The Borden Community Centre was beautifully decorated by the Grade 10 and 11 class with black and white cloth panels hanging from the ceiling and silver stars with the grads’ names on them. One wall had a black background with white letters for the theme “The Sun Sets Today and Rises Tomorrow.” The other wall was a photo gallery on blue and white, set on a black background. On the stage were sheer white curtains with mini lights behind, cloth-covered chairs with Grad 2016 in white letters behind them on a black background and candle pillars on the stairs.
For the banquet, catered by Country Style Catering, the MCs were Emma Pidwerbesky and Emma Prescesky, 2015 grads.
Toasts were given by Donovan Hebig to the parents, replied to by his mother Ferne; Justin Barth to the school, reply by Mrs. Kaufman; to the coaches by Cole Sutherland, reply by Mitch Luiten; and Wyatt Piprell to the bus drivers, reply by Peter Thiessen.
Entering the community centre under an archway of lights were the 2016 grads and their escorts –Justin Barth, escort Ashley Scoville; Donovan Hebig, escort Danika Pidwerbesky; Brooklyn Gader, escort Connor Wainwright; Aidan Loessin, escort Ice Maxwell; Mackenzie Piprell, escort Garrett Patterson; Wyatt Piprell, escort Chelsey Broduer-Brown; Sara Prescesky, escort Joseph Tanchala; Graham Sargent, escort Terrilynn; and Cole Sutherland with escort Sheridan Pomenia.
After O Canada was played by Savannah Sutherland, Mr. Broughton introduced each graduate as he or she entered. He also told of their history with the school, the best and the worst experience each one had, what they participated in and what they plan to do after graduation.
Justin plans to attend Lakeland College at Vermilion, Alta, in agriculture. Brooklyn is entering the University of Saskatchewan, in commerce. Donovan plans to travel and go to the U of S in the future. Aidan is enrolled in agriculture at the U of S. Wyatt is entering naval training. Mackenzie plans to work, then enter clinical psychology. Sara is going to study animal science. Graham plans to earn a Bachelor of Fine arts at Lakeland College in Vermilion. And Cole will be attending Lakeland College in Lloydminster on a volleyball scholarship. He will be studying small business and entrepreneurship.
The valedictory address was given by Brooklyn Gader who spoke on being excited for the future, but sad to leave so many good friends. Her class had been together for at least seven years. She related some fun incidents at school, thanked all the teachers and parents who helped them get to this stage and said they all look forward for the future.
The guest speaker was Matthew Janzen who interned at Borden and has many fond memories of this class. He coached many in volleyball. He gave some advice like do not stress over things you cannot control, try something new every day, stretch, eat lots of veggies and fruits, love yourselves first then others, appreciate nature and respect yourself and others. He told them, you will have happiness and sorrow, tough days with good days, but all will be fine in the end.
A PowerPoint presentation set to music was shown of each grad, from babyhood to the present; then Mr. Broughton handed out the scrolls to each graduate.
At the dance following, each grad entered and presented roses to their parents and grandparents or special people in their lives. The first dance was for the graduates and their escorts, followed by the grads and their parents. Everyone could then get up on the dance floor while sweets and beverages were set out for attendees to enjoy.
