Superintendent Matthew Ray, members of the Board of Education and Omaha Public Schools Foundation, and district and school leaders gathered to celebrate exceptional seniors from each high school and program.
Meet our 2026 Top Seniors, selected for this honor based on their leadership, academic performance, role modeling for other students and community service.
Zareena Abdessalam
North High
"I was lucky enough to be at Omaha Public Schools for the past 13 years, starting at Dundee Elementary and then McMillan Middle and now North High. These experiences in school have helped shape the person that I am today. When anybody asks me what I like about school or what I appreciate from school, the answer is always the same. It's always the teachers. Throughout my time in Omaha Public Schools, I've had teachers who didn't just teach the lessons because it's their job, they encouraged me, challenged me and believed in me. They show up every day to invest in their students' future, and they use their time and energy to help us."
Sebastian Austin
Burke High
"What makes Omaha Public Schools different to me is that the opportunities here are second to none. There are so many ways to discover who you are and who you can become, and those opportunities truly feel open to everyone. I know that personally, because I never thought I would be an athlete. A friend convinced me to join the swim team, and at Omaha Public Schools, there was no barrier that made me feel like I couldn't try out. There was only the chance to step in, and work hard and become something I never imagined for myself. That's what Omaha Public Schools has meant to me, a place where people open doors for each other and where there are no barriers to becoming everything you're capable of."
Maryann Bautista
Bryan High
"If I hadn't come to Omaha, I wouldn't be the person that I am today. I came to Bryan High, and there are so many diverse stories. I think it really opened up how I view the world. I've met so many people that I now cherish so much, who I'm glad to call my friends, who I'm glad to call my mentors and who I'm glad to be taught by. I just want to say thank you to Omaha Public Schools for the opportunities that they've given me."
Betsy Bermudes
Blackburn
"You go to school to learn, of course, that's what it's designed for. But there's so much more that goes into school along with learning. A huge part of school is making connections. Whether it's with a fellow student or teacher, you are bound to connect with someone. During my time at Omaha Public Schools, I've made countless connections with both students and teachers. I cherish those connections because every single one was a different experience, and that's what shapes a person, all the accumulated experiences that they've had in their lifetime. Without Omaha Public Schools, I don't think I would have shaped up to be the person I am today."
Abel Diaz
South High
"I want to thank Omaha Public Schools for helping me find my community. I am the older brother of an immigrant family. I was the first one to go to school in the United States and be an example for my younger siblings. It was so scary, that's why I stayed quiet for most of my time at school in general. I want to thank Omaha Public Schools for helping me find my second family. The family I can be loud with, the family that has supported me throughout all these years. I will be forever grateful for that."
"What stands out about this group, to me, it's not just what you've achieved but how you've done it. Each of you has put in the work. You've overcome challenges and made choices that reflect discipline and determination. That matters. And I can tell you that will continue to matter long after today. As you look ahead to what's next, whether that's college, or a career or another path, know that success isn't about having everything figured out right away. It's about continuing to learn, staying curious and being willing to take on challenges that stretch you."
Renee Campbell Board of Directors President Omaha Public Schools Foundation
Steven Dickerson
Central High
"My teachers and everybody around me really pushed me to get involved in my community, and I'm so thankful for them. They helped me discover my love for public policy and push our world to be a better place in the future. I'm excited to take that with me as I head to Temple University studying political science and environmental studies. Omaha Public Schools built the foundation, but all of us are going to build on it. I think that's really important that we all have that bedrock that we were given from Omaha Public Schools."
Marcus Dondiego Torres
Acceleré
"I'm in the Zoo Academy program. Getting into that program is pretty difficult, but I'm very proud to be there. And now, with that program, I'm going to go to UNL to major in fisheries and wildlife, and I want to pursue a career in general marine sciences and zoology. I have Omaha Public Schools and all the teachers and people I've met being here thus far to thank for my success."
Jordan Farmer
Westview High
"Our motto at Westview High is to learn, lead and succeed, and I believe that in my four years there, that has been what has happened for me. My first years at Westview High, there were only two grades. It was freshman and sophomore, and we had to learn together. In the next year, a new class came in, and we had to learn how to lead. Now I see my peers who have graduated and are on to their next phases in life, and now we're on that next path to success. Those three pillars Westview High runs off of is a microcosm of what Omaha Public Schools is about. I believe in that mentality, and that's what I plan to live out the rest of my life."
Jackson Fields
Omaha Virtual School
"Public education has a propensity to encourage intellectual pondering and engagement through its collaborative assignments, discussions and peer support. What has a public education meant to me, and how has it prepared me for my future? It has endeavored me with the most persistent and unquenchable urge to discover more, to do more and to be more."
Gabby Krasso
Bryan High
"I always just wanted to help people. That was my goal in life. I think I was planned to help people. As high school went on, I had so many opportunities. I was able to perform at UNMC High School Alliance, where I got to take classes about patient care, pharmacy and biology. When I finished that year, I knew I wanted to be in health care. It was made for me."
Aaron Larson
Integrated Learning Program
"As I move forward, I'm going to carry with me everything that I've learned. The beliefs others have had in me have helped me to start believing in myself. I know there will be challenges ahead, but now I feel ready to face them. These experiences have shown me that the past doesn't define your future, your choices do. I'm excited for what's next. And I'm determined to keep pushing myself to do better every single day."
"I'm so happy to be here today celebrating you, the students of Omaha Public Schools. You are why we're here. You are why I am the superintendent of the Omaha Public Schools and chose to do this job. You are why the educators in this room are here and show up every day to do their job. We are here to serve you. To prepare you for success and prepare you for what happens next, whatever you decide to do. This is not the end, it's just the beginning."
Matthew Ray Superintendent Omaha Public Schools
Claudia Mauwa
Central High
"I think I've really grown as a person through opportunities like the Haddix program, where I got to intern under a Creighton professor and do research, and where I narrowed down my interest in careers to neuroscience. So, I will be going to Barnard College at Columbia University for neuroscience. I don't think I would be who I am today without the Omaha Public Schools opportunities in education and all my teachers that have helped me to become who I am."
Avery Nelson
Burke High
"Omaha Public Schools has always given me the opportunities that will help me achieve my future goals. Taking AP and dual enrollment courses has allowed me to get ahead in the credit I need for college at UNK. The last two years, I have taken a CNA course and the EMT course at the Career Center. They've allowed me to obtain my CNA certification, and this year, I'm currently working to achieve my EMT certification. I want to go to college to obtain my Bachelor of Science in nursing, and the skills I have learned in these classes will help me achieve that goal."
LaVeya Nelson
Northwest High
"Omaha Public Schools has given me the tools necessary to pursue my goals. The lessons I have learned and support I have received will stick with me forever. As I'm standing on the edge of graduation, I am so thankful to be a part of something so special. Omaha Public Schools is a stepping stone to my future and a journey that I will never forget."
Gage Novak
Benson High
"Omaha Public Schools has given me tools I will use in my future, but the bigger lessons have been the ones that are typically overseen, like integrity, respect and accountability. These don't come from textbooks. They come from teachers who care, coaches that push me and a community that does not stop showing up. I've had the privilege of attending schools that were worth showing up to, and I hope every student who comes to Omaha Public Schools gets to experience that same fulfillment."
Kylle Pagobo
Benson High
"Starting in elementary school, Omaha Public Schools was more than just the beginning of my career as a student, it was also the beginning of my life here in America. I was five years old. The same year I moved was the same year I started kindergarten. Starting in a new environment was very shocking to me, but eventually I found my way, and I found my friends in school. Next year, I plan to go to UNO and major in kinesiology. I don't think that would have been possible without the opportunities I had at Benson High and being involved in the Health Academy."
Brenda Regalado Manzo
Buena Vista High
"As I step into this next chapter of my life, I carry with me the lessons I've learned along the way, lessons about perseverance, hard work and giving my best effort in everything I do. Those values will continue to guide me long after I leave these halls. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone in the district who supported me over the years and has taken the time to write recommendations for me and open doors for my future. Their encouragement has meant more than I can put into words. Thank you for being such an important part of my journey."
Ela Servin Maciel
Buena Vista High
"Omaha Public Schools has helped me build confidence in my abilities and has taught me to always believe in what I can be and my own potential. I've also learned that success isn't just about grades, but it's also about growing and the willingness to keep going even when things get challenging. I'm truly grateful for the opportunities, guidance and encouragement I have received throughout my years at Omaha Public Schools. I made so many great memories here, and the lessons I learned will serve me as I continue my education and work towards my future goals."
Daniel Thin Win
Northwest High
"Omaha Public Schools has given me a lot of things, but I think the most important thing to me has been a sense of community. For the past four or so years, I've always felt like Omaha Public Schools has been like one tight, close-knit family. And wherever I go, be it honor ensembles, tennis tournaments or just events like this, I've always felt like if there's at least one person from Omaha Public Schools I know, I will always have that connection with them. I'm always thankful for that."
Hassan Whitmore
North High
"Being able to look back and realize how far I've come as a person, I'm just able to be so grateful for all the work that has been put in me and others like me. For that, I would like to thank the staff, educators and everyone else at Omaha Public Schools for investing in me and investing in others."
Stella Williams
Westview High
"My educators have had such a positive impact on my life that they have influenced me to choose education as my intended major and future profession. Not only that, but Omaha Public Schools has poured so much into me, that my goal is to eventually return to the district as a teacher. Omaha Public Schools has blessed me in so many ways that I cannot even begin to name, and I want to be able to give back just a portion of the time, energy and love that was given to me while I was a part of it. I am a proud product of the Omaha Public School system, and I believe that this district has prepared me, as well as my counterparts, exceptionally well for the next steps in our lives, whatever they may be."
Ava Yang
South High
"None of this would have been possible without the incredible teachers and my supportive parents throughout my journey. They've pushed me to be my best, believed in me when I doubted myself and constantly reminded me of my potential. Their guidance, encouragement and dedication have made a lasting impact on my life, and I'm truly grateful for everything they've done. Overall, Omaha Public Schools has shaped my character, my goals and my future."
"I just want to say how inspiring you seniors are, and the things that you guys are doing. It's because I see seniors like you who are setting the stage and building that foundation. It truly is inspiring to see you do this even as a junior, not a senior yet. It keeps me going every day to see you guys like this."
Cameron Reed Top Seniors 2026 Recognition Event Host Westview High Junior