Three students who graduated from the Safe Distance Learning program and 35 Unity Composite High School students received their Grade 12 diplomas at the school June 28, in the annual cap and gown ceremony, attended by parents, grandparents and other family members, school staff and community residents.
Graduate Molly Orobko gave the valedictory address. With the highest marks through her Grade 12 year, 96.3 per cent, Orobko received the honour cord from Principal Aaron Melnyk.
The Governor General’s medal, considered the most prestigious award available to high school students, was also awarded to Orobko. The medal criteria looks to the combined Grade 11 and 12 average in all classes; Orobko’s was 95.82 per cent.
Molly is the daughter of Vicki and Pat Orobko. She plans to attend the University of Regina to pursue a bachelor of science degree in statistics.
Because the UCHS awards night was postponed to September, various awards going to members of this year’s graduating class were given out at the graduation ceremony. Honour roll recipients were asked to stand to be recognized as their names were read – their certificates had been left on their parents’ chairs for safekeeping.
Subject awards, which included a medal as well as a certificate, went to Molly Orobko, Math and Science Award, combined average of 97.1 per cent; Humanities Award, average from two classes, 96.3 per cent; and to Steyn Hoogstad, Practical and Applied Arts Award, 97 per cent in his industrial arts class.
The Grade 12 winners of the bronze, silver and gold athletic awards were also announced. Orobko was recognized for reaching the platinum level of UCHS Warrior athletics.
Between the recognition of the athletic award and academic award winners, a number of community members were on hand to present various scholarships, bursaries and other monetary awards.
Unity Credit Union provides two scholarships – one for the student with the highest average pursuing a degree and one for the student with the highest average entering a technical diploma program. Orobko received the first scholarship while Grace Heck, who plans to study to become an MRI technologist, received the latter.
Orobko also received one of two Masonic Isabel Anderson Physical Sciences Bursaries and a Butch & Judy Boskill Foundation Award, while Heck was the winner of a Unity Lions Club Bursary and the Masonic Jimmie and Ethel Anderson Memorial Bursary.
Amanda Roth was on hand to represent Delta Co-op. All three student employees – Sydney Greenwald, Brenna O’Brian and Jayde Reiter – received gifts from Roth. In addition, Roth presented O’Brian and Greenwald with a Scavenoloship Scholarship.
One of the Unity Health Care Auxiliary Scholarships was awarded to O’Brian as well.
On behalf of the Unity Kin Club, Nora Aldred presented an award to Cassey Reiniger. Unlike many of the other awards, academic marks are not considered; rather it is community involvement and volunteerism that are the qualifying attributes.
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission awarded Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Industry Scholarships to 110 graduating high school students from 77 communities across Saskatchewan. Seth Winterhalt, who plans to become a carpenter, and Toby Thompson, who will study heavy duty mechanics, each received one of these $1,000 awards to help them as they pursue education and careers in the trades.
Hoogstad, who delivered the thank yous to the staff and parents on behalf of the class, received three awards: the UCHS Volleyball Alumni Scholarship, the Steven Wesolowski Memorial Bursary and a Masonic Isabel Anderson Physical Sciences Bursary.
Jacelyn Delhommeau received the first monetary award handed out – the prestigious UCHS Senior Leadership & Dedication Award. Before presenting Delhommeau with the award, teacher Kyla Snell outlined Delhommeau’s many contributions to the school and the community.
Snell concluded by quoting John Quincy Adams, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” and then said “Jacelyn embodies this sentiment through her actions and dedication to her school and community.”
Delhommeau, daughter of Twilla and Dion, also received the Unity Lions Club Scholarship, a Unity Health Care Auxiliary Scholarship, a Knights of Columbus Bursary and a Royal Canadian Legion Unity Branch 90 Bursary. She plans to attend the University of Saskatchewan to obtain a degree in nursing.
Other awards, scholarships and bursaries went to Spencer Halter – Royal Canadian Legion Unity Branch 90 Bursary, Masonic Jimmie and Ethel Anderson Memorial Bursary, John Coid Masonic Memorial Bursary, Candace Heitt Memorial Bursary; Grace Lindsay – PDG Lion John Coid Memorial Bursary, Ed Burnell & Family Bursary, Unity Agricultural Society Bursary; Danielle Bowker – Living Sky School Division Board Scholarship, Matthew Borden Bursary; Jenai Grant – Unity Wildlife Federation Bursary, Knights of Columbus Bursary; Jorja Gumpinger – Downtown Medical Clinic Bursary, Butch & Judy Boskill Foundation Award; Jade Bast – St. Peter’s Catholic Women’s League Bursary; Camara Brown – UCHS Volleyball Alumni Scholarship; Carter Ralston – CUPE 4747 Scholarship; Jenna Horner – Butch & Judy Boskill Foundation Award; and Quinn Halter – Candace Heitt Memorial Bursary.
Congratulations to all members of the Class of 2024!
