For a small group of just six Snow Lake students, the culmination of 12 years of schooling was realized when Joseph H. Kerr School's Class of 2014 took their graduation walk during the afternoon of June 21. The convocation ceremony commenced at 4 p.m. in the school's Gordon Doak Gymnasium. This grad rite of passage was followed by their supper, grand march, family social, and safe grad.
The Class of 2014 was the smallest to ever graduate from the school (since records were kept) and was 26 members fewer Snow Lake's largest ever graduating class - 32 in the Class of 1972. This year's grads were: Daniel Longpré, Shelley Brown, Jamie Gogal, Ben Davies, Sumari Menge, and Eric Krul.
The ceremony began with senior high teacher Marc Beaulieu, taking emcee duties and he introduced the class as they entered the gymnasium to Taylor Swift's song, Long Live. The grads took their seats on stage, then along with family and guests watched a slideshow of their memories play out on a nearby screen. Following this, fellow student Tayla Cousins sang O' Canada.
Principal Steve Deighton was then introduced and addressed the class. Deighton began by reprising the graduate's journey through 12 years of schooling, while pressing home the fact that schooling will eventually come to a close, but that education and learning won't end with it. Deighton also stressed the importance of lessons learned from parents and of where their education will take them.
Subsequent to his address, Deighton presented each of the diplomas and turned the graduate's tassels in doing so.
The awarding of scholarships and bursaries then got underway. Those awards and their recipients were: The Snow Lake Lions Memorial Bursary ($800), Daniel Longpré; Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 241 Bursary ($600), Daniel Longpré; Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary Bursary ($600), Daniel Longpré; J.H. Kerr Student Council Bursary ($500), Jamie Gogal; Manitoba Métis Federation - Bert Linfit was called forward to make the presentation; however, he was not in attendance - ($250), Shelley Brown; Elk's Lodge # 461 Bursary (no mention of value), Daniel Longpré; Snow Lake Health Auxiliary (no mention of value), Sumari Menge; USW Local 7106 bursary ($500), Ben Davies; Northern RHA Bursary ($250), Eric Krul; The Robert Simpson Memorial Bursary Scholarship ($1,000), Sumari Menge (it was noted during this presentation that her long term plan was to become a medical Doctor and return to Snow Lake to practice); Snow Lake Chamber of Commerce (no mention of value), Jamie Gogal; Graal Mechanical (no mention of value), Daniel Longpré; J.H. Kerr School Committee Scholarships (2 x $1,500), Eric Krul (college) and Sumari Menge (university); Hudbay Scholarship for the highest average ($8,000 over four years) Jamie Gogal (82.5 per cent average).
Several other awards were also given at this point: Eric Krul was awarded the Governor General's Medal for the highest overall academic average. Awards of Merit went to Shelley Brown, Ben Davies, and Daniel Longpré. Honours Awards went to Jamie Gogal, Sumari Menge, and Eric Krul. It was noted that it doesn't often happen that all graduating students are recognised for merit or honours, but that even with the small class size, the class of 2014 had a very high academic average. The Most Improved Student Award went to Jamie Gogal and the Award for Outstanding Effort had dual winners in Ben Davies and Eric Krul. There were also two athletic awards given out as both the Male Athlete and Female Athlete of the Year were class members; these were given to Ben Davies and Shelley Brown, respectively.
Following the awards presentation, valedictorians Shelley Brown and Ben Davies delivered their valedictorian addressees, sprinkled with humour, insight and thanks. The valedictorians were followed by the guest speaker for the afternoon, Maurice Nogiér, school bus driver and the athletic program's biggest cheerleader,. Nogiér began with some background on himself; then spoke to the group from a small town perspective, with a similar set of ideals. He stated, "I watched these kids grow up through the rear-view mirror on my bus." He also noted with pride that on out-of-town athletic trips he had the opportunity to see what well-mannered kids they truly are. Nogiér interspersed his address with personal anecdotes about each of the graduates, culminating with advice to, "don't just plan for 'good enough'; shoot for, 'that's amazing'." He ended by challenging the grads to always remember that they were from Snow Lake!
Following closing remarks, the new graduates exited the gym to Simple Minds' song Don't You Forget About Me.
Following the convocation ceremony, grads, teachers, family, and invited guests, made their way over to the Lawrie Marsh Community Hall for the grad supper. After the meal, due to the inclement weather, the grand march was held in the school gymnasium. The grand march sees many of Snow Lake's citizens gather to view the grads and escorts dressed in their finest and offers family and friends the opportunity to snap photos. With the march over, people made their way back to the hall for the family social and safe grad.
