or feel satisfied in life. You might as well pick something that you enjoy and something that you can help others in and make a difference.”
Rainier High School’s top 10 graduating seniors
In honor of the graduating class, the top 10 graduating RHS seniors, based on GPA, were highlighted by the school.
Valedictorian Katelyn Eckroth finished her educational journey at RHS with a GPA of 4.0. Her classmate, Salutatorian Zachary Hamilton, also graduated from Rainier with a GPA of 4.0 Graduate Anika Plowman was the third Mountaineer as part of the class of 2026 to end her journey in Rainier with a 4.0.
Zaylee Bravo rounded out her high school journey with a GPA of 3.968, and her classmate, Cash Martin, graduated from Rainier with a GPA of 3.95. Graduate Kiera Lopez-McNeilly concluded her four year high school journey with a GPA of 3.888, and her classmate Cooper Lantz finished secondary school with a GPA of 3.856.
The final three graduates in the RHS top ten academics list include Jazzlynn Shumate, who posts a GPA of 3.845, LilyAnn Peralta, who graduated from Rainier with a GPA of 3.816, and Josephine Grager, who posted a GPA of 3.814.
Rainier’s full list of graduating seniors in alphabetical order includes Liberty Jeanne Adair, Jayden Christopher Alegarbes, Hope Denise Baker, Mason Kensei Baker, Martin Beryl Berger, Fred Isaiah Bergman, Brendan Thomas Blasdell, Zaylee Christina Bravo, Dorien Ramon Cano, Andrew Gordon Charles Cardey, Cloe Dianne Cavanah, Alexander Maxwell Clark, Olivia Faith Cothan Mills, Hollyann Lee Covington, Chloe Lou Anne Craig, Skye Marie Addison Dale, Briella Grace Davenport, Carson Edward Delaney, Sienna Mylee Dondero Valdes, Katelyn Cindy Eckroth, Brandin James Fry, Catherine Mary Gabbard, Kaden Vassah Goodman, Josephine Kimberly Grager, Zachary Thomas Hamilton, Kryslayla Marie Hill, Lizzy Nadine Elizabet Jacobson, Ryan Joseph Johnston, Aiden James Kane, Jeanice Diana Kitchens, Hayden Thomas Knight, Cooper James Lantz, Nehemiah Michael Linson, Zoey Rayne Lynch, Nathaniel Jaden Maggard, Cash Theo Martin, Mackenna Richael McGinnis, Matheus Jordan McKirtrick, Kiera Aidyn McNeilly-Lopez, James Eli Morrison, Mickey James Pacheco, Lilyann Poche Peralta, Anika Marie Plowman, Addison Harper Poole, Lucius Loki Precour, Peyton Maria Lynn Prince, Jordan Michael Pringle, London Monroe Rearden, Elizabeth Louise Redfield, Jade Lauren Reichel, Zachary Lee Robinson, Jazzlyn Diamond Rose Shumate, Brayden Ray Simmons, Jaylynn Elizabeth Strasbaugh, Peyton Ellie Thomas, Josephine Rose Vance, Ean Scott Viik, Bethani Madison Warren and Cielo Azul Zamudio Gonzalez.
