Ringgold High School names top graduates
Commencement will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Joe Montana Stadium.
For the MVI
Ringgold High School will hold its 2026 commencement at 7 p.m. Friday at Joe Montana Stadium. In the event of inclement weather, commencement will be held in the high school gymnasium.
There are 185 graduates. Class of 2026 valedictorian is Miranda Kay Santina. Salutatorian is Ella May George.
Miranda Kay Santina is the daughter of Joshua and Tonya Santina of Monongahela.
Miranda received the Top Math Student Award, Top Science Student Award, Challenge Program’s Academic Excellence Award, RHS Scholar Athlete Award, UPG Dean’s Award, UPG Visit Award and the UPG Resident Scholarship. She received three college board national recognition awards: First Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small Town Recognition Award and School Recognition Award. At Ringgold, she was Science Club president, Lighthouse president, member of the Recycling Club, Art Club, Outdoor Adventure Club, National Honor Society, president and founder of the Christian Community Outreach, member of The Future is Mine. She was also the Ringgold varsity soccer captain, named a Moe Rosensteel Player to Watch, WPIAL All-Section soccer, received most soccer goal contributions, the Ringgold Soccer Leadership Award, Ringgold Soccer Midfielder of the Year, Ringgold Soccer Most Versatile Player, was coach for the Ringgold Area Youth Soccer Association, Century United Soccer and was a teacher and aide at the Christian Center Reading Camp, aide at Christian Center vacation Bible school, at the Christian Center summer camp series, Christian Center maintenance, Ringgold Community Day leader, Ringgold Elementary Fun Day volunteer, worked for Independent Lawn Care and as a cashier at Cox Market.
After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to major in management with a concentration in finance. Her goal is to open a sports complex in the Mon Valley, Honors College, Women’s Soccer Team.
Ella May George is the daughter of Todd and Heather George of Monongahela.
Ella received the Anica Donnan Rawnsley Scholarship and the “Thrive” Scholarship. At Ringgold, she was treasurer of National Honor Society, a member of Lighthouse, Interact Club, The Future Is Mine and was on the Teen Outreach Advisory Board. Her activities include the Mon Valley YMCA swim team, Toys for Tots, Ringgold Community Day Volunteer, blood drive, College and Career Fair volunteer, Ringgold Elementary Fun Day volunteer. She worked as a cashier at Giant Eagle.
Following graduation, she plans to attend Washington & Jefferson College to major in nursing. Her goal is to become a nurse anesthetist.
