Day two of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) graduation week dawned with the Chargers of Henry E. Lackey High School celebrating the Class of 2026. The 232 graduates of Lackey’s Class of 2026 were led by valedictorian Brylee Boyden and Savannah Murphy, the salutatorian.
Cheryl K. Davis, principal of Lackey, spoke to the class about the importance of authenticity. With the rise of AI – artificial intelligence – in everyday lives, Davis reminded the students to use AI judiciously. It has its role, but it shouldn’t replace everything.
“AI has in many ways made our lives easier,” Davis said. “There are literally thousands, millions of tasks that artificial intelligence can do. There is one thing artificial intelligence cannot do. Artificial intelligence cannot be human.”
To be human extends beyond the ability to do tasks. Humans experience consciousness, emotion, social connection and creativity and moral reasoning. “Artificial intelligence cannot replace joy, grief, love, empathy, kindness and compassion,” Davis said. “These are the emotions that allow us as human beings to make connections and develop relationships because we possess emotional intelligence.”
Davis wanted the graduates to remember they are human. “I want you to always be your authentic self,” she said. “Do not let artificial intelligence replace your intelligence, your kindness, your passion, your integrity, your love. Listen to your heart. The world needs your emotional intelligence.”
Boyden also spoke of striking a balance. “Don’t have too much one-track mind. Sometimes we become too engrossed in one thing that we forget about everything else,” Boyden said. “We forget to slow down, we forget to relax and we forget to unwind. Most importantly, we forget to live.”
Living is experiencing joy, working to make the world a better place for others. “It is important that you make time for all aspects of your life,” Boyden said. “It’s how you remain balanced, and balance is how you make the most of your life. As you go into this next chapter, I hope you remember to be resilient, be ambitious, be brilliant and stay balanced,” she said.
Lackey’s Class of 2026 earned more than $19 million in scholarship offers. Westlake High School closes the second day of CCPS graduation celebrations with a 1 p.m. ceremony June 3. To learn more about graduations, visit https://www.ccboe.com/parents/graduation-2026.
