From the barbecue supper to the sandals under the black gowns, it was apparent early on that this week’s Many Faces Education Centre graduation would be a casual affair.
And why not? For those in attendance, the ceremony was merely a reflection of the informal, family-like atmosphere on which the alternative high school prides itself.
Seven Many Faces graduates – all but one of whom could attend – were honoured Tuesday evening while surrounded by nearly 70 family, friends and other guests at the Rotary Wheel.
Chrystal Gratton, who delivered what was billed as a “farewell speech” rather than a valedictory address, urged the grads to keep the momentum going by remaining true to their beliefs and avoiding people who don’t serve them.
“Every challenge should be seen as an opportunity to grow,” she added.
Guest speaker Margaret Head-Steppan, an aboriginal elder who works at Many Faces, told the graduates that the evening marked the end of one path in their lives.
She encouraged them to “always love what you do” while never missing an opportunity to better themselves or make time for those who are assisting them on their journey.
“Change does not come without challenge,” Head-Steppan observed, reminding the grads that they are masters of their own destinies and that their next steps are up to them.
The graduates shared in a dozen scholarships, bursaries and awards. In his final Many Faces graduation as superintendent of schools, Blaine Veitch presented the Governor General’s Academic Medal to Zachary Chrisp.
Chrisp earned the highest academic average among graduates who completed the standard four-year program. The school offers an abbreviated program for adult learners.
One student, Gratton, made the honour roll for achieving a grade 12 average of 80 per cent or higher. The honour roll was open to students in both the four-year and adult programs.
A highlight of the ceremony came when Many Faces teachers took turns sharing personal anecdotes about each of the graduates, revealing their imperfections and positive attributes to the delight of the guests.
Throughout Tuesday’s ceremony, the six graduates occupied a row of chairs in front of the guests. The five young men looked sharp in black gowns, with Gratton, the lone female graduate, in white. Orange sashes accentuated their gowns; wide smiles brightened their faces.
Bonds the graduates have formed over their time at Many Faces were evident as arms reached around shoulders and hands offered congratulatory back pats. At times the grads were unable to contain their enthusiasm, raising their arms in triumph and wooting.
As one attendee was heard observing, the ceremony felt more like a family reunion than a high school graduation.
After the awards and diplomas had been handed out, this family of sorts gathered one last time for a post-grad social at the Rotary Wheel. Then it was off to begin a fresh chapter.
More photos, and a complete list of scholarship and bursary recipients, will appear in The Reminder’s Many Faces Education Centre grad section this Wednesday, July 6. The Hapnot Collegiate grad section will also appear in that edition.
