HUMBOLDT — Humboldt Collegiate Institute’s class of 2020 has had to show resilience and perseverance to face trying times, said its valedictorian.
“Our class has been through a lot in the past four years that we were at the Humboldt Collegiate Institute,” said Tony Ward. “In Grade 10 we went through the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and then just this year we lost our last months of our senior year.”
The valedictorian said those experienced so much in the little amount of time the class of 2020 had together will make them stronger as they begin a life outside of K to 12 education.
“We are going to head out into the world with a lot of knowledge, and we're going to use what we have experienced to our advantage and show that no matter what you go through, you can always come out on the other side and be a better person and make a difference in our communities and our world.”
Due to health restrictions, the high school couldn’t have a traditional grad.
The school held 84 individual graduations so each student could walk across the stage.
On June 29, the graduates lined themselves up along Humboldt Collegiate’s entrance as the community drove by them in a reverse parade, honking out their best wishes. The line of vehicles extended all of the way to Highway 5.
Ward said the reverse parade was really good.
“It's been nice that we can actually do something in this time and not just sit at home as we might have. I'm very happy that the parent grad committee and the school organized this for us.”
The valedictorian said he will be going to the University of Saskatchewan, where he plans to take biomedical foundations before transferring into the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition.
Ward said his fellow graduates are a fun bunch.
“We know how to celebrate together at times and these past four years have been great, and I wouldn't have spent it with anyone else.”
