The Saugeen District Secondary School class of 2018 was celebrated during their convocation October 5.
Hub Staff
The Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS) class of 2018 was celebrated during the October 5 convocation, where former classmates donned their caps and gowns and walked the stage to receive their diplomas. The class of 2018 saw nearly 100 students graduate with many winning awards and bursaries.
Prior to the ceremony, which saw musical accompaniment by the SDSS Senior Band, graduates greeted each other in the gymnasium and took part in the ceremonial cap toss.
Class voted Valedictorian Kent Ribey, who returned to SDSS to complete a 2-12 year, said that he had been sitting in a tractor for the last three months trying to come up with his address. Ribey, who would like to attend the University of Guelph for their agriculture business program, said the speech has been running through his head for a while and thought it was “pretty cool” that his classmates voted for him through a multi-vote process, adding “it’s their opinion so that’s the most important one."
Ribey said the message of his speech tells students to be their own person. “Not everyone's going to go off on their own path and you should be yourself," he said. "You can’t aim too low at this point because you have your whole life ahead of you.”
Of the 98 graduates, 54 were Ontario Scholars, attaining an average of 80% or higher in their six best Grade 12 courses.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
The Anglican Parish of Saugeen Shores Bursaries
- St. John's Bursary: Rachel Kelly
- St. Paul's Bursary: Victoria Matheson
Giovanna Bargetti Awards: Ziibi Cameron and Marissa Kahgee
Beta Sigma Phi-Iota Phi Sorority Bursary: Hallie Acton
Bruce & Grey County Federation of Agriculture Award
- In honour and remembrance of Mr Ernie Young: Spencer Davey
Bruce County Conservationists Award: Tommy Tiisler
Bruce County District Women's Institute Scholarship: Kendra Klages
Bruce Power Leadership Award: Jack Flarity
Bruce Power Award
- Female Pursuing a Skilled Trade: Bryanna Cowan
Bruce Power Future Innovator Award: Carsyn Cassidy
Bumper to Bumper Award: Ryan Mahoney
CIBC Business Bursary: Sarita Ahmed
Canadian Federation of University Women Southport Scholarships: Arcadia Kagige, Sarah Mekky and Ashley Stroud
Betty Colborne Memorial Scholarship: Kelly Robertson
Chantry Island Chambettes Community Service Award: Candace Mowbray
Chartwells School Dining Bursaries: Hayley Swigger and Taylor Ferguson
The W. J. Coulter Award: Emma Vanhaelemeesch
Anne Marie Feddema Memorial Bursary: Connor Hagen
Dr and Mrs J. E. Fraser Memorial Scholarship - Rahmi Shabnam
The Grant Helm Scholarship: Brooke Thorne
Ideal Supply UAP Napa Award: J.D. Barnard
Eric Hilbig Senior Science Award: Matthew Lemcke
Carmen Howe Memorial Award: Brooke Thorne
Michael Humphrey Memorial Award: Austin de Roos
The Elizabeth Kelly Memorial Awards: Jack Flarity and Melissa Bruce
Knights of Columbus Recognition Awards: Mikayla Ball-Valiquette and Stephanie Gomes
Christopher Knott Memorial Award: Trevor Donaldson
Edythe Lamont Memorial Award: Madison Rettinger
Carm Levie Sr History Award: Fiona Miller
Lifetouch Photography Award: Arcadia Kagige
Kevin McArthur Memorial Curling Bursaries: Carsyn Cassidy and Jack Middleton
The McLellan Bursary: Hailey Astle
The Janet McNally First Nation Education Award - Jackson Weber
Meridian Credit Union Bursary
- Port Elgin Branch Scholarship: Abygale Young
Ontario Power Generation Achievement Awards: Ken Bingham and Ainsley Harron
Order of the Eastern Star Awards: Blake Hewitt and Elspeth Irwin
Performing Arts of Saugeen Shores Award: Fiona Miller
The Port Elgin Lions Club Awards: Stephanie Gomes and Ashley Schlorff
The Port Elgin Masonic Lodge Bursaries: Austin de Roos and Victoria Matheson
The Port Elgin Pharmasave Life Science Bursary: Abygale Young
The Port Elgin Royal Canadian Legion Awards
- Math: Arif Azmi
- Science: Matthew Lemcke
The Port Elgin United Church Bursary: Krissandra Sturgeon
The Ross Preston Memorial Award for Economics: Tara Gaunt
The Bruce Power - Professional Engineers of Ontario (Georgian Bay Chapter): Matthew Lemcke
The Retired Teachers of Ontario Community Service Award & Lieutenant Governor Community Volunteer Award Pin: Jack Middleton
The Rotary Club of Port Elgin Service Above Self Bursaries: Cassidy Kazimer and Matthew Lemcke
Saugeen District Secondary School Administrator Award: Claudia Robinson
The Saugeen Memorial Hospital
- Auxiliary Bursary: Ashley Schlorff
- William Rankin Memorial Bursary: Chloe Swarbrick
The Saugeen Shores Police Services and Association Bursaries: Eric Sedore and Rachel Kelly
Southport Horticultural Society Scholarship: Tommy Tiisler
Saugeen Shores United Football Club "Volunteerism in Sport" Bursary: Jack Flarity
Shoppers Drug Mart Health Sciences Bursary: Carsyn Cassidy
Southampton Rotary Scholarships: Hallie Acton and Eric Sedore
The Howard Stoddard Memorial Award: Hailey Astle
The West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance Bursary: Chloe Swarbrick
Governor General's Academic Medal: Ari Azmi
Valedictory Address (introduced by Rahmi Shabnam): Kent Ribey
Royal the SDSS mascot was eager for the graduation ceremony to begin.
SDSS graduates, from left, Hayley Swigger, Madison Rettinger, Kendra Klages, Tess Bainborough, Madison Misch.
From left, graduates Vickie Vance, Andrew Malcolm, Brooke Thorne, Caleb Mills and Spencer Davey.
From left, Cam McEwen, Valedictorian Kent Ribey and Trevor Donaldson.
The SDSS Senior Band laid the soundtrack for the Grade 12 graduation ceremony October 5.
