It was a time to reflect on high school and look ahead to the future as 95 graduating students from Summerland Secondary School received their diplomas on Friday.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Summerland Arena.
Trustee Linda Van Alphen said the graduates have received a good education at the high school.
“This high school provides an atmosphere that is as close as you can get to a private school setting in a public school,” she said.
Tama Corday, a teacher at the high school and an alumnus of Summerland Secondary School, enccouraged the graduating students to believe in themselves as they move forward.
“The light inside of you is more accurate than any Google Map. To succeed, you must believe in yourselves,” she said. “You are ready. Go and change the world. It’s yours to make beautiful.”
Valedictorians Hanna Wright and Abishek Lekhi echoed Corday’s message.
“The world is now our playground,” Lekhi said.
“The life that we live is going to be ours — and ours alone,” Wright added.
In addition to receiving their diplomas, students also received bursaries and scholarships from community organizations and foundations.
Chris VanBergeyk, principal at the school, said these awards totalled more than $80,000.
Others were also presented with offers of university and college scholarships, covering some or all of the costs of attending educational institutions.
