This year, 25 students graduated from River Bend, with 15 graduates choosing to walk in the ceremony.

River Bend principal Stephanie Ross opened the ceremony with a reminder of why the school’s mascot is the phoenix. As an alternative learning center, River Bend provides a variety of different pathways for students to graduate. Students who fall behind in traditional school have an opportunity to rise back up, which mirrors the story of the phoenix, a bird that goes down in flames but is reborn from its own ashes.

“[The phoenix] represents every student’s ability to have a place to start over, where they are given a second chance,” Ross said.

She hoped each of the 2026 graduates would carry the lesson of the phoenix beyond their time at River Bend and understand that each student has the chance to start over with each new day.

River Bend Education District class of 2026 graduate Ellen Windschitl shows off her customized mortarboard that reads: “She believed she could, so she did.” Windschitil said she first heard the quote from a friend’s mom and it stuck with her all through her time at River Bend. (Photo by Clay Schuldt)

River Bend teacher and Pike Driving School instructor Darren Anderson was selected by the graduating seniors’ as a speaker for the ceremony.

Anderson said he was proud to be selected the be the speaker and he was honored to have worked with many of the graduating seniors, some of whom he had known for many years.

“If we were to go back to when I first met these kids and ask them where they saw themselves this year, I don’t think a lot of them were confident they would graduate,” he said.

However, even though many had doubts they would reached graduation day, Anderson said the lesson was not to let doubt stop them.

“You have made it this far,” he said, “but this is just the start of your life story. The opportunities are out there, you just have to take them.”

Madisyn Kostoff shakes hands with River Bend executive director Doug Hazen before receiving her high school diploma during River Bend’s graduation ceremony. (Photo by Clay Schuldt)

Anderson said that in life there would be many ups and down, and not everything will go to plan, but the trick was to keep trying.

“If you keep grinding away, there are a lot of things you can accomplish,” Anderson said. “I can’t stress how important this is for you guys and how proud I am as a staff member to see you here. I don’t want you to take anything for granted. You made it this far. Now don’t stop. Keeping going. Keep trying and stay positive.”

River Bend class of 2026 graduate Isabelle Merkel shakes hand with New Ulm School Board member Melissa Sunderman. (Photo by Clay Schuldt)

River Bend’s class of 2026 listens to staff speaker Darren Anderson during Thursday’s graduation ceremony at the New Ulm Community Center. Some of students decorated the backs of their mortarboard for Thursday’s graduation ceremony. Graduate Bethany Pierson’s mortarboard reads: “Graduating Class of 2026” and Ellen Windschitl’s feature the quote: “She believed she could, so she did.” (Photo by Clay Schuldt)