UNITY -- Thanks to support from the community of Unity and area, including non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals, a total of 41 scholarships and bursaries were handed out to Unity Composite High School graduates at their graduation exercises June 30. Forty-two students crossed the stage at the school, marking the end of their high school days and a launch into the workforce and/or post-secondary education.
Kaybree Spendelow was the recipient of the Grade 12 Proficiency Medal and Honour Cord with a Grade 12 average of 97.5 per cent, and winner of the Governor General’s Academic Medal for a combined average of 96 per cent over her last two years at UCHS. After being presented with the Proficiency Medal and Honour Cord by Principal Aaron Melnyk, Spendelow gave the valedictorial address.
Along with those accomplishments, Spendelow also was awarded two scholarships, one from the Unity Masons and the other courtesy of Unity Credit Union, given to the student with the highest average pursuing a degree. Kaybree, daughter of Vanessa and Avery Spendelow, plans to attend the Edwards College of Business at the University of Saskatchewan to study marketing.
Winning four scholarships each were Karson Blanchette (Unity Health Auxiliary, Rise +Grind perseverance award, Downtown Medial Clinic, and the Candace Heitt Memorial Sports Bursary), Ashlyn Greenwald (UCHS Volleyball Alumni, CUPE 4747, Unity Knights of Columbus and Royal Canadian Legion, Unity Branch 90) and Kennadi Bretzer (PDG Lion John Coid Memorial Bursary, Prairie Branches, CUPE 4747 and the Jimmie and Ethel Anderson Memorial Bursary).
Blanchette and Greenwald both plan to start by attending the College of Kinesiology at the U of S, while Bretzer will be working towards a Bachelor of Social Work degree.
Carrie Poitras won the prestigious UCHS Senior Leadership and Dedication Award. Teacher Ann Marie David outlined many of the contributions Poitras had made through her Grade 12 year. Poitras was recognized for her leadership in drama as the only Grade 12 cast member; for leading weekly SADD (Students Against Distracted Driving) meetings and raising awareness and organizing presentations for the elementary schools; and being “a vocal and encouraging leader at pep rallies” as well as working hard behind the scenes all year “often with very little support or help.”
Poitras also received the Kin Club of Unity Bursary and the Unity Lions Scholarship. She plans to attend the University of Saskatchewan on her way to becoming a lawyer.
Layne Parker, who plans to study engineering at the U of S, won three scholarships: UCHS Volleyball Alumni, a Delta Co-op Scholarship and one of two Isabel Anderson Physical Sciences Bursaries.
Double scholarship winners were Dailyn Wagner (St. Peter’s Catholic Women’s League and Unity Credit Union for the student with the highest average to a student entering a technical program – Wagner will attend Lakeland College to study accounting), Ashley Loadman (CUPE 4747 and Unity Health Auxiliary for a student entering the health care field – Loadman plans to study nursing), Erika Bretzer (Unity Wildlife Federation and the Butch and Judy Boskill Foundation), Kelsey Kratchmer (CUPE 4747 and the Ed Burnell & Family Bursary) and Emily Smith (Jimmie and Ethel Anderson Memorial Bursary and Royal Canadian Legion Unity, Branch 90).
Over half of the graduating students were recognized with at least one scholarship or bursary. Logan Middleton was awarded the Living Sky School Division Board Scholarship. Shea Berger won a Delta Co-op Scholarship. Kristina Hansen won the Unity Lions Bursary, while Cameron Kelly was awarded the Unity Agricultural Society Bursary.
More money was handed out to Kristina Hansen (Unity Lions), Addison Rewerts (Albert G. Burnell Bursary), Kierra Bosch (Unity Knights of Columbus), Kaitlyn Nestmann (Isabel Anderson Physical Sciences Bursary), Thomas Snell (Unity Masons) and Berdine Roodt (John Coid Masonic Memorial Bursary).
Two further awards from the Butch and Judy Boskill Foundation went to Bronson Volk and Taelyn Wildeman.
The graduation ceremonies began with teacher and MC Kyle Wood speaking about the “no regrets” theme chosen by the UCHS grads. “There’s nothing here that needs regret,” he said, “But there may be things that we hope you’ve learned that you’ll carry forward.”
LSSD board chair Ronna Pethick addressed the Class of 2023, after which graduand Logan Middleton extended some thank yous to the teachers and staff on behalf of his classmates.
Melnyk gave an address, noting that when he was teaching these students Grade 9 physical education, their time together was “abruptly cut short by the COVIC-19 pandemic.” He told the students, they were true Warriors, adapting and facing “the storm head-on.”
Melnyk reminded the class “Being a Warrior means facing challenges with courage and determination, even when the odds are stacked against you. It means summoning strength from within and never backing down in the face of adversity. It means having the tenacity to rise about limitations and strive for excellence.” He encouraged everyone to “carry that Warrior spirit within” as they stepped forward into the rest of their lives.
Before introducing each graduand to the assembled parents, grandparents, other family members, friends and guests, Vice-Principal Ken Parker read a message of congratulations from His Honour, the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.
As Parker introduced each student, he or she came onto the stage where Melnyk presented them with their diplomas and moved the tassels on their caps to signify their change in status from graduand to graduate.
Congratulations to all the UCHS Class of 2023 and all the best in your futures.
