Oakdale High Class of 2026 has not one Valedictorian, but two. Miki Rasco and Tristan McCarthy are the two Mustangs who have earned the title for their graduating class.
The two graduates not only share the achievement of top of their class honor, but they will both be attending University of California, Irvine this fall.
Rasco plans to major in Biological Science, with an interest in physical therapy, while McCarthy will major in Political Science with an ultimate goal of attending law school and becoming a judge. He has a specific interest in Constitutional law.
“I’ve also been thinking about being a Vet, because I’ve always been working around animals,” Rasco shared of future career possibilities. “My grandma has a ranch, so I’ve been sort of taking care of animals. I also enjoy volunteering at ASTRO (Animal Shelter To Riverbank and Oakdale) a lot.”
The duo shared they are equally excited for the opportunity to speak during their high school graduation as the class Valedictorians, an honor which they knew was possible yet didn’t completely expect.
“Junior year I was like eighth in the ranking and I thought ooooh, I can win,” McCarthy said. “Then the start of senior year I was second and thought if it happens, it happens. So that was very out of the blue.”
“It kind of slipped in,” Rasco said of her thoughts on being named Valedictorian. “I’ve been around so many people that are so driven, that I always assumed they were better than me or same level. I just didn’t have that in mind, going into high school.”
Rasco further stated earning the honor has given her more confidence. Admitting to placing a lot of pressure on herself, academically, she described Valedictorian as being the “fruit of my efforts.”
Now here they are, the top of the class. As the students prepare for what they say to their classmates, they reflected on some takeaways which have impacted them as they prepare to go out into the world.
Interestingly enough, both students noted leadership opportunities within OHS which they felt especially proud of. Rasco pointed to her involvement with drum line, while McCarthy served as a senior mentor.
“I started that class not knowing anything and then I built a really strong leadership skill based on that class,” Rasco shared of her drum line experience, giving kudos to her teacher, Ross McGinnis. “He taught me how to be responsible and not be someone who’s just watching when stuff needs to get done.”
“I really like seeing how underclassmen develop their skills,” she continued. “I like sort of having control of the direction, because I have experience. I can warn them what to look out for and how to do stuff properly.”
First approached with being a senior mentor early in his high school career, McCarthy shared he enjoyed working with freshmen.
“I really like senior mentor,” he said, recalling the struggles students face freshman year. “We just did our senior signing day and they (the freshman mentees) were all in the audience. We each gave a speech to our mentees and our specific small group of mentees and they came up to us crying. It was so cute.”
As the two discuss the value of leadership, they also share their appreciation for all the support offered within Oakdale schools, be it through administration, teachers or peers.
“I think Oakdale does a good job of raising students up to the level that they’re supposed to be, while helping kids that are falling through the cracks,” McCarthy stated.
“It’s really easy to find help in other people,” Rasco added. “It helped me be more vulnerable and I can develop more as a person, that way.”
When speaking of their speech to their class, the duo was still unsure as to exactly what they would say and how they might say it.
McCarthy was certain he wishes to leave the class with something impactful and not nap worthy. Rasco plans to encourage students to do what’s right for them as they go out into adult life.
Regardless of what the exact words might be during the Friday night, May 22 graduation ceremony in The Corral, the duo will lead the Class of 2026 into the next chapter.
