Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts 2026 Senior Celebration

Richmond, IN – On Wednesday evening, the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2026 Senior Celebration at the First Bank Richmond Expo Hall. The event recognized high school seniors from across the county who demonstrated exceptional school attendance as part of the Chamber’s Every Day Counts program.
To qualify for the celebration, students had to meet the following criteria:

• No more than three excused absences throughout the school year
• Doctor’s appointments excused only if the student returned to school the same day
• No more than two tardies per semester
• On track to graduate with a high school diploma

Each senior in attendance met these standards and was invited to celebrate their commitment with a night full of fun, recognition, and prizes. The event kicked off with a scooter race between Hagerstown High School Assistant Principal, Jamie Claywell, and Richmond Secondary Assistant Superintendent, Sam Pritchard. Jamie Claywell took the win and earned this year’s scooter race bragging rights as well as the traveling trophy.
Students had the chance to win a wide range of prizes, including gift cards, waterproof speakers, and other electronics. The evening culminated in one lucky senior winning a car, generously donated by Wetzel Auto. Every student in attendance left with a prize, with a value of $50 or more in addition to scholarships and book credits from IU East, Ivy Tech, and Earlham. With all prizes totaling over $400,000.
Eva Soper of Centerville took home the grand prize: a brand-new car provided by Wetzel Auto. DOT Foods gifted our second-place student, Kaden Ervin of Hagerstown $2,500.
“Good attendance is a foundational piece of preparing our next generation,” said Shawntel Baker, WCACC Director of Membership and Education. “We’re proud to celebrate these seniors and reward their continued commitment and effort.”
This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the following sponsors and donors:
 
 

• First Bank Richmond
• Wetzel Auto
• Ivy Tech Richmond
• IU East
• Earlham College
• DOT Foods, Inc.
• Ahaus Tool & Engineering
• Parallax Systems / Richmond Power & Light
• Meijer
• Walmart
• CIT
• DOT Foods (Pizza)
• Parlor Doughnuts
• Richmond Parks Department
• Duncan Media

Thanks to their support, the 2026 Senior Celebration was not only a night to remember but a meaningful investment in Wayne County’s future leaders.
Below are the names of all students who met the attendance requirements:
 
Western Wayne
Ben Bates
Ian Bates
Daniel Bogue
Allison Clayton
Braxton Dick
Justin Driskill
Braydon Hampton
Shelby Houseworth
Dustin Lunsford
Olivia Myers
James Ramsey
Grace Smith
Hagerstown
Leyton Berger
Evan Bowlin
Ethan Bymaster
Davin Chew
Darien Combes
Carlie Cushing
Greydee Deguira
Kaden Ervin
Orion Houghton
Matthew Laster
Abby Lumpkin
Zak McDonald
Wyatt Mitchell
Sydney Nicholson
Taylor Patterson
Halle Pruitt
Jameson Ramey
Isaac Schmitz
Olivia Smith
Desirae Study
Richmond
Dominique Dominguez
Anthony Fioto
Katie Mathena
Reagan Phillips
Angel Cruz-Hernandez
Teegan Baker
Celina Cheng
David Lewis
Jacob Lindahl
Gabriel Reece
Fernanda Ruiz-Fernandez
Anabella Triana
Vaness Vance
Brayden Villafuerte
Seton
 Elizabeth Daoud
 Carina Feliciano
 Makayla Minor

Centerville
Gavin Abbey
Julian Armstead
Boston Beatty
Lilah Bellew
Andrew Brock
Emma Bullock
Owen Burdette
Tate Chasteen
Troy Cole
Elizabeth Cox
Cohen Current
Taylor Feaster
Carson Hathaway
Alivia Hicks
Shea Hollendonner
Dawson Huber
Baylei Hughes
Abram Jarvis
Adanech Jarvis
Landyn Keiser
Nicholas Kenny
Josie Kincaid
Taylor Lickfelt
Logan Mann
Tabatha Moore
Micahia Mullen
Aiden Nelson
Elizabeth Nevels
Evan Noe
John Norris
Keith Plyley
Eva Soper
Ava Spears
Kendall Spears
Cameron Stiggleman
Lily Thompson
Matthew Warner
Eli West
Kyson Wright
Northeastern
Carson Abney
Brooklynne Adams
Ava Bales
Julia Beatty
Brandt Benjamin
Aiden Brinker
Jacob Buchs
Lucas Chamness
Brayden Champman
Cooper Cline
Dalton Clouse
Aubrey Day
Riley Day
Cameron Gipson
Haven Handley
Landen Heaston
Riley Isaacs
Gavin Johnson
Paige Keith
Adysson Kircher
Grayson Longnecker
Aubrey Mainous
Sarah May
Dakota May
Gavin Melton
Kaleb Moore
Rory Mull
Grayson Pennington
Chole Peters
Charlotte Rayburn
David Reneau
Austin Robles
Logan Seal
Aiden Shaffer
Nicole Sheets
Cooper Smith
Charlotte Stofferahn
Caleb Ward
Alaina Webster
Cody Wright
Addisyn Wright