The Alix-Mac School graduating class of 2019 recently celebrated their graduation on Saturday, October 5th. The graduation was themed ‘slow and steady wins the race,’ to suit the academic style of class.

“This class took a while to warm up and get their legs under them when it came to academics. They were always a lot of fun but through their high school career they slowly and continually improved academically and then they really hit their peak in grade twelve,” said Riley Quance, previous principal for Alix-Mac School.”

Although the graduating class was small at 10 people, the ceremony suggested that their impact at Alix-Mac School will not be forgotten.

The list of graduates are as follows:

  • Montana Bell
  • Cassidy Blackport
  • Lana Grypuik
  • Dacota Hanvold
  • Jaz Laboucane
  • Searra Schoepfner
  • Kasper Sommer
  • Jayden Stauffer
  • Kendra Sutley
  • Dan Whyte

Many of the students took home academic awards including:

  • Jaz Laboucane for the Fine Arts Award in Art
  • Kasper Sommer for the Senior English 30-2 Award
  • Jayden Stauffer for the Senior Social Studies 30-1 Award, Senior Male Proficiency Award, and Grade 12 honours
  • Kendra Sutley for the Senior English 30-1 Award, Senior Social Studies 30-2 Award, Fine Arts Award in Band and Grade 12 honours
  • Dan Whyte for Senior Mathematics 30-2 Award and Grade 12 Honours

Graduate, Jayden Stauffer was announced as the valedictorian and he received many scholarships including the Sunny 94 Scholarship for students interested in broadcasting, musical arts, and spoken word talent. 

“Jayden is an amazing young man he sets his goals up high and then he puts a plan in place to make them happen. Sometimes we don’t understand the plan but he always comes through, and again, another one of those kids that exceeded even my greatest hopes,” said Quance about Stauffer.

During the ceremony, Quance did not shy away from mentioning the challenges that many of the students faced and overcame to become graduates.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group they had their challenges throughout but as a group, they supported each other. They worked hard to achieve their goals and, in the end, they were more successful then I think even they thought they could be.”

Quance believes what made the difference in their grade 12 year, was that they all held each other accountable and did not let each other fall short of what they could do to succeed. Together, the class was able to conquer their goals, build each other up, and become the adults that they are today.