FM grads told to keep their EDGE

FORT MADISON – Fort Madison Jr./Sr. High School Principal Patrick Lamb challenged the 2026 Bloodhound graduating class to have an EDGE as they move into the next phase of life.
The Bloodhounds graduated 124 students on Sunday and recognized class Valedictorian Savannah Sissel and Salutatorian Kadence Gobble. Twenty-two graduates crossed the stage with Academic Excellence with a GPA of greater than 4.0.
"Today, I want to talk about one word - “edge” - because that’s where you all stand right now,” Lamb told the class just before they moved their tassels.
“On the edge of adulthood, on the edge of independence, on the edge of responsibility, on the edge of the opportunity, and, yes, on the edge of greatness... or not.”
Lamb said nothing, including greatness, is guaranteed with a diploma and the milestone is not the end, but just the beginning.
“But over the past 13 years, believe it or not, you’ve all developed an edge,” he said.

Lamb broke the word down by letter saying E stood for Effort and the graduates should never underestimate the power of effort; D – Decision Making. Lamb said lives are shaped by thousands of small decisions and eventually no one will be standing over them making sure they get things accomplished. Those decisions are theirs and theirs alone; G – Grit – He said Grit is different than effort because grit is continuing even when life punches you in the face. “And life will punch you in the face – repeatedly,” Lamb said. “Everyone in this gym has failed and will continue to fail. You will lose something or someone, miss an opportunity, or get rejected… That’s not meanness, that is life. What matters is what happens next.”
The final E was for empathy and understanding that everyone they will meet is carrying something and dealing with something. “Some day your intelligence will get you hired, but your ability to work with people will determine how far you go,” Lamb said.
“As you leave remember your EDGE, those four things will take you farther than opportunity ever will, farther than talent alone ever will, and farther than luck ever will,” he said.
School board member Mio Santiago also addressed the class. He said in his research, he scrolled TikTok and said he wouldn’t be talking about AI changing the world as those speeches get “boo’ed”.
He also said he wouldn’t be using new, generational terms because no one wants to see a middle-aged Asian guy “telling you all that stuff”.
He said graduation is a celebration of hard work, perseverance, and accomplishment. He said the seniors should do great things and that doesn’t mean becoming famous or grand.
“Greatness can be being dependable, and showing kindness to people who need it, working hard when nobody notices, being honest when being dishonest is easier, helping others, keeping your word, and becoming someone people can count on,” he said.