Newburgh Free Academy seniors celebrate commencement at Academy Field

Steven Yang and Madison Gravel led Newburgh Free Academy’s Class of 2026 across Academy Field on Thursday, June 25, as the district marked its 159th commencement ceremony and sent a large senior class toward college, careers and other next steps. Nearly 140 students, or almost 20 percent of the graduating class, finished with High Honors after posting a GPA of 89.5 or higher.

Gates opened at 5 p.m. and the ceremony began at 6 p.m., with each graduate allotted four outdoor tickets and two indoor tickets. Families with disabled or elderly members could request visitors’ side bleacher seating, and parking was spread across the NFA North Lot, Gidney Avenue Memorial Elementary School and Inspire. Newburgh schools also livestreamed the Class of 2026 ceremony.

Yang was named valedictorian after moving through Gardnertown Elementary School, Heritage Middle School and NFA Main Campus. His path also included four years on varsity crew, one year on varsity boys swimming and diving, teaching game and virtual reality development at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center and participating in the Marist Early College High School Program. He plans to attend Binghamton University to study mechanical engineering.

Gravel was named salutatorian after attending Fostertown Elementary School, South Middle School and NFA Main Campus. She played varsity softball and volleyball, served as president of the NFA Madrigals and vice president of Tri-M Music Honor Society, and plans to study communication sciences and disorders at SUNY New Paltz. The Madrigals sang “For Good” during the commencement.

Last year’s NFA commencement honored 709 graduates at Academy Field.