By Dr. Toshua Cornwell-Clark
As the Lincoln High School Class of 2026 prepared to walk across the graduation stage, students celebrated more than diplomas. They were celebrating resilience, growth, and the realization of dreams that once seemed distant.
For many of these graduates, one constant throughout their high school journey has been Finance Math teacher Dr. Keisha Cornwell-McKinney, who has served Lincoln High School students for the past 16 years. This year holds special significance, as Dr. Cornwell-McKinney is not only celebrating the accomplishments of her students but also her own achievement of earning a Doctor of Education degree.
Having taught each of these graduates, Dr. Cornwell-McKinney’s impact extends far beyond equations and financial literacy. Her students describe her as a mentor, motivator, and living example of what is possible through perseverance and education.
Stevenson Jean: Defying Expectations
For graduate Stevenson Jean, graduation represents overcoming doubt and proving that determination can outweigh obstacles.
“She inspired me by pushing me to be my best self,” Jean said of Dr. Cornwell-McKinney.
A singer and songwriter, Jean plans to attend California State University San Marcos to study Software Engineering.
Walking across the stage carries special meaning for him: “It means I made it when the world thought I wouldn’t.”
Nyema Alea Curtis: Excellence Without Limits
With an impressive 4.31 GPA, Nyema Alea Curtis exemplifies academic excellence.
Accepted to 55 universities, Curtis plans to attend UC Berkeley and pursue a future career in law.
Her achievements reflect years of hard work, discipline, and commitment to her goals. Like many of her classmates, she credits educators such as Dr. Cornwell-McKinney for encouraging students to pursue opportunities beyond what they once imagined possible.
As she prepares for her next chapter, Curtis stands as an example of the determination and academic excellence that define Lincoln High School’s Class of 2026.
Jayla Howard: Inspired to Serve and Lead
Jayla Howard, who is graduating with a 3.5 GPA, credits Dr. Cornwell-McKinney for creating a classroom environment where students felt supported and encouraged.
“Dr. Cornwell has inspired me by creating a classroom environment that always felt welcoming and supportive. She made her students feel comfortable asking questions and encouraged us to keep trying, which helped me become more confident in myself academically.”
Howard hopes to become a criminal investigator and plans to attend San Diego State University, majoring in Criminal Justice.
Reflecting on graduation, she shared: “Walking in this graduation means a lot to me because it represents all the hard work, growth, and challenges I’ve overcome throughout high school. It makes me proud to see how far I’ve come and excited for my future.”
Richie Hayden Guerra: Reaching for the Stars
For Richie Hayden Guerra, graduation is only the beginning of an ambitious academic journey.
Graduating with a 4.33 GPA, Guerra will attend UC San Diego to study Astronomy and Astrophysics before pursuing a Ph.D.
His vision for the future is limitless: “Walking across that stage means that I finally have the freedom to take my life by the core and morph it into whatever I believe is possible.”
Zyriah Littleton: Following a Path of Service
Graduate Zyriah Littleton views education as both an achievement and an opportunity to create a better future.
She credits Dr. Cornwell-McKinney as an example of perseverance and lifelong learning.
“Dr. Cornwell has continually gone to school and paved a way, showing that people who look like me can do it no matter what the odds.”
Littleton graduates with a 3.73 GPA and plans to enter the United States Marine Corps, working in Human Resources while pursuing an online college education.
She also enjoys learning about marine biology and building things.
For Littleton, graduation represents perseverance and purpose: “It means that I finally did it. No matter how hard things got, I managed to pull through and still do better for myself. It means that God had His hands placed on me and the life He had set for me.”
A Full-Circle Moment
This graduating class represents future engineers, attorneys, investigators, scientists, military leaders, artists, and innovators. Their stories are different, yet they share a common thread: a teacher who challenged them to think bigger, work harder, and believe in their potential.
The Class of 2026 leaves Lincoln High School carrying more than academic knowledge. They leave with lessons in perseverance, confidence, and possibility, lessons reinforced by educators who modeled those qualities every day.
As these graduates step into their next chapter, they do so as part of a proud Lincoln High School tradition: rising above challenges, pursuing excellence, and creating pathways for those who will follow.
Congratulations, Lincoln High School Class of 2026. The future is bright, and your journey is only beginning.
