ISR Graduation Ceremony 2026: A Meaningful Milestone for 67 Graduates from 21 Nations
On Friday, hundreds of guests, valued ISR families, and distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our 67 graduates from 21 different nations at this year’s ISR Graduation Ceremony 2026. It was a special day filled with pride, joy, and moving moments, honoring the accomplishments of our students and marking their successful graduation from ISR.
We are particularly proud that many families from this year’s graduating class have been part of the ISR family for many years. Several have been with us since 2011, while others joined in 2012, 2013, and 2014. This long-standing connection fills us with great gratitude and makes this graduation milestone even more meaningful for our entire school community.
Following the festive welcoming remarks by Mr. Soliman, Proprietor of ISR, and Ms. Jordanova, Head of Upper School at ISR, we were especially pleased to welcome Dr. Geerlings, Deputy Mayor of the City of Neuss and Member of the State Parliament, to the stage as our keynote speaker. With his appreciative words, he addressed our graduates and highlighted the significance of this important milestone.
Afterwards, our student Ruby enriched the ceremony with an impressive musical performance, adding a particularly memorable and festive atmosphere to the occasion.
Another emotional highlight of the ceremony was the speech delivered by ISR alumna Dr. Camilla Mendl-Heinisch. In a deeply personal address, she shared valuable key learnings with the graduates. Exactly twelve years ago, Camilla herself stood on the very same stage as Valedictorian at her own graduation, speaking to her fellow classmates – a truly special moment that brought her ISR journey full circle in a meaningful way.
Following this, our Parent Speaker, Mr. Habel, addressed the graduates with heartfelt remarks. As a special gesture, he presented each graduate with a small bookmark intended to accompany them on their future paths.
Subsequently, Piotr and Ayssan, this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian, delivered their closing speech. With moving words, they expressed their sincere appreciation for all teachers, staff members, and supporters of ISR, while also reflecting with gratitude on their shared school journey.
The ceremonial highlight of the event was the presentation of the ISR High School Diplomas. Amid great applause, our graduates received their diplomas, marking the conclusion of an important chapter and the beginning of an exciting new stage in their lives.
Our graduates have already received an average of 3.5 offers from universities around the world – an impressive achievement that reflects their academic excellence, dedication, and international outlook. Further offers from universities in the German-speaking region are still pending.
Our sincere gratitude goes to all distinguished guests who celebrated this special day with us: Dr. Geerlings, Mr. Nickel, member of the ISR Advisory Board, Mr. Kawakami from the JISD Leadership Team, and, of course, all families who have supported and accompanied our graduates throughout their journey.
We look forward to seeing where the future will lead our graduates and are confident that they will continue to represent and carry forward the values of ISR wherever they go. We warmly congratulate the Class of 2026 and wish all graduates every success and happiness for the future!
