Twenty-one graduates took part in the Bentley School Grade 12 convocation exercises June 27. Their chosen theme was Young, Wild, & Free.
A catered banquet was enjoyed in the Blindman Valley Ag Centre by graduates and their guests before the doors opened to the public. The hall was filled with family, friends, guests, well-wishers, and dignitaries and award presenters.
Emcees for the banquet were Grade 11 students Troy Metro and Carissa Derksen, with grace said by United Church minister Rev. Adam Kilner.
The Toast to the Parents was given by graduates Sevan Schmidt and Falon Vert, with the reply by parent Pat Schmidt.
Hayley Lush, Brooke Szasz, and Brittany Gerbrandt extended the Toast to the Teachers with the reply by teacher Merv Leidl.
Brooke Szasz showed a Powerpoint presentation, then it was on to the formalities with school principal Lane Moore introducing each graduate as they took their place on stage. “You don’t have to know what you want to do with the rest of your life (at this point). Don’t just do what people tell you to do.”
Guest dignitaries who offered congratulations included Bob Huff, ward 5 school board trustee from Wolf Creek Public Schools and Bentley Mayor Joan Dickau.
Rev. Kilner asked the class to ask themselves, “What have I done with my life?” and asked, “What do you have to show for it?”
Guest speaker, Australian-born Christopher Spring, who competes for Canada in bobsledding, said taking the first steps is difficult, but taking those first steps opens up more doors and is the hardest to do, but once you get doing it, it gets easier to make changes in your life. He has gone from the warm, white sandy beaches of Australia to the cold white winters in Canada.
Nicole Scott, Colton Fraser, and Charlie Gibson shared the class historian duties and related some experiences about each of their classmates.
Class valedictorian and Governor General Award winner Cole Miller gave a short address. He received many awards including the highest marks in Social 30-1, Math 30-1 and 31, and sciences.
The winner of the ATA Scholarship, presented by Mr. Leidl, was Falon Vert.
Jill Howe and Joan Gammie presented Hayley Lush with the Leadership Scholarship.
Nicole Scott and Justine Henry were recipients of the Wolf Creek Public School Scholarship and Sabine Schunk won the Wolf Creek CTS Scholarship as presented by Mr. Huff.
Rutherford recipients presented by Mr. Moore to Cole Miller, Peter Mueller, Sevan Schmidt, Hayley Lush, Nicole Scott, Brooke Szasz and Sabine Schunk.
The highest mark in English 30-1 was earned by Brooke Szasz.
President Joan Dickau presented Kevin Wilson with the Ag Society Scholarship.
The Elks Outstanding Male Athlete was presented to Peter Mueller by Lynda Petten, and the Royal Purple Outstanding Female Athlete winner was Hayley Lush with presenter being Julie Potter. They both earned Major Athletic Awards as did Falon Vert, Kevin Wilson, and Jessica Bolton, with a Minor Athletic Award going to Justine Henry. All were presented by assistant principal Mr. Stephen Lush.
Hayley Lush also received the Cheryl Screpnek Humanitarian Scholarship from presenter Sherry Haarstad, along with the Bentley Library Society Best All Around Female Award from Bentley Library board member/presenter Shirley Talsma and the Sylvan Lake Rotary PRIDE Award female winner from presenter Joyce Megson.
Peter Mueller received the Bentley Library Society Best All Around Male Award from Bentley Library board member/presenter Shirley Talsma as well as the Sylvan Lake Rotary PRIDE Award male winner from presenter Joyce Megson.
The Altered Images Scholarship winner was Nicole Scott as presented by Cherri Bosch and the Bentley Seed Cleaning Plant Scholarship was presented to Hans Bergesen.
Mr. Moore and Mr. Lush presented all graduates with diplomas/certificates and booklets as they left the stage, and graduates were given a rose to present to their parents. Photo ops and visiting rounded out the ceremony.
Each graduate had decorated the tables their family and guests were seated at in their own style and their own way.
The Bentley class of 2013 included Hans Bergesen, Jessica Bolton, Colton Fraser, Brittany Gerbrandt, Charlie Gibson, Samson Hamm, Justine Henry, Stephen Johnson, Heather Lautenbach, Hayley Lush, Cole Miller, Peter Mueller, Brandon Pike, Derek Pirart, Sevan Schmidt, Sabine Schunk, Nicole Scott, Brooke Szasz, Donald Tabor, Falon Vert and Kevin Wilson.