The mass hysteria the world somehow survived before the 2018 Chemainus Secondary School graduates were born now seems rather hysterical.
Principal Lori Hryniuk alluded to the almost long-forgotten phenomenon of Y2K that gripped the world as the calendar flipped from 1999 to 2000. There was supposed to be a massive shutdown of computers and all sorts of problems that never materialized before this group of grads came into the world and have since become the first with 2000 birthdates to complete high school.
“Everything was fine,” recanted Hryniuk.
“How could that be 18 years ago? That seems crazy to me. The year 2000 doesn’t seem that long ago to me.”
Indeed, it has been the end of an 18-year journey - including the last five in high school - that was marked by the 50 graduates in the 2018 class at Chemainus as they embark on the next stage of their lives. The gym was packed for the occasion with family, friends and well-wishers for graduation ceremonies Friday night.
“It’s an exciting time for you to move on to your adult lives,” said Hryniuk, completing her first year as principal at Chemainus Secondary.
“I’m confident you’re well-prepared for today’s ever-changing world. We hope the memories you’ve formed here at Chemainus Secondary have been good ones. Hold those memories close to your heart.”
Vice principal Jennie Hittinger acknowledged the school’s major award winners and the recipients of scholarships and bursaries presented on a previous night.
“It’s a true honour for us to be part of your journey over the last five years,” she told the graduates.
Co-valedictorians Hubert Wong and Natalie Craig were both among the major award honourees, receiving the respective Citizenship and School Spirit trophies. Victoria McCauley won the S.A. Bricker award for effort, Adam Hill the Cedric Lonsdale Award for most improved student and Sue Youn Kim the Principal’s Award.
Twenty-five students in the class received scholarships and bursaries amounting to a combined $87,300 from the community. They included: Lindsey Allenby, Adam Brownlow, Craig, Kate Curran, David Eastman, Luke Fotheringham, Sarah Funk, Brandon Gladman, Kyra Horsman, Leah Howard, Sarah Kendall, Sue Youn Kim, Nickolas Lealand, Jamie MacGregor, McCauley, Julia Peterson, Jillian Rankin, Megan Rhode, Lauraen San Jose, Kieran Smith, Carter Sprang, Makenna Stobbe, Hannah Tuplin, Jaymi Wallace and Wong.
Students going on to universities are receiving an additional $61,000 in total scholarships, putting the grand total at $148,300.
“That’s an amazing amount of money to 25 of you,” Hryniuk noted.
The grads also did well in earning 10 district scholarships.
“Typically, we receive three to five in this school,” Hittinger indicated.
Craig and Wong recounted their high school days from Grade 8 through graduation in their valedictory address, covering some of the major highlights and lesser-known “incidents.”
“We walked in not knowing anything about what was to come,” noted Craig. “We didn’t know we would find passions here at the high school.
“Grade 12 has been an absolute journey and we will not forget our amazing time together.”
“Our future is bright and welcoming,” added Wong. “Our future is still up in the air and it can truly be anything we want it to be.”
He gave special recognition to the parents. “They’ve always been there for our best and worst times of our lives,” Wong pointed out.
“I invite you fellow graduates to explore the world,” he concluded.
Hryniuk conceded in her address to the grads that the job of being a high school principal is not always easy for so many different reasons, but she’s happy to see young men and women well-prepared for the next steps.
“This ceremony is the final recognition that you have met the graduation requirements and you’re moving on from public education,” she said. “I want this grad class to know I really enjoyed working with you this year.”
Some things that stood out for Hryniuk about the group are: they all cared for each other and were inclusive of everyone; they adopted her quickly into becoming a “Cougar”; they were both academically strong and talented; and many took advantage of dual credit and apprenticeship programs.
On top of that, “you clean up really nice,” she quipped. “You look all grown up. It makes me feel comfortable you’re on your way and ready for the next step.”
