05/04/2026
The top three 2026 USJ graduates have been announced, and all three played significant roles in our Performing Arts program. Members of choir, band, and theatre, these three young men have represented our Fine Arts Department well, and we could not be more proud of them.
Valedictorian: Diego Montoya
An AP Scholar with Distinction, Diego has earned some of USJ’s highest academic honors, including the Yale Book Award and Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award. A Tennessee Governor’s School delegate and voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by his peers, Diego has also made his mark in the arts through musicals, plays, and choir, earning recognition in All-State Honor Choir. He has served in multiple leadership roles across campus and will attend Washington University in St. Louis to study chemical engineering.
Salutatorian: Aydon Isbell
Also an AP Scholar with Distinction, Aydon has balanced academic excellence with a strong presence in the performing arts. Recognized for his acting talent and musical ability, he earned spots in the All-Northwest and Quad State Honor Choirs. His leadership roles span several honor societies, and he has been recognized for academic achievement across disciplines. Aydon will attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham to major in biochemistry.
Essayist: Noah Martin
Selected by his classmates as “Most Talented,” Noah has shined both on stage and in the classroom. An AP Scholar with Distinction and recipient of the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award, he has led and served in numerous academic and arts organizations. His passion for performance will take him to Otterbein University, where he will pursue a degree in musical theater.
The USJ Arts Guild can't wait to see what all you achieve. Congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors!