Killarney Guide

Families ‘tuned in’ to the ceremony

BY JAY STRUTH

Graduation exercises, the likes of which had never been seen before, took place for Killarney’s Class of 2020 on Wednesday afternoon in the Killarney School grounds. 

Graduates’ families, spaced two metres apart in their vehicles, spread out across the lawn to honour the 31 graduates on a hot day filled with celebration and achievement, and the beginning of a new journey in an uncertain but exciting future. The cars were all handily tuned to an FM frequency, lined up by school techies, so no one would miss a word in the hour-long ceremony.

Valedictorians Carmen Heaphy and Amadeus Pauls delivered the valedictory address, which is the tradition at the annual grad ceremony.

This year, however, several other speeches were added to the ceremony that would normally have been given at the following grad banquet. This year’s banquet was cancelled due to COVID-19 regulations, but the speeches carried on as normal.

The toast to the teachers was given by Brennan Shule with the teachers’ response by Wendy Lovett. Kira McIntyre and Britney Barwick were in charge of toasting the boys, and Colten Miller and Slade Bartley returned the favour with a toast to the girls. Hailey Reimer and Keaton Cline delivered the toast to the parents, while the brother and sister team of Tracy Clement and Troy Cuvelier answered back with a toast to the grads.

Next it was time for the grand march, some more photos, and the big grad parade around town on flat deck trailers. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 on what was surely a challenging finish to the school year.

A list of the bursary, scholarship, and award winners follows.

Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Bursary: Anita Szabo, Carmen Heaphy, Hailey Reimer, Kira McIntyre. Killarney Elks Special Achievement Award: Jocelyn Wolf. Clements Bursary: Mae Steele. Coaches Award for Excellence in Athletics: Keaton Cline. Sanders Scholarship: Brennan Shule. Killarney Royal Canadian Legion #25 Bursary: Garron Park. Killarney Royal Canadian Legion Branch #25 Scholarship: Brennan Shule. Heide Enterprises Inc. Scholarship: Brennan Shule. James Gary Campbell Memorial Scholarship: Anita Szabo. Killarney & District Justice Committee Award: Britney Barwick. Boundary Consumers Co-op Graduation Bursary: Britney Barwick. Boundary Consumers Co-op Team Member Scholarship: Kira McIntyre. Struth Publishing Scholarship: Gabriel Roberts. The Senior Band Director’s Award: Anita Szabo. Frank and Ethel White Memorial Scholarship: Hailey Reimer. Tri-Lake Health Centre Auxiliary Award: Carmen Heaphy. Westoba Credit Union Business Education Award: Bayleigh Thacker. Westoba Credit Union Agricultural Award: Brennan Shule. Westman Communications Group Scholarship: Carmen Heaphy. Turtle Mountain Teacher’s Association Scholarship Award: Alyssa Bughao. The Gordon Bartley Memorial Agriculture Bursary: Brennan Shule. The Lewis & Jones Group Scholarship Award: Kira McIntyre. Doric Lodge 36 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons Award: Carmen Heaphy. Killarney Kinsmen Club Bursary: Anita Szabo, Carmen Heaphy. Killarney Foundation Scholarship: Carmen Heaphy, Garron Park, Hailey Reimer, Keaton Cline, Mae Steele, Ryan Park. Turtle Mountain Social Justice Award: Britney Barwick. Frank and Queenie Collyer Scholarship: Hailey Reimer. Governor General’s Bronze Medal:  Hailey Reimer

2020 CELEBRATION TO REMEMBER – Vice-principal Erica Hilhorst addresses the Class of 2020 while principal Terry Beazley (left) looks on, and teacher Lisa Campbell (right) works busily at the soundboard during Wednesday’s grad ceremony. The hardworking organizers of both the ceremony and the grad parade (see below) helped to make the day special for the graduates and their families.

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS – Valedictorians Amadeus Pauls (left) and Carmen Heaphy had some fun with their fellow 2020 graduates while wishing them well with their future endeavours. They also took time to thank their teachers and families who helped them along the way.

BRONZE MEDAL – Hailey Reimer was the recipient of the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, which is awarded to the Killarney School graduate with the highest academic average. Principal Terry Beazley presented the award on behalf of the Governor General. 

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS

GRAD VIEW FROM ABOVE – Brian Archibald had his new drone up in the air, snapping photos of the unique graduation ceremony.

CAPPING OFF – Hats off to the Grads of 2020! See pictures from the Grad Parade through Killarney below, and a class picture at the end.

DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION – Lori Cuvelier dressed up her bears to celebrate the Class of 2020 along the Grad Parade route…

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS

KILLARNEY SCHOOL’S CLASS OF 2020 – Front row: Ryan Park, Alyssa Bughao, Bayleigh Thacker, Hailey Reimer, Mae Steele, Nya Racine, Philana Bonk, Tiffany Moffat, Kira McIntyre, Anita Szabo, Britney Barwick, Jocelyn Wolf, and Carmen Heaphy. Back row: Sebastian Glodek, Angelo Rabanal, Owen Wall, Matthew Krahn, Kieran Moore, Brennan Shule, Keaton Cline, Slade Bartley, Bryson Cuvelier, Amadeus Pauls, Colten Miller, Ryan Sarmiento, Josh Quijano, Garron Park, and Gabriel Roberts. Missing from the photo: Avery Magwood, Lyndyn Murdy, and Amanda Struss. 

BLAYRE DICKSON PHOTOGRAPHY

GRAD FLORAL WALL – Sweetpea & Willow and Community Florist teamed up to create this beautiful Grad Floral Wall with donations from the community. The wonderful wall of flowers served as a backdrop for photos, making for a special keepsake for the Killarney School Grads of 2020 and their families.