2 graduations in 1 year: 2020 and 2021

Graduation ceremonies at Selwyn House in June of 2021 were unforgettable, following a unique pattern that befits what Headmaster Mike Downey called, “the most memorable year of all time.”

To mark their year end, the Class of 2020 had a three-day “Drive-Bye” event, but they did not have their Graduation for the presentation of diplomas and prizes until June 12, 2021. A video of the graduation speech by 2020 Head Prefect Isaac Cape was included in a compilation of remarks from valedictorians from across Quebec that aired on CBC on June 19, 2020.

“Inevitably, some of you will leave high school thinking that you really didn’t learn anything—nothing of any substance, at least. But I can assure you that this is far from the truth,” said Isaac Cape in his televised address.

At the school, retiring Headmaster Hal Hannaford, delivering the final address of his Selwyn House career, enumerated the four qualities of leadership: vision, passion, integrity and trust. “And, of those, vision is the most powerful. Our vision for Selwyn House is that each of you will develop a lifelong commitment to Selwyn Veritas.”

On May 28, 2021, a ceremony awarding ties and graduation caps, and including a valedictorian’s address by Head Prefect George Adamopoulos, was held under the tent in the Guzzo Family Playground.

“I don’t know how we did it, but we made it. Grad 2021,” said George Adamopoulos, quoting Nelson Mandela when he said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

“We are living in a global pandemic, an event that will be taught in history classes at Selwyn 20 years from now,” George said, adding that his classmates find themselves in “a different world from the one their parents graduated into, with myriad problems that their generation must solve. “I think we can get there, and I think we must.”

“I’ve seen 30 previous graduating classes and, in all honesty, I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of a graduating class as I am of you guys,” said Headmaster Mike Downey. “You guys hung in there and kept smiling.”

The Classes of 2020 and 2021 both held their graduations this June, with graduating students separated into pods in order to respect social distancing rules.

The Class of 2020 held their Graduation with parents on June 12 at the school; the 2021 graduates and their parents gathered at the Cinémas Guzzo Spheretech Theatres for simulcast presentations of awards and diplomas.

Isaac Cape, Valedictorian 2020 George Adamopoulos, Valedictorian 2021

Prize winners from 2020 and 2021

Class of 2020

McCall Prize for Art: Liam Hodgson Patricia Marsh Drama Prize: Andrea Accurso, Matthison Avedesian, Ryan Cheema, Harris Woodward, Angus Wright Prize for Distinction in Music: Imtiyaz Bandali, Enoch Tamale G.C. Ian Burgess Award for Creative Writing: Liam Hodgson, Jonah Rosen Byron Harker Prize for Literature: Isaac Cape, Carl Heidemann E. C. Moodey Debating Prize: Isaac Cape, Jonah Rosen Français Régulier: Jack Leber Français Enrichi: Hunter Hoy Français Plus: Isaac Cape Moodey Prize for SN Math: Oscar McCavour CST Math: François Groleau, Ewan Nisbet Prize for Calculus: Isaac Cape Prize for Chemistry: Isaac Cape Prize for Physics: Isaac Cape Yearbook Prize: Jonah Rosen, Demetrios Adamakakis D.W. Christie History Prize: Liam Hodgson Vincent Prager Award for Law: Benjamin Katz Prize for Contemporary World: Christopher Denham, Alessandro Lecavalier Prize for Monde Contemporain: Isaac Cape Prize for Economics: Adriano Cecere Prize for Political Science: Michael Carrara Troubetzkoy Prize for Social Studies: Michael Carrara T.H.P. Molson Prize for General Excellence: Alessandro Lecavalier Governor General’s Bronze Medal: Isaac Cape Massi Prize for Effort: Jet Astrologo, Oscar McCavour Millennium Prize Donated by the Class of 1999: Christopher Denham Thomas Chalmers Brainerd Memorial Award: Enoch Tamale Jeffrey Russell Prize: Jonah Rosen Lucas Memorial Medal: Isaac Cape

Isaac Cape 2020

Class of 2021

Patricia Marsh Drama Prize: Matteo Farias G.C. Ian Burgess Prize for Creative Writing: Matthew Homa Byron W. Harker Prize for Literature: Matthew Salvati Moodey Prize for Debating: Matthew Homa, Sasha Klein, Dylan Lee Français Plus: Michael Feldman Français Enrichi: Sean Vinh, Max Steinberg Français Régulier: Brandon Itzcovitch Math CST: Jaeden Edghill Moodey Prize for Math SN: Hugo Culver Prize for Calculus: Matthew Homa Prize for Chemistry: Matthew Homa Prize for Physics: Matthew Homa Yearbook Award: Eli Grant, Dylan Lee, Matthew Homa Vincent Prager Award for Law: Guillaume Charbonneau Prize for Contemporary World: Dylan Lee, Michael Feldman Prize for Monde Contemporain: Sasha Klein-Charland Prize for Economics: Hugo Culver Prize for Political Science: Max Mitelman, Jaeden Edghill Troubetskoy Prize for Social Studies: Matt Azoulay Molson Prize for Social Studies: Dylan Lee Governor General’s Bronze Medal: Matthew Homa Massi Prize for Effort: Max Mitelman Millennium Prize Donated by the Class of 1999: Aidan Rawas Thomas Chalmers Brainerd Award: Dean Farias, Matteo Farias Jeffrey Russell Prize: Matthew Homa Lucas Memorial Medal: George Adamopoulos

Headmaster Downey with Matthew Homa 2021