Philip Simmons High is eager to recognize its 168 graduating Iron Horses.
The graduating class of 2026 included 11 State Academic Honor recipients and 13 Palmetto Fellows. There are 65 students eligible for the Life Scholarship and 62 eligible for the Hope Scholarship. Charles Ramer was named a semifinalist for the National Merit Scholarship.
Students raked in an estimated $6,718,352 in academic scholarships and $265,000 in athletic scholarships.
Commencement exercises will begin June 3 at 2 p.m. at the North Charleston Coliseum. All graduation ceremonies are livestreamed.
Valedictorian
Anna Claire Alomar
Parents: Beth Kesser and Miguel Alomar
Sibling(s): Miquel Alomar and Isabel Alomar
Awards: Four-time Breakfast of Champions honoree; Junior Scholar (gave the junior scholar speech in eigth grade at Cane Bay); Principal’s Award at Daniel Island School; Band Bernstein Award (two years consecutively); Superior in Solo and Ensemble Band Performance; All-State and All-Region awards for the flute; All-State and All-Region times in Cross Country and Track; Rookie of the year for Cross Country; Coaches Award for soccer; National Merit Scholar Applicant; National AP Scholar with Distinction; Scholar Athlete of the Week with Friday Night Lights; teacher-nominated student of the month for self-discipline; Bronze Certification of Bilteracy for Spanish
Offices held: Beta Club Treasurer in 10th grade; Sophomore Board President; captain of club soccer team for two years
Extracurricular activities: Varsity Soccer; Varsity Cross Country and Track; Club Soccer; National Honors Society and Beta Club; Recycling club; four-year student government; Iron Hearts Club; Spanish National Honors Society; Band; Ocean Club; Pool attendant and Part-time Server at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community
Scholarships earned: National Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship; Palmetto Fellows; PTSA Scholarship; merit scholarships from Clemson, Furman, Wofford and Florida
Total scholarships: $847,575
College attending: University of Notre Dame
Intended major: Biological Sciences (pre-med track)
Message to the senior class: “Never give up on yourself and keep striving to be the best!”
Salutatorian
Sophia Jane Ligon
Parents: Anna Ligon and John Ligon
Sibling(s): Sarah Ligon and Scarlett Ligon
Awards: John Philip Sousa Band Award; Iron Horse Band Senior Award; National Marching Band Leadership Award; Leadership in Visual Art Award; Fine Arts Graduate of Honor Award; Home Telecom Billboard Art Contest Winner; Scholastic Art Award; Silver Key Recipient; two-times Instrumentalist Magazine Award Winner; Top of the World Language Award for French; University of South Carolina Capstone Scholar
Offices held: President of French Honor Society; Vice President of Art Honor Society; Brass co- section Leader; Historian of Model UN
Extracurricular activities: Marching Band; Jazz Band; Art Honor Society; Beta Club; Model UN; French Honor Society
Scholarships earned: Palmetto Fellows Scholarship; Bell Tower Scholarship; Furman Music Scholarship; Auburn Academic Award Scholarship; University of South Carolina Capstone Scholarship
Total scholarships: $262,800
College attending: Furman University
Intended major: Biology and Pre-Medicine
Message to the senior class: “To my fellow classmates, thank you for making these past for years so truly unforgettable and leaving such a prevalent and amazing mark on this school. I am so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together and I can’t wait to see where life takes us next! Congratulations Philips Simmons High Class of 2026!”
Top 5 graduating seniors
Joining Alomar and Ligon in the top five are the following graduates:
3 - Lucy Arant Bailey
4 - Withheld to honor the student's request
5 - Willow Sophia Payer
Philip Simmons High's graduating class of 2026
Peter Frans Hopper Afman
Anna Claire Alomar
Asia Simone Amerson
Lucy Arant Bailey
Isabella Angeline Balog
Conor James Riggs Bartel
Noah Liam Bernal
Caleb Corley Blease
Christian Hendrix Blease
David-Michael Joseph Bridges
Benjamin Davis Brown
Jamari Demetrius Bryan
Christian Daniel Bussinelli
Jo'Nyla Rhianna Calvary Gates
Madilynn Elizabeth Campbell
Michael Antonio Carrasquillo
Nathan Ray Carswell
Ryan Wayne Carswell
Addison Jayne Chidester
Ethan Scott Chisum
Taylor Louis Chisum
Kiera Loren Clarke
Gavin Michael-Clark Conjurski
Charlotte Elizabeth Conroe
Connor Ryan Corbit
Keegan Odell Crawford
Matthew Harrison Crook
Haley Madison D'Amaral
Stella Ruby Dabbelt
Grace Olivia Daniel
Christopher Miles Davis
Ella Madison Dolinger
Palmer Simpson Driggers
Everett Auden Duwel
Grayson Craig Estey
Hayden James Exum
Carter Jameson Falotico
Ava Crosley Farrell
James Louis Fattarusso
Audrey Ana Feist
Jacques Antonio Gandy
Harmony Nichole Brooke Garcia
William Michael Gay
Emmie Paige Gregg
Nicholas Eugene Haas
Olivia James Halsey
Margaret Strobel Yifu Hamlin
Jackson Cole Hammett
Ethan Jacob Harrison
Savannah Elizabeth Hatcher
Jack Liles Henry
Tatum Allison Hirshman
Sadie Lenair Holdridge
William Asher Colby Hollifield
Kenira Michelle Holmes
Alexander Nathaniel Hubler
Anne Claire Itharat
Kayden Joell Jenkins
Jayden Zhyair Johnson
David Stephen Kesner
Joshua Nash King
Steve Laval Kinloch
Lacey Josephine Kovach
Malikye Jaleik Ladson
Mason Allen Langworthy
Braden Alexander Lannert
Sophia Jane Ligon
Ann Ballard Love
London Olivia Loving-Maxwell
Treniece Nigear Mack-Davis
Olivia Katherine Maher
Avah Caroline Mallek
Joseph Benjamin Mallett
Major William Manchester
Trent Randolph Manning
Chase Dylan Masters
Derel Ti'Quan Matthews
Pinckney Johnstone Maxwell
Luke Steven Mayfield
Elle Adeline McDonald
Matthew Wayne McNutt
Dylan Patrick Meinders
Jolie Paine Mello
Madeleine Grace Meloeny
Pamela Mendoza-Santos
Connor Joseph Michaud
Briggs Ashton Mitchell
Germany Qwa'Niece Moore Satterfield
Caleb Jamal Moore
Carolina Ty'Siah Moore
Dae'Shawn Tyrese Moore
Megan Nicole Moore
Ximena Morales
Cristobal Morales-Padilla
Dylan Blair Morris
Elijah Charles Morris
Kierlan Grace Morrison
Reese Elizabeth Mosel
Montrell Tyquez Mungin
Finley Anne Neary
Jude Jason Ohlson
Ishaan Ashish Patel
Ryder Andrew Patterson
Willow Sophia Payer
Noah Jones Petit
Sophia Lucinda Pheney
Olivia Lucy Pope
Abigail Rose Preston
Charlie Daniel Ramer
Toby Dennis Ramer
James Harrison Ray
Julia Free Reilly
Xavier Jordan Riggins
Landon Richard Robb
Luke Kaleb Robinson
Ashley Grace Roush
Thomas Christian Roux
Samuel Garriott Sablotsky
Chloe Elizabeth Saunders
Caden McCall Scott
Tucker Louis Shultz
Alison Thye Souvoravong
Bree Ann Spinelli
Max Brian Stafford
Brian James Stambaugh
Chloe Elizabeth Stanford
Ireland Grace Stanley
Sloan Garland Stechmesser
Cameron Jacquez Steed
Langley Kate Stroble
Elliot Claire Taylor
John Denton Taylor
Jordan Talia Taylor
Molly Grace Taylor
Nathan Anderson Taylor
Thomas Russell Terry
Kyle Rawls Thaxton
Gabriella Marie Trejo
Cruz Maxwell Turner
Lola Rae Tyson
Keziah Gabriella Varner
Isabella Caroline Vaughan
Quamaine Amard Devon Vaughn
Rihanna Elise Venning
Gianna Lorena Joy Wackler
Braden Christopher Ward
Brooklyn Riley Washington
Kayla Julea Washington
Maqahi Harry Washington
Jordyn Janee' Washington-Spencer
Wyatt Landon Waters
Samantha Marie Watson
Carson Morgen Watters
Catherine Rose West
Kai Douglas Sage White
Ava Denekya Wickson
Phoenix Rose Wickson
Hayden Isabella Wilmot
Aayaun Jakoi Ernyst Wise
Kiarrah Alissa Wise
Frankie Luellyn Wissman
Adalie Anne Wood
Marvin Jaliel Wright
Matthew William Wright
Jenna Elizabeth Yates
Josiah Earl Young
Nathaniel David Zito