Our 2026 Iron Horse Ranch Featured Graduates!
The wait is over. The Class of 2026 has arrived. Congratulations to all of our high school and college graduates!
Kennedy and Jameson Whelan
Sam Stone: 18 years old
Graduate, Edmond Memorial High School
I have lived in IHR almost 6 years.
What do you like about living in the IHR community?
The people I am surrounded by.
Tell us about your family?
My parents are Scott and Kat Stone. I have 1 younger brother, named Eli, and a dog named Annie.
What does graduating high school actually mean to you?
It means the next chapter of my life is about to begin. That chapter is adulthood.
What activities were/are you involved in? I played football and got my private pilot's license.
What are your plans after you graduate?
I plan to go to Oklahoma State University to major in their professional pilot program where I hope to eventually fly for a major airline. Go Pokes!
What will you remember most about your high school years?
I'll remember the people mostly, and how much Calculus sucks.
What is the one piece of life advice you wish someone had given you sooner?
Close doors behind you, not in front of you.
What song or trend will always remind you of this time?
Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfeld.
Kennedy Whelan: age 21 years old
College Graduate, University of Oklahoma
I have lived in IHR for 10 years!
What do you like about living in the IHR community?
All of the neighborhood events and community gatherings have brought my family and I so many memories and friends!
Tell us about your family?
My parents, Wendie and Ken Whelan, have been the most supportive and loving people on the planet! They own their own small business, Valor Craftworks, and are dedicated to serving the military community here in Oklahoma and abroad! My younger brother Jameson is also graduating this year, from Edmond Memorial High School, and I could not be more proud of him!
What activities were/are you involved in?
I am now an Alumni of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at the University of Oklahoma! My sorority brought me so many lifelong friends, and allowed me to serve the Norman community through our multiple philanthropies and community service events! I also work at a local restaurant in Norman that fosters the community through weekly trivia, karaoke, and bingo nights!
What are your plans after you graduate?
I am earning a B.A. in Political Science! I was accepted to the Accelerated Nursing Program at the University of Oklahoma’s Medical Campus in Oklahoma City, and will pursue a second degree in Nursing!
What will you remember most about your college years?
I will definitely remember all of the friends and memories that I made in college the most. I cannot wait to continue to foster these relationships throughout my life!
What is the one piece of life advice you wish someone had given you sooner?
I wish I had learned sooner to chase every dream that I have with gusto! Every opportunity, dream, and experience that I have been offered or pursued has impacted me as a person, and I can’t wait to continue to grow and learn about who I will become in life.
What song or trend will always remind you of this time?
Ring my Bell by Anita Ward is my everyday theme song! It pushes me to be happy, passionate, live everyday to the fullest!
Jameson Whelan: age 18 years old
Graduate, Edmond Memorial High
I lived in IHR coming up on ten years
What do you like about living in the IHR community?
The ability to meet new people, i’ve made countless friends while living here
Tell us about your family?
My parents, Ken and Wendie are very supportive of me and my sister, Kennedy. We also house two little pups, Brutus and Nera.
What does graduating mean to you?
It means that i’m able to pursue my goals in life now that i am able to get further education.
What are your plans after you graduate?
I will be attending OCU to get a BFA in Film Production and a Minor in Scriptwriting.
What will you remember most about your high school years?
Mostly my friends, and overall all the relationships i’ve made.
What is the one piece of life advice you wish someone had given you sooner?
No matter how hard something may be, if you want it, go fight for it.
What song or trend will always remind you of this time?
Where’d All the Time Go? - Dr. Dog
Caeden Rutledge, 17 years old
Graduate, Edmond Memorial High school
I lived in IHR for 11 years
What do you like about living in the IHR community?
I have made a lot of good friends here.
Tell us about your family (parents, siblings, pets)?
I have three siblings—two older ones, Charles and Abbey, and a younger brother named Noah. I also have four dogs: Winter, Sky, Storm, and Shadow. I’m lucky to have two loving parents, Chase and Lisa.
What does graduating high school actually mean to you?
I'm excited to begin a new chapter of my life and grow into the person I’ll become in the future.
What activities were/are you involved in? (in high school/college or outside of school)
I run track and played football for Edmond Memorial High school.
What are your plans after you graduate? (College, trade school, work, travel, etc)
I plan to go to the Navy and be a nuclear engineer.
What will you remember most about your high school years?
I will always remember my friends and everyone I’ve met during this time.
What is the one piece of life advice you wish someone had given you sooner?
You can think you’re the victim of every situation, or you can realize the world is not out to get you and you need to do what you can to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be.
What song or trend will always remind you of this time?
Transform- Daniel Caesar.
Hannah Wilbur, 18 years old
Graduate, Edmond Memorial High,
I've lived in Iron horse Ranch for 4 years now.
What do you like about living in IHR?
I love the tight knit community where we all get to know each other and hangout!
Tell us about your family:
My parents and siblings have supported me my whole life without fail. My parents were actually married at 18 and 19!
What does graduating mean to you?
Graduating high school means becoming my own person and exploring what it is to be successful with the oncoming responsibilities and opportunities.
What activities were/are you involved in?
I played varsity softball as the catcher at Edmond Memorial for all 4 years and was named Team Captain as a Junior.
What are your plans after you graduate?
My plans for after graduation are to play softball at Rose State College on scholarship and get my pre imaging degree to become an ultrasound technician.
What will you remember about your high school years?
What I will remember most is playing senior assassin in the last few months of school and winning the softball state championship in 2022!!
What is the one piece of life advice you wish someone had given you sooner?
One piece of advice I wish to give is not to let anyone or anything stand in the way of what you want. Always strive for better than your best and don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do it.
What song or trend will always remind you of this time?
One song that will remind me of highschool is “All I do is win” by DJ Khalid because it is the song we would blast on repeat headed to the softball state championship every single year.
Anything to add?
Let Jesus’s light shine through you in every person you meet and everything you do.