UNITY — Entering the Unity Composite High School, incoming students and visitors can see a showcase representing student accomplishments in sports, the arts and other programs.
Immediately turning right and heading towards the senior gym, these same visitors can see a wall dedicated to student academic excellence. Directly across from this wall is another area dedicated to the recognition of students who have earned provincial medals in the many years of competitions. Making a left down the industrial arts hallway is the UCHS Wall of Honour.
The planning stages for the Wall of Honour began in 2006 with the first inductions being made in 2008 that included both 2007 and 2009 nominees. The wall was designed by the teachers Pat and Vicki Orobko and was created with the artistry of Pat Welter of Masterhand Signs.
Every year since the beginning of this program there have been several inductees recognized at the annual June awards ceremony. The first year inductees included Jesse Wallace in the arts category, Michelle Martin and Tiffany Wells in the academic category, capped off with Greg Bridgeman and Brenda Staniforth in the athletic category. Categories include arts, academics, athletics, citizenship, humanities and industry as well as an “other” category.
The purpose of the Wall of Honour is not only to recognize UCHS alumni significant achievements past their high school years, but to inspire and provide incentive to current students as they see the goals of their peers reached once they have left the hallways of UCHS.
Anyone can nominate worthy candidates with the criteria listed on the nomination form obtained either from the school or the UCHS website. The nominees must have attended UCHS, but need not have graduated with the school.
The committee’s makeup has altered over the years but four to six staff members make up this committee and their goal is to see these recognitions be continual at UCHS.
There is a great sense of pride for staff at UCHS when one of “their own” is chosen to recognized as they have seen first hand the hard work of the nominee and they may have experienced some of their greatness while they were students.
If a former student has been nominated in the past and not selected in the current year, those nominations will be kept on file and re-examined, if necessary, for future inductions.
Next time you are at UCHS, check out the wall to see some of the greatness amongst former UCHS students. If you know of someone you feel should be part of this special honour at UCHS, make sure to get your nomination completed and returned to the committee at UCHS no later than April 15. At that time, the committee will be reviewing the nominations and selecting this year’s group of inductees
