The 2014 Innisfail Senior High graduating class has two valedictorians.
In an unlikely circumstance, Courtney Orton and Shawn Abraham were named co-valedictorians of the 2014 Innisfail graduating class on June 24, ending the year with identical 89.6 per cent averages for all classes taken.
The similarities between the students do not end there.
“We both played badminton for the school team,” said Orton. “And I want to take a year off and travel.”
At this point, the valedictorians begin to diverge, with Abraham aiming towards New Zealand with fellow classmate Devin Cooper while Orton is looking at Europe in the spring of 2015.
Travel and athletics aside, both Orton and Abraham are dedicated students looking to make the best of their Grade 12 academic year.
“My mom went to college right after high school, and encouraged me to take a year off before heading into studies again,” said Abraham. “Last year I realized I did not have a good idea what I wanted to do when I graduated and I knew my best chance at keeping my options open was to take as many core classes as I could and get the best marks I was able to.”
Orton echoed the same thought.
“While I think I want to go into teaching, I had to make sure I did not have to upgrade any courses after Grade 12,” added Orton. “I don't think I will have to.”
Both students focused on different choices during their final year.
“I really enjoyed the cooking classes,” said Orton who worked in the cafeteria as part of her classes. “I don't want to become a chef, but I did enjoy cooking. At this point, I am leaning towards becoming a teacher but we will see once I get to college.”
Abraham was more academic in his choice of classes, taking fewer options and focusing on the sciences with his favourite classes being mathematics and chemistry.
“I have tentatively planned on entering university to study zoology and specialize in invertebrates,” said Abraham. “That will come after I return from New Zealand.”
The students will leave high school with fond memories of a recent graduate prank, a slip-and-slide park they created in the hallways last week.
“Not a lot of kids used our indoor/outdoor water park attraction, but it was fun to watch as they did,” said Abraham, who works at the Innisfail Coop part-time when not in school.
A day before the graduation, the students spoke about their speeches, and they were as different as one could imagine.
“Mine is serious,” said Abraham.
Orton shrugged her shoulders and said, “Mine is funny; we have to have a balance, don't we?”
