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Two people embrace in the foreground, while a woman smiles in the background against a backdrop of stars.
Photo Gallery: 8th Grade Promotion
Jeremy Tepper

As students walked across the stage — one by one accepting their diplomas and shaking their 8th grade teachers' hands — the end of their journeys at Duquesne City came to a ceremonious end.

On June 10, the district celebrated its 8th grade students' promotion to high school. It was a joyous and emotional day, as students and staff reminisced on the growth of the class of 2026. This class of 39 students was a remarkably talented and resilient one that progressed tremendously throughout their years of schooling in the district.

"Today is a special milestone as we gather to celebrate the accomplishments and growth of our 8th grade students," said principal Erica Slobodnik.

"Throughout your years at Duquesne, you have grown academically, socially, and emotionally. And today, we celebrate that growth."

Graduating students Aarionna Manker, Nazifa Temori, and Hamzeh Alsholi led the proceedings as the masters and mistresses of ceremony. Noble Watson gave the farewell speech, before students celebrated with their families.

"No matter where we go or what we become, remember one thing: 'Once a Duke, always a Duke,'" said Watson.

Along the way of the ceremony, a number of students were recognized for their growth, achievement, and service at Duquesne City. Mrs. Stowell recognized Lego League students, Mrs. Shively recognized band students, Ms. Means honored her Leaders in Trainings, and Ms. Thomas recognized her Pittsburgh Area Community School student leaders. 

Additionally, Ms. Pat Bluett gave out the Rosemary Denne Award to three students who embodied model citizenship in the community, while Ms. Marissa Redding and Mrs. Tiffanee Heywood recognized students for their work in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club and the Youth Works Hire Me Program.

Thank you to our wonderful and hardworking 8th grade teaching and support staff for helping lead these students through their final school year at Duquesne City. Additionally, special thanks to our entire staff for their work in guiding these students, helping them grow year after year into the impressive students that they've become. Congratulations, class of 2026! You're going to do great things in high school and beyond!

A young woman in a white strapless dress walks down a runway with a gold clutch, while another person sits in the background before a red curtain.
Two young men, one in a white suit and sunglasses, pose with their hands up in the foreground, while a blurred, colorful crowd fills the background.
A woman in a red hat and dress speaks into a microphone at a podium decorated with tinsel, with a blurred background of a stage and lights.
Two women laugh while looking at their phones in the foreground, with a bouquet of %22Congrats Grad!%22 balloons floating above them against a blurred background of an indoor event with an exit sign.
A man in a suit and red shirt speaks into a microphone at a podium, with a blurred background of a screen and green banners.
A woman with long, auburn hair embraces a young man in front of a dark backdrop adorned with red and green decorations.
A smiling girl in a red skirt and white sweatshirt stands on a stage with green balloons and red stars in the background.
Three young people stand on a stage with red tablecloths and a black backdrop adorned with stars and balloons, holding certificates.
Two women embrace in the foreground, with a red curtain and a blurred background behind them.
A woman with red hair and tattoos on her arm speaks into a microphone at a podium, with a blurred background of a stage and decorations.
A woman in a pink dress smiles while speaking at a microphone decorated with green tinsel, with blurred green balloons and lights in the background.
Two women embrace in the foreground, with a blurred background of colorful decorations and people.
A young woman with purple-tinted hair speaks into a microphone in the foreground, while a blurred background features green and white banners and a stage.
A woman with braided hair speaks into a microphone at a podium decorated with green tinsel, with a blurred audience in the background.
A woman with red hair speaks into a microphone at a podium decorated with tinsel, while a young boy in a suit stands beside her, with a blurred audience in the background.
A young woman in a hijab speaks into a microphone at a podium decorated with green tinsel, with blurred green balloons in the background.
A young boy in a suit speaks into a microphone at a podium decorated with green tinsel, with a blurred green balloon in the background.
A woman in a black dress and a man in a patterned shirt dance on a stage with a red curtain in the background.
A young man in a suit shakes hands with a woman in a patterned dress on a stage with a dark curtain and white stars in the background.
A young man in a black suit and red shirt walks down a stage with red curtains on the left and a decorated railing on the right.
Two people embrace in the foreground, while a woman smiles in the background against a backdrop of stars.
A man in a suit shakes hands with a young man in a suit holding a certificate, while other people stand behind them on a stage with a dark curtain and star decorations.
A young man in a suit shakes hands with a woman and a man in a red shirt on a stage with star decorations in the background.
A young man in a light blue dress shirt and tie embraces a woman in a patterned dress, with a dark backdrop adorned with white and red stars.
A young boy in a suit and tie with a red pocket square smiles and gestures on a stage with red curtains and a green garland in the background.
A man in a red shirt and khaki pants stands to the left, while two women embrace in the center, with a backdrop of red and white stars.
A woman in a black dress presents a diploma to a young woman in a blue gown, with a stage and audience seating visible in the background.
A young man in a suit walks past red curtains and a blue wall with a festive garland.
A woman in a black dress shakes hands with a young woman in a denim jacket and white dress on a stage with red curtains in the background.
A man in a red shirt and a boy in a suit shake hands in front of a woman and a dark curtain with stars.
A man in a light suit embraces a smiling woman in a dark dress holding a sparkly clutch, while a man in a red shirt and blue tie stands behind them against a backdrop of red and white stars.
A young man in a suit receives a framed certificate from a woman in a patterned dress, while other adults look on against a backdrop of red and white stars.
A young boy in a white polo shirt is being hugged by two adults on a stage with a dark curtain and red and white stars in the background, while a woman claps enthusiastically.
A young boy in a suit walks down stairs with a garland on the railing, against a backdrop of a red curtain and a light blue wall.
A young man in a suit receives a certificate from a woman in red, while a man in a red shirt and a woman in a patterned dress look on, all on a stage with red and white stars in the background.
Two women in formal dresses shake hands on a stage with red curtains and seating in the background.
A young boy in a patterned shirt shakes hands with a woman in a red dress on a stage, while another woman in a black dress smiles behind him.
A young man in a suit walks across a stage with red curtains in the background.
Two women, one in a black dress and the other in a white dress, shake hands on a stage with draped chairs and musical instruments in the background.
A smiling young woman in a vibrant red dress stands in front of a red curtain and a blue wall.
Two people embrace on a stage with a black curtain and white stars in the background.
A person in the foreground is being hugged by another person while holding a dark folder, with a blurred background of a stage and white stars.
Two women in formal attire stand on a stage with a black curtain and a white star in the background.
A young boy in a bright red suit walks across a stage with a blue backdrop and red curtains.
A young man in a suit hugs a woman holding a diploma in front of a backdrop with white stars.
A man in a red shirt shakes hands with a young man in a black shirt holding a certificate, while other people watch in the background.
Two women embrace in the foreground, one in a blue patterned dress holding a certificate, while the background features a dark curtain adorned with white stars.
A young man in a white suit embraces a woman in a patterned dress, while a man in a red shirt looks on, all on a stage decorated with stars.
A young woman with braided hair and glasses walks in front of a red curtain and a blue wall with a garland.
A young woman in a strapless yellow dress walks across a stage with red curtains and a blue wall in the background.
A man in a red shirt and a woman with braided hair smile at each other while holding a folder, with a blurred audience in the background.
In the foreground, two women shake hands, one in a black dress and the other in a white dress holding a gold clutch, while a dark curtain forms the background.
A young person in a pinstripe suit gestures with their hands in front of a red curtain and a light blue wall.
A woman in a black dress shakes hands with a young man in a suit as they stand on a stage with a star decoration in the background.
A woman in a white dress holds a framed certificate while a man in a red shirt shakes hands with someone off-camera, all against a blurred, dimly lit background.
Two women embrace in the foreground, with a blurred background of a stage and curtains.
A young boy in a suit stands on a stage with a red curtain in the background and an orange object in the foreground.
A young woman with vibrant red hair, wearing a white strapless dress and holding a diploma, cries with emotion on a dimly lit stage.
A man with a beard speaks into a microphone while gesturing with his finger, with a blurred background of a screen and stage lights.
A young girl in a hijab hugs another woman while holding a certificate, with a dark curtain and white stars in the background.
A young woman with vibrant red hair sings into a microphone in front of a blurred background with green accents.