By John Francis, Bruce Peninsula Press
After two years of “touchless” graduations, Bruce Peninsula District School returned to live graduations for 2022.
The Secondary Grad ceremony was held at the school on June 29, 2022, with a class photo taken at the lighthouse beforehand. Longtime music and drama teacher Tara Stanton acted as emcee, welcoming students, parents and presenters. Trustee Jane Thomson brought greetings from the Board. Sasha Hohus and Payton Lisk toasted the parents; Laura Naves toasted the teachers; Tara Stanton read John Rodgers’ toast to the students (John Rodgers was unexpectedly absent).
The ceremony began with the Awards of Merit, which are presented to students whose “above and beyond” participation in school events keeps things working. Recipients were Maizy Hutchinson, Marissa Mielhausen, Laura Naves and Natalie Rouse. BPDS School Letters were presented to all Award of Merit recipients plus Annelise Helmond, Megan Belanger, Payton Lisk, Sacha Oke and Elijah McNair.
This was followed by the presentation of (a record) 39 Awards and Scholarships. This is a remarkable statement of community support, in that the awards have a combined value of approximately $20,000.
Tara Stanton presented the Principal’s Award for Student Leadership to Marissa Mielhausen. Kevin Kuipers gave the CUPE Local 1176 Award Luke Wilkens. Tara Stanton presented the Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award (Pin and Certificate) to Annelise Helmond. Jennifer Cameron then gave the Retired Teachers of Ontario Community Service Award to Laura Naves. Jessica Rice presented the True Grit Award for perseverance and tenacity to Tristen McKague. Mike Laing called Elijah McNair forward to receive the Good Humour Award as well as the Grey-Sauble Conservation Foundation Award. The UNESCO Global Citizenship Award, presented by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, went to Marissa Mielhausen. The Colpoys Bay Women’s Institute Volunteerism Award was given to Laura Naves by Tara Stanton. The KC Distributing “Bumper-To-Bumper” Award goes to someone in the “motive” trade; Ashley Myles announced Ethan Jackson as the recipient.
Kevin Kuipers presented the Harvey Warder Memorial (Trades) Award to Sasha Hohus and the RONA Technological Trades Award to Luke Wilkens. Mike Laing called up Sacha Oke to receive the Suntrail Award for Outers.
In John Rodgers’ absence, Tara Stanton presented the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Award to Marissa Mielhausen. Representing the Bruce Peninsula Environment Group, Rod Layman gave the Renewable Energy Bursary to Sacha Oke and the Excellence in Environmental Science Award to Natalie Rouse. Ashley Myles called on Frank Handley to receive the Ivan Hepburn Memorial Trades Award. Jim Dilamarter called up Megan Belanger to accept the Music Bursary his family has endowed in honour of longtime BPDS music and Latin teacher Beatrice Bruin.
Jennifer Cameron presented the BPDS Staff Award to Luke Wilkens; who then received the Independent Order of Oddfellows Award from Mike Laing. (The Independent Order of Oddfellows has provided a Bursary to a BPDS graduate for some decades.)
Connie Tackaberry presented the SWAN Annette Richardson Award to Megan Belanger. The Bruce Peninsula Society of Artists’ Michael Piggott Award went to Payton Lisk, presented by Tara Stanton.
A new award for this year was the Bruce Peninsula Future Nursing Award. Jim Oliver and Mary Beth Baxter presented it to Maizy Hutchinson. The Mary Cameron Memorial Award is presented to the student making the greatest improvement between Grade 11 and Grade 12; Rotarian Tom Buckley presented the award to Elijah McNair. Jennifer Cameron called Lydia Schlorff forward to receive the Bruce Power Women in Trades Award.
Lion’s Head Hospital Auxiliary has endowed a bursary, named in honour of Dr George Harpur, for students going on to higher education in a medical field. Tara Stanton called upon Semina Trushilla to accept the Dr Harpur Award. Semina then received the Bruce Power Future Innovators Award, presented by Jessica Rice. Megan Belanger then received the Canon Jack James Memorial Scholarship from Tara Stanton
The newly endowed nursing/medical scholarship in memory of Graham Barton was presented to Maizy Hutchinson by Jennifer Cameron. Jessica Rice then presented the Larry Bannerman Award and Bursary to Sacha Oke, Maizy Hutchinson and Semina Trushilla. Bob Spearing came forward to present the Keith Hopkinson Memorial Scholarship to Maizy Hutchinson. He then offered the Rotary Club of Northern Bruce Peninsula JC Buckley Memorial Trust Scholarship to Sasha Hohus. Kathy Anderson called Payton Lisk to accept the Catherine Pedwell-Ganton Award. The Isobel Ganton Award went to Annelise Helmond.
The Enet West Memorial Award was presented to Laura Naves by Ashley Myles. The Rotary Service Above Self Award went to Annelise Helmond, presented by Rotarian Cathryn Buckley.
Trustee and Board of Education Chair Jane Thomson called up Marissa Mielhausen to receive the Tod Wright Scholarship.
Rotarian Robert Hiscott made the final scholarship presentation of the evening, offering the Lion’s Head Rotary Club Scholarship for the highest academic achievement to Natalie Rouse. Bluewater District School Board Chair Jane Thomson then presented Natalie Rouse with the Governor General’s Award and Medal.
The awards program being complete, each graduate was presented with their diploma. Twelve of the eighteen grads received the Special High-Skills Major in Environment Studies: Megan Belanger, Frank Handley, Sasha Hohus, Maizy Hutchinson, Payton Lisk, Elijah McNair, Marissa Mielhausen, Laura Naves, Sacha Oke, Natalie Rouse, Semi Trushilla and Luke Wilkens.
Eleven of the eighteen members of the graduating class were named as Ontario Scholars (over 80% average): Megan Belanger, Annelise Helmond, Maizy Hutchinson, Payton Lisk, Elijah McNair, Marissa Mielhausen, Laura Naves, Sacha Oke, Natalie Rouse, Semina Trushilla and Luke Wilkens.
Valedictorian Luke Wilkens gave a fond salute to his classmates including a thumbnail sketch of what each of them will be doing next fall.
Marissa Mielhausen’s slideshow was the evening’s finale.
