Two prominent alumni of Cassadaga Valley Central School returned to their old stomping grounds as guest speakers for the district's 2026 Commencement last week. The new graduates got to hear words of wisdom from Ryan Nobles (pictured) of the Class of 1993 and Derek Houser of the Class of 2001.
Nobles, who is currently the Chief Capital Hill Correspondent for NBC News, has built an extraordinary career at the highest levels of broadcast journalism. Reporting daily from Washington, DC, he appears across NBC Nightly News, TODAY, NBC News NOW, and Meet the Press NOW, covering the nation's most significant political events and breaking news. Before joining NBC News, Nobles spent eight years as a Congressional Correspondent for CNN, where he led coverage of the January 6 Select Committee, presidential campaigns, and historic events shaping our nation. Throughout his distinguished career, he has traveled internationally with congressional delegations, interviewed world leaders -- including three sit-down interviews with President Barack Obama -- and earned Emmy nominations, two regional Emmy Awards, and an Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism.
Houser, who was salutatorian of his class, is currently a Social Studies teacher for the Southwestern Central School District, where he has inspired students for nearly two decades. In addition to his work in the classroom, he has served as a class advisor and has coached the varsity girls soccer team since 2009, leading the program to sectional championships in both 2020 and 2023.
Photos by the Cassadaga Valley Central School District
