Class of 2026: Wayne Memorial’s Academic Stars Shine Bright

The Class of 2026, Valedictorians and Salutatorians – front row: Alexandria Macko, Tracy Phan, Perla Morales Guerrero- second row: Jourdan Maxwell, Jacob Letourneau, Aldo Hernandez, Ibraheem Adeyemi – third row: Maria Herrera- Ibarra, Yusra Akintande, Treasure Young – back row: Victoria Thurmand and Cyrus Goins. Photo by John Rhaesa

Wayne Memorial High School has 12 valedictorians and salutatorians this year. Both categories of achievement are determined strictly by cumulative GPA. Valedictorians have GPAs 4.0 and above. Salutatorians have GPAs between 3.93 and 3.99.
Meet the Class of 2026 Valedictorians:
Yusra Ifedayo Akintande – Plans for next year: Attending Cornell University
Area of Study: Biological Sciences on a Pre-Vet track
Parents Names: Delilat Akintande
High School Accomplishments: Class President, 4.17 GPA (Academic Letter), Ethics Bowl Captain (won four rounds), getting into all 13 colleges I applied to, and becoming a Gates Scholar.

Aldo Hernandez – Plans for next year: Attend the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
Area of Study: Business Administration.
Parents Names: Maite Alcantara and David Hernandez
High School Accomplishments: Founded photography business. The first in over 10 years to join Wayne’s 509 mile club (Summer time, 100 days, 500 miles). The first pole vaulter to clear a height over 10 years. 9th fastest freshman 5k time in school history. 7th fastest sophomore 5k time in school history. 24th fastest junior 5k time in school history. 4x varsity (Track and Field and Cross Country), elected NHS Publicity Historian. Water wars winner.

Alexandria Ellen Macko – Plans for next year: Attend the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Area of Study: Undeclared – exploring business
Parents Names: Jennifer Owens and Stephen Macko
High School Accomplishments: Elected Class Publicist in 9th grade, Class President in 10-11th, Student Council President in 12th; helped found first DECA chapter in over a decade and helped myself and four others make it to States in our first year; starred as a solo feature in my first marching band show as a senior, breaking school records and making it to the MCBA State competition; helped raise over $11,500 for my graduating class throughout high school; maintained membership with TRiO Upward Bound program for four years and National Honor Society for three.

Perla Elizabeth Morales Guerrero – Plans for next year: Attend college
Area of Study: Nursing
Parents Names: Maria Guerrero and Jose Morales
High School Accomplishments: Academic letter three years, University of Michigan Acceptance.

Tracy Tuyettran Phan – Plans for next year: Columbia University
Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Parents Names: Dang Phan and Toan Do
High School Accomplishments: 4.27 GPA, getting accepted to the MITES Summer Program, Joyce Ivy Scholarship, four 1st division ratings at Solo and Ensemble, receiving the Wayne Rotary and Alumni scholarship, and academic letter award.

Treasure Lillie Young – Plans for next year: Attend University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Area of Study: Nursing
Parents Names: Theresa Young and Joseph Young
High School Accomplishments: Student Council 26’ Secretary, Acceptances into many colleges.

Victoria Thurmand – Plans for next year: Attending Schoolcraft College where I will play volleyball
Area of Study: Exercise Science
Parents Names: Eric and Kylie Thurmand
High School Accomplishments: Honor Roll all four years, Student Council four years, Student Council Class Vice President 2025, Student Council Executive Board – Publicist 2026, KLAA All -conference volleyball ‘24-‘26, KLAA All conference track ‘23-‘25, Highest Grade Career Tech – Exercise Science 2025, Career Technical Honor, Society 2025-2026, Varsity Volleyball 2023-2026, Volleyball Captain 2025 and 2026, Basketball Varsity 2024, Track and field Varsity 2023-2026.

Meet the Class of 2026 Salutatorians:
Ibraheem Adeyemi – Plans for next year: Go to Wayne State University
Area of Study: Neuroscience
Parents Names: Tajudeen Adeyemi and Nafisat Adeyemi
High School Accomplishments: Honor roll 3 times, Student council three years, Dental internship, Congressional Recognition Certificate, Tutoring at Escot, Research computational biology at University of Michigan.

Cyrus Goins – Plans for next year: Full ride to Saginaw Valley State University to play basketball
Area of Study: Exercise science
Parents Names: Nicole Riley
High School Accomplishments: Won district and regional championship, won all-conference.

Maria Herrera-Ibarra – Plans for next year: Santa Clara University
Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering
Parents Names: Margarita Ibarra and Jose Herrera
High School Accomplishments: Captain of Women’s Wrestling, Joyce Ivy Summer Scholars Recipient, President of National Honor Society – helped to establish permanent bottle and paper recycling at Wayne Memorial.

Jacob David Letourneau – Plans for next year: Attend Schoolcraft College
Area of Study: Welding Technology
Parents Names: Robin and David Letourneau
High School Accomplishments:

Jourdan Maxwell – Plans for next year: Attend Central Michigan University
Area of Study: Psychology
Parents Names: Crystal Maxwell and Carlos Maxwell
High School Accomplishments: 3.91 GPA, Upward Bound Member, NHS member.
Congratulations to the Wayne Memorial High School Class of 2026 graduates!