Saugeen District Secondary School’s class of 2017 before their convocation October 7.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who'll decide where to go...” ~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Hub Staff

The Class of 2017 returned to Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS) for the school’s 128th commencement ceremony October 6. Many of the 108 graduates donned their cap and gowns, some receiving awards and bursaries before each graduate walked across the stage to receive their diploma.

Valedictorian Tommy Tiisler who returned to SDSS for a “victory lap” was introduced by fellow graduate and friend Tyler Schropp. Prior to his speech, Tiisler said that he felt good about being nominated by his fellow students. “It’s been a hard four years but I mean this is the payoff... I’m just happy to be here I suppose.” Tiisler joked that he’s been known to ramble on and made sure to cover a few important points in his address.

“We really don't know what’s coming up for the next little bit, we have no idea, but the only thing we can do is just stick to our roots,” said Tiisler, adding to remember the most important things and make sure “we’re always pursuing our goals.” The valedictorian later added, “We were all here together at the same time.”

Dr. Seuss’s famed book, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! was quoted twice throughout the ceremony, by Bluewater District School Board Trustee David Mason, and later by SDSS Principal Melissa McEwan as they offered congratulations to the graduates.

Scholarships and award winners:

The Anglican Parish of Saugeen Shores Bursaries:
St. John’s Bursary - Cassi Cote-Barnwell
St. Paul’s Bursary - Elden LaBlance
Giovanna Bargetti Award - TJ Kewageshig and Hayley Carter
Beta Sigma Phi-Iota Phi Sorority Bursary - Jessica Bragg
Bruce County Conservationists Award - Ashley Caume
Bruce Peninsula Art Show Committee Bursary - Kathleen Parsons
Bruce Power Aboriginal Scholarship Fund in Support of Rt. Hon. Paul Martin - Terence Gerrior-Johnson and Hayley Carter
Bruce Power Leadership Award - Hanna Lynch
Bruce Power Award - Female Pursuing a Skilled Trade - Heather Lyness
Bruce Power Future Innovator Award - Thomas MacDonald
CIBC Business Bursary - Simonne Myette
Canadian Federation of University Women Southport Scholarships - Aspen Chapman, Heather Lyness and Sarah Bester
Betty Colborne Memorial Scholarship - Vanessa Phillips
Chantry Island Cham-bettes Community Service Award - Amanda Meuser
Chartwells School Dining Bursary - Heather Lyness
The W.J. Coulter Award - Hanna Lynch
County of Bruce Scholarship - Sarah Bester
Anne Marie Feddema Memorial Bursary - Thomas MacDonald
Dr and Mrs J.E. Fraser Memorial Scholarship - Jeff Hastings
The Grant Helm Scholarship - Kaycee Fischer
Ideal Supply UAP Napa Award - Jacob Kubiak
Eric Hilbig Senior Science Award - Umar Azmi
Carmen Howe Memorial Award - Sarah Bester
K.C. Distributing Award - Coleton McNabb
The Elizabeth Kelly Memorial Award - Audrey Turcotte and Liam Nicoll
Knights of Columbus Recognition Awards - Christian Chin and Tyler Schropp
Christopher Knott Memorial Award - Hanna Lynch
Edythe Lamont Memorial Award - MacKenzie Hall
Lifetouch Photography Award - Kathleen Parsons
Kevin McArthur Memorial Curling Bursary - Rebecca Schloroff
The McLellan Bursary - Rebecca Schloroff
The Janet McNally First Nation Education Award - Aspen Chapman
Meridian Credit Union Bursary - Port Elgin Branch Scholarship - Thomas Forsyth
Ontario Power Generation Achievement Awards - Travis Chappell and Keiffer Farrish
Order of the Eastern Star Award - Felicia Fletcher and Troy Courneyea
Performing Arts of Saugeen Shores Award - Audrey Turcotte
The Port Elgin Lions Club Award - Paige Humphrey and Zain Ismail
The Port Elgin Masonic Lodge Bursary - Simonne Myette and Paul Leger
The Port Elgin Pharmasave Life Science Bursary - Tina Khordehi
The Port Elgin Royal Canadian Legion Awards - Math and Science - Umar Azmi
The Port Elgin United Church Bursary - Rebecca Schlorff
Professional Engineers of Ontario (Georgian Bay Chapter) and Bruce Power Award - Sam Nusselder
The Retired Teachers of Ontario Community Service Award and Lieutenant Governor Community Volunteer Award Pin - Aspen Chapman
The Rotary Club of Port Elgin Service Above Self Bursaries - Amanda Meuser and Sam Nusselder
Saugeen District Secondary School Administrator Award - Jessica Bragg
The Saugeen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Bursary - Umar Azmi
Saugeen Memorial Hospital William Rankin Memorial Bursary - Amanda Meuser
Saugeen Shores Police Service and Association Bursary - Rebecca Schlorff
Southport Horticultural Society Scholarship - Ashley Caume
Saugeen United Football Club “Volunteerism in Sport” Bursary - Rebecca Skomorowski
Shoppers Drug Mart Health Sciences Bursary - Jeff Hastings
Southampton Rotary Scholarships- Jacob Kloosterhof and Sarah Bester
Sylvia Tennyson Memorial Award - Brandan Morano
The West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance Bursary - Katie Stoner
Governor General’s Academic Medal - Umar Azmi

Subject awards were previously given out in Spring of 2017. See: SDSS awards top students

Tommy Tiisler (left), class of 2017 Valedictorian, with friend Tyler Schropp who would later introduce Tiisler before his address.

A+ students Tina Khordelhi, Kennedy Klie, Sarah Bester and Tori Kirkland before their graduation ceremony, October 7.

Nic Sutter-Lammie, Zain Ismail, Eric Sedore, Connor Drope before their graduation ceremony, October 7.

Umar Azmi receiving the Eric Hilbig Senior Science Award.

Marilyn Roote (centre) presented the Bruce Power Aboriginal Scholarship Fund to Terence Gerrior-Johnson and Hayley Carter.

Jessica Bragg winning the Beta Sigma Phi-Iota Phi Sorority Bursary.

Canadian Federation of University Women member Ruthann Irwin (left) with Betty Colborne Memorial Scholarship recipient Vanessa Phillips, CFUW member Sandi Primeau, and CFUW Southport Scholarship winners Heather Lyness, Sarah Bester and Aspen Chapmen.

Dr Laing presented Thomas MacDonald with the Anne Marie Feddema Memorial Bursary.

Amanda Meuser was awarded the Chantry Island Cham-bettes Community Service Award.