Weyburn Review - June 14, 2023

Celebrating WCS grads

Weyburn Comp principal urges grads to be high-flying eagles

By Greg Nikkel

The 2023 graduates of Weyburn Comprehensive School were urged be like eagles, like the school’s mascot, and stretch their wings as they take flight and leave their nests of home and school, as principal Ryan Fowler gave his final grad address.

He related a story he heard while coaching the weightlifting team at the Sask. Winter Games this past February, where at the opening ceremonies a First Nations hoop dancer, Terence Littletent, performed a hoop dance and told of an eagle’s life, showing its growth from eaglet to a fullgrown eagle.

“He treated the athletes to an unbelievable hoop dance, as he gave a full grown image of an eagle,” said Fowler. “As I sat and listened to his story, I was immediately drawn into the story of the dance and the imagery, and the symbolic nature of what he was doing on the stage.”

He noted that Littletent added hoops one at a time until he had 17 hoops, as the image of the eagle grew and changed shape, representing a growth stage of the eagle. He said the teachings say it takes 17 weeks for an eagle to go from birth until it is ready to leave the nest, and it pays tribute to its parents by circling the nest 17 times be-

fore leaving and making its way in the world.

“As it circles, it’s thanking its parents for raising it,” he added.

Fowler noted that the grads sitting before have lived about 17 years and are about to embark on a new life out of their nest-home, so in a way they are about to make the 17th and last circle before leaving, and they should think about who they should thank for helping them reach this point.

“Graduates, each of you has a different story to tell of the last 17 years of your lives, and all of your nests look different,” he said, urging the grads to take this story with them and thank those who have helped them over the last 17 years.

“Some of those people you need to thank are sitting beside you or across from you. Others you need to thank are those that brought you here, and you need to thank them, while others you need to thank have gone

on ahead of you,” said Fowler. “So too shall you all build your own nest. I challenge you to build your nest with love, kindness, humility, grace, strength, truth, health, family, respect and responsibility.”

Continuing the metaphor of the nest, Fowler said there will be times when they will need to repair their nests, and they should allow others to help them make those repairs and get them back up into the air.

“I also challenge you to help others as they build their nest when they’re broken, to be a support to those whose nest is sideways,” he said. “Be the one people can rely on to repair nests in the most gracious of ways. You’re all eagles, and you’re all circling your nests, and we’re drawing near to that 17th time of circling around. Be thankful, be courteous, and be loving and kind.”

He added that when this happens, all of them will be high-flying eagles.

Principal’s

last address for grad

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Principal Ryan Fowler delivered his final address as principal at the graduation ceremonies for the Weyburn Comprehensive School on Saturday morning. He related a story told by an Indigenous hoop dancer about the eagle, and urged the grads to “spread their wings” and fly high as eagles as they leave the nest.

Celebrating graduating from high school

Photo 9434 The Weyburn Comp’s Class of 2023 tossed their hats in the air at the very end of their graduation ceremonies, held on Saturday at Darold Kot Field. Following the outdoor ceremonies, a parade of the grads was held in the afternoon, and the Grand March and dance was held in the evening at the Cugnet Centre.

Grads file in for the ceremonies

Review Photos – Greg Nikkel

The last of the Class of 2023 filed in to their seats, ready for the graduation ceremonies for Weyburn Comprehensive School on Saturday morning at Darold Kot Field. Following the outdoor ceremonies, a parade of the grads was held in the afternoon, and the Grand March and dance was held in the evening in the Cugnet Centre.

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Celebrating in the parade Graduates Bree Hagen and Tessa Daviduk were all smiles on their float in the grad parade on Saturday.

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Graduates, each of you has a different story to tell of the last 17 years of your lives, and all of your nests look different.

– Ryan Fowler, WCS principal

SE College grad

Graduates from Southeast College receive certificates

The graduates from programs at Southeast College gathered after the grad ceremonies on Friday afternoon at the Weyburn campus. The students graduated from the Continuing Care Assistant program, Adult 12 programs in Weyburn and Indian Head, and

SE College grads

urged to ‘drive change’, ‘challenge status quo’

By Greg Nikkel

The graduates of Southeast College were urged to “drive change” and “to challenge the status quo”, in the address to the class by college president and CEO, Vicky Roy, at the Weyburn campus graduation ceremonies on Friday.

Students graduated from the Continuing Care Assistant program, Hairstylist program, and the Adult 12 programs in Weyburn and Indian Head. The CCA program also had the college’s first international students to be graduating from the school.

“Every year I feel like I’m graduating again,” said Roy, noting her parents were both educators, and her mother was a university professor, so she grew up in the world of academia.

College CEO addresses grads

President and CEO Vicky Roy of Southeast College addressed the graduates and their families, at the ceremonies held at the Weyburn campus on Friday afternoon. Students graduated from the Hairstylist program, Continuing Care Assistant program, and the Adult 12 programs in Weyburn and Indian Head. Photo 4109

“Today, we gather to recognize your hard work and perseverance. Some of you have been here for a year or two, some just four or five months. It’s going too fast,” she said. “You’ve demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity, and for that you should be proud.”

She noted graduation is not only a milestone in their lives, but also a celebration of the collaborative efforts they put forward along with the “exceptional faculty” of the college, whose expertise has helped guide them to become the remarkable individuals they are now.

The college president urged them to continue to make an impact on their communities and the world at large.

“Graduates, you possess the power to drive change, and to challenge the status quo, and please do. It’s not always easy. You are the next generation of leaders, and as you step into the professional world, remember to embrace diversity, foster inclusivity and champion social justice,” said Roy. “Your actions have the potential to shape society to be compassionate and sustainable.”

In her comments to the graduating class, college board chair Donna Nyeste said, “Your graduation is a tremendous milestone and a huge accomplishment for you, for your family and your

extended group of supporters. You should be proud of yourselves and your accomplishments. Feel confident that the education you received here at Southeast College is valuable, vital, and will serve you well as you move through the rest of your life.”

She said as they continue on in their lives, whether for additional schooling or in the workforce, “you’ll positively reflect Southeast College, its staff and its many supporters.”

The graduates from the Continuing Care Assistant program included Angel Caharop, Zoe Daley, Joann Espejo, Rodolfo Farinas Jr., Kathryn Frittaion, Victoria Gutheil, Jashanpreet Kaur, Krishna Patel and Randi Ward.

The Hairstylist grads included Sydnee Bandola, Danielle Cherpin, Emily Fries, Bryanna Morrow, Wynter Sorenson and Jorja Swanson.

The Adult 12 students in Weyburn were Tatiana Angulo and Kaydon Heffley, and from Indian Head, John Bouchard and Bella Grey.

Scholarships, bursaries to students at the Southeast College

The scholarship and bursary awards for students at Southeast College were presented as part of the grad ceremonies held on Friday afternoon at the Weyburn campus.

The Walker Wood Foundation Scholarship was presented to Kathryn Frittaion, Cheyenne Seibert, Jorja Swanson and Sydnee Bandola.

The Weyburn Credit Union’s Chuck Hodgson Scholarship went to Zoe Daley, who also received a Health Studies scholarship.

The Weyburn Credit Union’s Quint Patrick Scholarship went to Victoria Gutheil, and she also received a Health Studies scholarship.

Randi Ward received a Prairie Sky Co-op Scholarship, and a SE College Post-Secondary Opportunity Scholarship.

Jashanpreet Kaur received a Weyburn Security bursary, as did Kali Sorenson. She also

received a Weyburn Rotary Club bursary.

The other recipient of the Rotary Club bursary was Emily Fries, and she also received a Prairie Sky Co-op scholarship.

The Co-op also provided scholarships to Danielle Cherpin and Wynter Sorenson, with Cherpin also receiving a SE College Post-Secondary Opportunity Scholarship. Sorenson also received a Weyburn Oilwomen Association Pursuit of Oilfield Education scholarship. Rodolfo Farinas Jr. and Krishna Patel both received a Barber Motors bursary.

The Weyburn Young Fellows provided bursaries to Angel Caharop, Jayden Becker, Shayna Prawdzik and Christine Bautista, who also received a SE College Post-Secondary Opportunity Scholarship.

The Weyburn YF Wives bursary was provided to Emma Deters

and Joann Espejo.

Lindsay Schoenthal received the Weyburn Oilwomen’s Pursuit of Oilfield Excellence bursary,

and the Weyburn Ag Society scholarship.

Bryanna Morrow received the Government of Saskatchewan’s Sas -

Scholarship recipients at SE College

katchewan Opportunity Scholarship.

The City of Weyburn bursary was provided to Janene Hoffman and

Eagan. Brianna Gagnon received the Board of Governors Award for Academic Excellence.

The recipients of scholarships and bursaries at Southeast College gathered after their presentation on Friday afternoon. Scholarships were presented by the many sponsors from businesses and service groups in the community to assist with the education costs of these students.

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Review Photos – Greg Nikkel

the Hairstylist program in Weyburn. Photo 9336

Brianna