Family, friends and staff of School District 27 Lake City Secondary School gathered Friday evening (June 9) in Williams Lake to celebrate the achievements of high school graduates.
The formal occasion, held at Cariboo Memorial Complex, began with members of the Secwépemc, Tsilhqot’in, Dakelh and other Indigenous groups drumming the 226 graduates into Rink 1 where a full house of guests were on hand ready to cheer them on.
After the grads took to their seats which faced the crowd, LCSS principal Curt Levens welcomed guests and introduced graduate Dallas Moe who sang O Canada.
Chief Willie Sellars then took to the podium to give a traditional welcome and territory acknowledgement.
Sellars said the drummers were on hand to add a little bit of cultural and heritage to the convocation “and some of our Indigenous ceremony into this ceremony that we are uplifting these kids for the rest of their lives making it a night to remember.”
“We are here to honour the graduates, we’re here to hold them up and inspire them, but to be honest we are the ones being inspired by them.”
The chief noted the graduates were of Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, Dakelh, Nuxalk, Metis and non-Indigenous heritage.
“We are coming together in unity today to celebrate these kids and it’s an honour to be here and to drum and to welcome them to the traditional territory.”
School District 27 trustee Mary Forbes also took to the podium to welcome graduates and guests.
”One of my favourite parts of watching the grads’ procession is the smiles on their faces and the fascinating shoes. Each one is so different, so unique,” said Forbes.
“I think finding your place in the world is like choosing your favourite pair of shoes. You’ll try on a few, some will pinch, some will be too hot, some will be sweaty, but one will be perfect. I hope that each of these amazing grads find their best life and the perfect pair of shoes.”
The number of speeches were fewer this year than past pre-pandemic years, keeping the ceremony to a tight, two hours and 10 minutes. In that time each graduate was called to walk across the stage, receive their diploma, have a handshake with the principal and get their photo taken as a handful of teachers took turns read out their plans for the future and any scholarships or bursaries they may have been awarded.
Following the presentation of the graduates, student Maya Nowotny then delivered her vaedictorian speech, followed by a closing speech from the principal who congratulated students.
In all more than $250,000 in scholarships and bursaries were awarded to graduating students.
They are as follows:
District Authority Awards 2023 for LCSS
a. Indigenous Language and Culture
Shirane Alexis
James Cook
Madison Johnny
William Lulua
Jolene Sellars
b. Fine Arts
Iknoop Bassi
Heidi Van Beers
Dallas Moe
Matero McCassey
Loren Cawston -
d. Physical Activity
Morgan Langford
Reagan West
Julia Bowman
Baileigh Stowell
Maya Nowotny
Raiden Lainchbury
Wilson Wedel
e. International Languages
Mia MacKenzie
f. Community Service
Colin Sterne
Shaelynn Dyck
Pavneet Gill
g. Trades and Technical Training
Will Roberts
Jake Worthington
Mathew Kelly
Jenna Jessop
Connor Rankin
Kagen Russell
School District No. 27 Scholarship and Bursary Award Winners 2023
Chelsea Albrechtsen Intergenerational Program Bursary
Michael Harvey
Rachel Loewen
Leah Lauren
Sophie Reissner
Shaelynn Dyck
Julia Bowman
Phoenix Sim
Brody Wilson
Jake Worthington
Rebecca Elefson
Eric Olson
Atlantic Power Corporation Scholarships
Lucia Johnston - Sciences
Colby Fradsham - Community Involvement
Big and Beaver Lakes Livestock Association Bursary
Gabrielle Meier
Henry Bob Memorial Bursary
Ha Young Park
Bernard Boe Memorial Bursary
Catherine Arthur
Nino Calabrese Memorial Scholarship
Wilson Wedel
Ane Fine
Canadian Parents for French Award
Kendra Antoniuk
Canadian Royal Purple Bursary
Sophie Reissner
James Cook
Cariboo Chilcotin Elder College Bursaries
Timu Kruus
Cariboo – Chilcotin Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association Scholarships and Bursaries
Charlie Beaulne
Claire Munroe
Phillip Brown
Colby Fradsham
Cariboo – Chilcotin Teachers’ Association Scholarships
Julia Bowman
Ciara Reid
William Lulua
Maya Nowotny
Cayden Bouchard
Claire Munroe
Royce Cook Memorial Bursary
Charles Beaulne
Cariboo Foundation Society Scholarships
Britney Bartley
Weston Brooks
Rory Wormell-Essex
Reid Garreau
David Fait
Cariboo Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Bursaries
Heidi Van Beers
Claire Munroe
Cariboo Regional District Bursary
Finley Dressler
Cariboo Woodlot Education Society Bursary
Boston Pierce
Dustin Forster
Carter Pawluk
Timu Kruus
Douglas Castling Memorial
Alexa Dean
Gabrielle Meier
Leah Lauren
Catholic Women’s League Bursary
Daniel Navratil
Andrew Rud
Rebecca Elefson
Walter and Cathy Chernoff Leadership Award
Phillip Brown
Community Arts Council Bursary
Dallas Moe
Lucia Johnston
Ryan Corbin Memorial Bursary
Joe Henley
Cynthia Dare Memorial Scholarship
Ciara Reid
Sid Davis Memorial
Boston Pierce
Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club Scholarship
Colby Fradsham
Dhillon and Rai Memorial Bursary
Seth Bos
Don’t Quit Bursary
Wilson Wedel
Gordon R. Elliot Memorial Scholarship
Lucas Kranabetter
2004 Forest Capital Committee Scholarship
Boston Pierce
FYI Doctors Scholarship
Morgan Langford
Wallace Evan Ford Memorial Bursary
Baileigh Stowell
Jack and Hazel Gardner Memorial Bursaries
Mimi Meyrick
Caleb Gill Memorial
Ciara Reid
1970 Grad Reunion Bursary
Carrigan Watson
Leslie Hall Memorial Bursary
Jenna Jessop
Walter Hardy Memorial Bursary
Phoenix Stafford
Harris & Company LLP Scholarship
Taya Novakowski
Horsefly Women’s Institute Memorial Bursaries
Mimi Meyrick
Jesse Way
HUB International – Barton Insurance Brokers Bursary
David Fait
IKON Award
David Fait
IOUE Bursary
Joe Henley
JDR Law Bursary
Mia MacKenzie
Laura Kaufman Memorial
Leah Lauren
Knights of Columbus Bursaries
Daniel Navratil
Lucas Pinette
Dallas Moe
Cayden Bouchard
Felix & Maisie Kohnke Memorial Scholarship
Finley Dressler
Fred & Masako Kozuki Award
Phillip Brown
Lakers Car Club Bursary
Kagen Russell
Brody Wessels
Lake City Secondary Fine Arts Awards (BAND)
Daniel Navratil
Hamish Tough
Alex Combs
Iknoop Bassi
Lucas Kranabetter
Claire Munroe
Heidi Van Beers
Timu Kruus
Treena Phillips
Britney Bartley
Dallas Moe
Andrew Rud
Jeff Obexer
Kendra Antoniuk
Alannah Aggiss
Lake City Secondary School Grow-Operators Bursary
Mimi Meyrick
Rachel Kennedy
Lake City Secondary School PAC Bursary
Mimi Meyrick
Rebecca Elefson
Andrew Rud
Lions Club Bursary
Daniel Navratil
Matero Mcassey
Masonic Order Bursaries
James Cook
Kendra Antoniuk
Eric Olson
Sharon MacDonald Memorial Bursary
Lucia Johnston
McMechan Award
Seth Bos
Medieval Market Emerging Artist Award
Jaiden Pacholczyk
Dallas Moe
Bill and Nancy Myckatyn Private Giving Fund (Nicola Wealth Private Giving Foundation)
Ha Young Park
Priscilla Quinto
Jason Noble and Marilyn Martin Bursary
Lucy Plant
Old Age Pensioners Organization (Branch #93) Scholarship
Niomi Neufeld
Order of the Eastern Star (Princess Pine #67) Bursary
Eric Olson
Parent Support Group of Sacred Heart School Scholarship
Lucas Pinette
Roop Rathor Parmar Memorial
Wilson Wedel
August Martin Piltz Foundation
Jenna Jessop
Taya Novakowski
Evynne Penno
Nayeli Doerner
PMT Chartered Professional Accountants Robert A. Court Memorial Bursary
Katelyn Benastick
Punjabi Sports Club Bursary
Nicholas Speed
RCMP Citizenship Bursaries
Marissa Sellars
Maya Nowotny
Trudy Redl Memorial Bursary
Britney Bartley
Right Photography Bursary
Abigail Kowalewski
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #139 Bursaries
Seth Bos
Colin Sterne
A.G. Scott Estate Scholarship
Niomi Neufeld
Baileigh Stowell
Pavneet Gill
Heidi Van Beers
Alex Combs
Phoenix Stafford
Kaytlin Skuratow
Cristelle Panida
Tatum McKeown
Jordan Siegmueller Memorial Bursary
Gabriela Smith Forzzani
Trent Thiessen
Skipp – Latin Memorial Golf Scholarship
Cole Skerry
Skipp – Twan Memorial Rodeo Scholarship
William Roberts
Soda Creek Truckers’ Association Bursary
Ryan Rife
Alex Combs
Treena Phillips
South Cariboo Bar Association Scholarship
Iknoop Bassi
Taseko Mines – Creating Opportunities Scholarship
Kalub Scaiano
Rebecca Elefson
Tolko Industries Ltd. Scholarships
Lakeview
o Lucas Kranabetter
o Morgan Langford
Soda Creek
o Julia Landry
o Alannah Aggiss
Woodlands
o Ryan Rife
o Charlie Beaulne
UNIFOR Bursaries
Hamish Tough
Cole Skerry
Lauryn Marklinger
Jeremy LaBelle
Jeff Hollowell
United Steel Workers Local I-425 Bursaries
Weston Brooks
Kyle Vigeant Memorial
Gabriela Smith Forzzani
Vision for the Future Award
Kendra Antoniuk
Ronald and Jean Duncan Waite Memorial Scholarships
Keeley Grisdale
Kennedy Nohr-Stangoe
Daniel Wernbacher
Angel Mitchell
Kolby Croswell
Weldwood Truckers’ Association Bursary
Keeley Grisdale
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Plywood Division Bursaries
Kendra Antoniuk
Iknoop Bassi
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Lumber Division Scholarships
Dallas Ruyter
Cole Aumond
Dustin Forster
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Woods Department Scholarships
Baileigh Stowell
Ariel Billyboy
Carter Pawluk
West Fraser Truckers’ Association Bursary
Pavneet Gill
West Fraser Truckers’ Association Scholarships
Rachel Kennedy
Jeff Obexer
Treena Phillips
Katelyn Benastick
Dustin Forster
Ariel Billyboy
Williams Lake Community Forest Youth Award
Carter Pawluk
Dallas Ruyter
Boston Pierce
Timu Kruus
Alannah Aggiss
Reagan West
Morgan Langford
Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce Bursary
Sophie Reissner
Williams Lake and District Credit Union Bursaries
Taya Novakowski
Darby Cail
Andreas Marty
Williams Lake Field Naturalists’ Bursary
Winter McLaughlin
Williams Lake Fire Department Auxiliary Bursary
Phoenix Sim
Williams Lake High School Rodeo Club Bursaries
Kagen Russell
William Roberts
Williams Lake Log Haulers Scholarships and Bursaries
Ryan Rife
Phoenix Stafford
Alex Combs
Treena Phillips
Williams Lake Medical Staff Scholarships
Reagan West
Rachel Loewen
Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association Scholarships
Kenny Lowen Memorial - Dallas Moe
Leon Whitford Memorial - Cole Skerry
Danielle Helmer Memorial - Ariel Billyboy
Tyler Tenning Memorial - Dustin Forster
Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club Bursary
Colby Fradsham
Williams Lake Rotary Club Bursary
Matero Mcassey
Gabrielle Meier
Williams Lake Stampede Association Scholarship
Lucia Johnston
Williams Lake Student Support Fund Bursary
Sophie Reissner
Williams Lake Woodlot W1579 Bursary
Lucia Johnston
Williams Lake Youth Soccer Bursary
Ciara Reid
Raiden Lainchbury
Maya Nowotny
Bob Rogerson Memorial Scholarship (WLYSA)
Timu Kruus
Jack Wong Memorial
Ella Carson
Ken Wright Memorial Bursary (San Jose Logging)
Ryan Rife
Harriet Zirnhelt Memorial Bursary
Jaiden Pacholczyk
Zirnhelt Timber Framing Bursary
Cole Skerry
Group #1 - Cariboo Foundation Society (Danielle Helmer, Levitt & Weingart Elite Rugby Players Award, Graham Pritchard Rugby Dedication Award, and Glen Jackson Memorial)
Gabriela Smith Forzzani
Group #2 - Cariboo Foundation Society (Rob Stobbe Memorial, Donald Sutherland Memorial, and Brett Preston Memorial)
Alexa Dean
Group #3 - Cariboo Foundation Society (Glendale School/Irene Griffith Memorial, Satre-Graham King Memorial, and Jack Van Diest Memorial)
Shirane Alexis
Group #4 - Cariboo Foundation Society (Shelley Fullerton Memorial and Joan MacDonald Memorial)
Winter McLaughlin
Group #5 - Cariboo Foundation Society (Nancy Leggett Memorial, Lyman Thompson Memorial, and Rory Wickes Memorial)
Gabrielle Meier
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