CARSTAIRS — Hundreds of family, friends and well-wishers attended the in-person cap and gown ceremony for 42 Hugh Sutherland School (HSS) graduating students on June 24.
Held in the school’s North Gymnasium, the event was the first indoor ceremony held since 2019. Graduation ceremonies had been held outdoors in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valedictorian Hailey Broad commended her class and the entire school community for persevering during the pandemic.
“My classmates and I have endure some very unorthodox years of high school and navigated some situations that lots of young adults have never had to work through,” said Broad. “Now we can confidently say we conquered them.
“I would like to start by saying that no matter how close we are today or have been during our time in this building, I am proud of every person on this stage today. Each grad has their own story and experience of how they made it to this moment, but the point is, we all made it.
“I hope we have all learned something from the years we spend within the walls of HSS.”
Broad thanked and commended the teachers and school staff who helped Class of 2022 students throughout their school years.
“With the support of our teachers, we have all worked through some valuable lessons and important experiences that have encouraged us to grow as individuals,” she said.
“Wherever the next years of our lives take us, I hope that we can look back fondly on at least a few memories from our 13 years together at HSS. On behalf of everyone who took this journey with us, including our families, friends, teachers and community members, congratulations to the entire graduating class of 2022.”
In his address during the ceremony, principal George Thomson wished the members of the Class of 2022 all the best in their respective future endeavours.
“Do us all proud,” said Thomson. “Go and live the life that you deserve, the life that you can only dream about, make that dream your reality. Each and everyone one of you has the ability for greatness, the potential to change the world. Go out there and do something remarkable.
“I have had immense pleasure over the last eight year of teaching, interacting with, and yes, even on occasion, disciplined members of this grad class.”
Laura Lee Hrabok and Tyler Jesse were the masters of ceremony at the graduation ceremony, and the national anthem was performed by students Janessa Grenier and Brandon Nielsen.
Dignitaries in attendance including Mountain View County councillor Dwayne Fulton, Chinook’s Edge trustee Melissa Copley, Town of Carstairs town councillor Angie Fricke and Chinook’s Edge School Division associate superintendent Jason Drent.
