Borden School Graduation ceremonies were held June 8 in the Borden Community Centre, with the banquet provided by Borden Lions Club.
The hall was decorated on one wall with the words "Oh, the Places You'll Go" in silver on a black background with mini-lights overhead. The other wall had a photo gallery with mini-lights, lighted archway at the back and streamers of pink, yellow, lime and mauve along with a bag of balloons in the same colors.
Master of ceremonies for the banquet and exercises were Tom Wensley and Brittany Schroeder. Giving toasts at the banquet were Madison Sutherland to the parents and reply by Michelle Sutherland, Danielle Joynt-Skillingstad to the staff and reply by Mr. Chris Link, Jackson Weibe to the coaches and reply by principal Dean Broughton, Danielle Brown to the school community council and reply by Tony Martens and Dustin Bezugly to the bus drivers and reply by Darrel Wiebe
After O Canada at the exercises, as each graduate entered under the lighted archway with their escorts, Mr. Broughton introduced them and told a story about each one - favourite memories, involvement at school and future plans.
Jacob Anderson (escort Raquel Nickel) was active in sports and plans to attend Bethany College.
Dustin Bezugly and Madison Sutherland were both in Borden from kindergarten to Grade 12. Dustin excelled in sports and honour roll; he plans to get an education degree and maybe go in the RCMP. Madison was in sports, SRC and honour roll and plans to attend the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).
Danielle Brown (escort Brandon Nagy) attended Borden for kindergarten to Grade 2, then returned for Grades 11 and 12. She was involved in sports, in motion, dance, year book and plans to attend the University of Regina (U of R) in social work.
Michael Crabb (escort Olivia Whitmore) was in Borden from kindergarten to Grade 12. He was active in drama, band, sports and was on the honour roll. He plans to attend U of S in geology or archeology.
George Hembery (escort Katelyn Bushman) was in the U.K. for Grades 1-4, and in Borden for Grades 5-12. He was in band, drama, some sports, honour roll and plans to attend Bethany College to become a youth pastor.
Danielle Joynt-Skillingstad (escort Carter Bezugly) was in Borden for Grades 6-12. She was in dance, sports, drama, SRC and plans to attend SIAST and be an architectural technician.
Lucas Julseth (escort Katrina Robertson) attended Borden School from kindergarten to Grade 12. He was involved in sports and drama and plans to do mission work for a year, then attend university.
Tyrell Sargent (escort Brooke Gardner) did all his schooling in Borden. He was in sports, band, drama and honour roll and plans to attend the U of S in social work.
Nicole Tracksell (escort Connor Wainwright) was in Borden for kindergarten to Grade 12. She was active in sports, SRC, dance, honour roll and plans to attend the U of R in athletic therapy.
Courtney Wainwright (escort Chris Anderson) took kindergarten to Grade 12 in Borden. She was in sports, drama, SRC, in motion, honour roll and will be going to the U of S.
Jackson Wiebe (escort Courtney Petkau) attended Borden, K-12 and was in sports, SRC, track and on the honour roll. He was Borden School's male athlete of the year. He plans to help dad farm, go to YDYM Mission in Colorado, then to SIAST to be a paramedic.
The valedictorian address was given by Lucas Julseth who spoke on looking back and looking ahead to an exciting future, taking time to remember. He thanked all his fellow grads, saying you are a dynamic group and will leave with many memories - road trips, Christmas concerts, bus breakdowns, senior boys' volleyball silver at provincials, the great support of parents, staff, teachers and the community. Lucas said this is the end of one journey and he's excited to go to the next step. He ended with a quote from We Are Unbreakable and wished all the grads good luck and Godspeed.
Guest speaker Michael Neufeld was introduced. He was the principal and taught this class from 2005-2010 and coached some in basketball. Neufeld gave his 10 top reasons why he wanted to speak at this grad.
For No. 10 he showed his Grade 12 gift from 1983 - luggage - to tell the grads to travel and see the world, but leave your parents' home before they kick you out at age 27. No. 9 was the great meal served by the Borden Lions; No. 8, the sports teams and doing well at provincials; No. 7 to celebrate their success academically; No. 6, all the great and some worst memories he had of Borden; No. 5, that at Borden you have a sense of family as the whole community feels like family and he spoke of George's eloquent English accent.
For No. 4 he spoke of story time in class when this class tried to distract him and get him off course and the time the Grade 6 junior boys' basketball team beat Warman - one of his greatest moments. No. 3 hadn't happened yet as it was their future. No. 2 was to "challenge you to go out and make a difference in the world."
For No. 1, he referred to History 10/20 about Otto von Bismarck, which the class didn't quite get and so he brought two dozen Bismarcks in his suitcase with chocolate and whipped cream for the grads. However, they came a bit mixed up as Tom used his suitcase to prop open the hall door.
Mr. Neufeld told the class to be patient for the things you want in life and to remember your roots, wishing them all the best.
There was a slide show presentation, with music, of the 12 grads from baby photos to the present. Tom and Brittany gave some of their memories of this class, then Mr. Broughton handed out the scrolls and the grads and escorts left the hall. The Grade 11 class set up the hall for the grand march, dance and social which followed, with DJ Night Owl providing the music.
