BOWDEN – The Bowden Grandview School gym was packed May 30 as friends and relatives gathered to see 31 students graduate during their cap and gown ceremony.
Patti Cummins, who, along with Tara Rankin coordinated the ceremonies, told the Albertan that 31 grads is unusually large for the school.
“We were concerned we wouldn't have enough chairs, but most guests were seated, a few people standing at the back of the gym, but it's never been that full in any of our graduation ceremonies,” she said.
Cummins and Rankin have been organizing the grad ceremonies for 11 years now.
Cummins said last year there were about 20 grads; a normal number for the school. Two years ago there were about 10.
“This has just been a big group,” Cummins said. “The whole entire time they've been in in Bowden, they've always been a big group, a large group. Some have left, and some have joined. But this class has been consistently large.”
The big graduating class, along with friends, family, relatives and Bowden residents who just wanted to cheer them on, resulted in that packed gym.
“Our graduation ceremonies are pretty popular in the community as well,” Cummins said. “People just like to attend, just to congratulate the kids and just see the kids in their caps and gowns.
“So sometimes we just have community people who don't even necessarily have a connection with the graduates. They just come in and like to enjoy the ceremony as well."
Speakers for the evening included Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen, principal Deen Lockhat, Red Deer County councillor Connie Huelsman, Mayor Robb Stuart and Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) trustee Linda Wagers.
CESD superintendent Kurt Sacher, who is retiring this year, also addressed the grads.
“His last, official superintendent duty was our grad, so we were very privileged and felt very honoured that he chose us to be his last official duty,” Cummins said.
The valedictorian this year was Josh Hunter.
Cummins thought his speech was “incredible.”
He talked about the importance for his classmates to find and use their voices.
“Tonight, I stand before you here to celebrate how we have all discovered our voices and how we will use them to shape tomorrow,” Hunter said.
Hunter noted that Bowden Grandview School is a small school, compared to others.
While that may have been a disadvantage in some areas, it was an advantage in other ways he said, such as creating a close class and school population.
It was a very powerful speech emotionally.
“I should have warned people to get Kleenex before Josh got to the stage, because there were a few tears amongst the community, amongst the guests, as well as the grads,” Cummins said.
The celebrations wrapped up Saturday with the annual banquet, including the introduction of the grads, toasts to grads and replies from them, a class history, and the grand march.
“The grads were lovely and gorgeous and did a great job,” Cummins said.
