More than $300,000 in bursaries and scholarships was awarded to graduates during the 2025 Williams Lake Secondary School graduation ceremonies held Friday, June 13 at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
The two-hour ceremony saw the complex filled to capacity as family and friends celebrated the students' accomplishments.
Williams Lake First Nation drummers and singers started the ceremony to welcome the graduates into the arena.
WLFN Elder Jean William, a 2025 recipient of a doctor of letters from Thompson Rivers University, gave the opening remarks.
"You have to remember all the ones who are facing you today," she said as she looked out toward the audience. "All your helpers, all your support, your teachers here, your mayor, your relatives from Indigenous reserves close by."
She said it is "always great to ask the Creator to be with us today, to comfort each and every one of us that are here," and encouraged the students to keep learning and follow their passions.
WLFN Chief Willie Sellars talked about the reconciliation journey the region and country is on.
"It always special for us to come here and share the language and welcome you to our territory in a good way and welcome you with open arms," said Sellars, adding his oldest child Cash Sellars was one of the graduates.
"As parents, as loved ones, as families, it is always the goal to raise good humans. Graduating from high school and getting an education, making your family proud is a big part of that."
School District Trustee Mary Forbes told the students the district is proud of each and every one of them and thanked everyone who made the graduation day possible.
"Thank you so much for your hard work and have a beautiful graduation," Forbes said.
Vice-principal Yvonne Davis said she had worked with some of the students since Kindergarten right through Grade 12.
"It's very special to me," she said.
Principal Curt Levens greeted each student as they crossed the floor to receive their graduation certificate.
Many of the students handed him something as they shook hands and those somethings turned out to be Lego hair pieces, a bottle of Head & Shoulders Shampoo and a hair elastic, probably a comment to the lack of hair on his head.
He had a box on the floor behind the podium where he placed the items.
"To all our graduates, I want to commend you for reaching this milestone. I know it wasn't always easy, but you did it with perseverance and hard work. Now another chapter of your life will begin and with it will come new challenges and opportunities," Levens said.
Reminding them there is no right way to have success in life, Levens told the grad they will all have different journeys moving forward.
"No matter what path you take, always work hard," he said. "You can be what you want to be. You are all amazing people and will achieve good things."
Arwin Klar was class valedictorian. He told the Tribune he plans to attend the University of Victoria in the fall to study commerce.
Raised in Williams Lake, he attended Chilcotin Road Elementary, Cariiboo Adventist Academy, Columneetza and Lake City Secondary.
The Tribune will be publishing his valedictorian speech in the paper and sharing it online.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor told Arwin his speech made him proud as it talked so well about Williams Lake.
"Arwin is the first non-white valedictorian in Williams Lake's history," Rathor said.
On Saturday, the graduates will celebrate Dry Grad with a parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Moonlight Masquerade themed party at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
A list of all the bursary, scholarship and award recipients was provided to the Tribune by the school as follows:
Chelsea Albrechtsen Intergenerational Program Bursary
Adrian Potter
Calleigh Skerry
Emersyn Sanford
Amdeus Isnardy
Emily Rossé
Angus Cobb
Andrew Langford
Atlantic Power Corporation Scholarships
(Sciences) – Jonas Aumond
(Community Involvement) – Dion Hall
Big and Beaver Lakes Livestock Association Bursary
Kacey Huffman
Julia Zirnhelt
Henry Bob Memorial Bursary
Livia Seabourne
Bernard Boe Memorial Bursary
Rowan Smith
Nino Calabrese Memorial Scholarship
Arwin Klar
Livia Seabourne
Canadian Parents for French Award
Ella Kruus
Canadian Royal Purple Bursary
Bayne Cons
Arianna Edwards
Cariboo Bethel Church Bursary
Elyse Seinen
Cariboo – Chilcotin Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association Scholarships and Bursaries
Taia Brown
Isabelle Cameron
Nicholas Cameron
Cariboo – Chilcotin Teachers’ Association Scholarships
Evie MacDougall
Jadyn Grant
Aliya Grant
Peyton Bos
Arianna Edwards
Cariboo Foundation Society Scholarships
Evelyn Lee
Geordi Wonnacott
Annabelle Greig
Lyndsey Gano
Kyra Williams
Cariboo Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Bursaries
Winnie Lee
Emma Koster
Cariboo Regional District Bursary
Ella Kruus
Cariboo Woodlot Education Society Bursary
Jessabelle Trelenberg
Charlie Gash
Geordi Wonnacott
Kacey Huffman
Douglas Castling Memorial
Sarah Kashfia
Tina Yu
Charlie Gash
Amber Lennox
Katie French
Catholic Women’s League Bursary
Ivy Nguyen
Hailey Sherlock
Walter and Cathy Chernoff Leadership Award
Rowan Smith
Community Arts Council Bursary
Ella Kruus
Royce Cook Memorial Bursary
Noah Porter
Ryan Corbin Memorial Bursary
Charlie Gash
Cynthia Dare Memorial Scholarship
Mion Kinugasa
Sid Davis Memorial
Aiden Fulton
Dhillon and Rai Memorial Bursary
Luke Gentles
Dunn and Coupal Bursary
James Sterne
Eric Bowman
Gordon R. Elliot Memorial Scholarship
Emma Koster
2004 Forest Capital Committee Scholarship
Lexi Mueller
Wallace Evan Ford Memorial Bursary
Gareth Scrooby
Jack and Hazel Gardner Memorial Bursaries
Tina Yu
Caleb Gill Memorial
Maggie Stowell
Melissa Pinchbeck
GrowOperators Award
Evie MacDougall
Evelyn Lee
Arianna Edwards
Katelyn Brown
Journey Carlson-Campbell
Leslie Hall Memorial Bursary
Mya Elefson
Rick Hansen Difference Maker Fund
Alexa Obre
Nicholas Cameron
Taia Brown
Walter Hardy Memorial Bursary
Isabelle McMath
Willena Hodgson Memorial Fund
Jessabelle Trelenberg
Julia Zirnhelt
Horsefly Women’s Institute Memorial Bursaries
Tina Yu
Gracie Lees
Hub International – Barton Insurance Brokers’ Bursary
Yashmeet Bansal
IKON Award
Montana Waters
IOUE Bursary
Falin Durrant
Kaylee Iverson Memorial Bursary
Mion Kinugasa
Hailey Sherlock
Maleah Fraser
JDR Law Bursary
Jordyn Stokes
Hannah Caruso
Laura Kaufman Memorial
Emersyn Sanford
Knights of Columbus Bursaries
Aliya Grant
Jadyn Grant
Hailey Sherlock
Ali Calabrese
Matteo Calabrese
Felix & Maisie Kohnke Memorial Scholarship
Jake Park
Fred & Masako Kozuki Award
Kailey Boyles
Lake City Secondary Fine Arts Awards (BAND)
Jonas Aumond
Eric Bowman
Kaitlyn Brown
Ashton Foote
Katie French
Charlie Gash
Tyler Kitsul
Jamie Kranabetter
Ella Kruus
Rowan Smith
Tina Yu
Geordi Wonnacott
Kyra Williams
Lake City Secondary School PAC Bursary
Ella Kruus
Gareth Scrooby
Eloise Hobi
Journey Carlson-Campbell
Paige Cheek
Lakers Car Club Bursary
Micah Dyck
LouAnna Jessop
Kylie Rolston
Lions Club Bursary
Arwin Klar
Tyler Kitsul
Little Moccasins Learning Centre Bursary
Seth Cahoose
Abbigale Dick
Sharon MacDonald Memorial Bursary – Museum of the Cariboo-Chilcotin
Lexi Mueller
Masonic Order Bursaries
Ava VeenKamp
Arianna Edwards
Bayne Cons
McMechan Award
Gareth Scrooby
Medieval Market Emerging Artist Award
Gavin Brown
Julia Zirnhelt
Myckatyn Family Scholarship
Sam Buhler
Ivy Nguyen
Jason Noble & Marilyn Martin Bursary
Maksym Masun
Order of the Eastern Star (Princess Pine #67) Bursary
Julia Zirnhelt
Roop Rathor Parmar Memorial
Katie French
August Martin Piltz Foundation Grant
Calleigh Skerry
Kailey Boyles
Natalie Deboer
Hannah Caruso
PMT Chartered Professional Accountants Robert A. Court Memorial Bursary
Ashton Foote
Punjabi Sports Club Bursary
Paige Cheek
RCMP Citizenship Bursaries
Katie French
Jordyn Stokes
Trudy Redl Memorial Bursary
Jerzy Dela Calzada
Right Photography Bursary
Kacey Huffman
Micah Dyck
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #139 Bursaries
Journey Carlson-Campbell
Kylie Rolston
Adrian Potter
Ethan MacDonald
Jordan Siegmueller Memorial Bursary
Natalie Deboer
Skipp – Latin Memorial Golf Scholarship
Calleigh Skerry
Skipp – Twan Memorial Rodeo Scholarship
Kacy Huffman
A.G. Scott Estate Scholarship
Winnie Lee
Jadyn Grant
Kylie Rolston
Aliya Grant
Hailey Sherlock
Eloise Hobi
Jerzy Dela Calzada
Aubreigh Gentles
Lana Van Beers
Lauren Derksen
Mion Kinugasa
Tessa Ofstie
Isabelle Cameron
Soda Creek Truckers’ Association Bursary
Alaya Stafford
Bayne Cons
South Cariboo Bar Association Scholarship
Colby Sutherland
Rodger Stewart Memorial
Amdeus Isnardy
Luke Jones
Sugar Cane Archaeology Bursary
Aiden Fulton
Taseko Mines Creating Opportunties Scholarship
Mya Elefson
Jude Carr-Humphries
Shea Carr-Humphries
Tolko Industries Ltd. Scholarships
Brayden Dieck
Lily English
Jesse Ofstie
Tessa Ofstie
Niko Grondines
Jamie Kranabetter
UNIFOR Bursary
Bella Shoults
Kiera Dyer
Luke Gentles
Jayla Wheeler
Jacqualyn Ouellette
United Steel Workers Local I-425 Bursaries
Jonas Aumond
Alan Vanderburgh Memorial Bursary
Ronnie Sturgess
Kyle Vigeant Memorial Award for Citizenship in Sport
Andrew Langford
Vision for the Future Award
Peyton Bos
Ronald and Jean Duncan Waite Memorial Scholarships
Ashton Foote
Sierra Van Diest
Anoop Binning
Elyse Seinen
Kaydence Glanville
Walsh Performing Arts Award
Ella Kruus
Weldwood Truckers’ Association Bursary
Journey Carlson-Campbell
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Plywood Division Bursaries
Jadyn Grant
Livia Seabourne
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Lumber Division Scholarships
Avah Holte
Angus Cobb
Ali Calabrese
West Fraser Mills Ltd. South Cariboo Woodlands Division Scholarship
Aliya Grant
Geordi Wonnacott
Lana Van Beers
West Fraser Mills Ltd. South Cariboo Woodlands Division – Indigenous Partners Scholarship
Lexi Mueller
Amdeus Isnardy
Aiden Fulton
West Fraser Truckers’ Association Bursary
Brinley Pawluk
West Fraser Truckers’ Association Scholarships
Isabelle McMath
Ali Calabrese
Niko Grondines
Launa Bartley
Masen Noble
Noah Porter
Ethan McDonald
Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club Bursary
Dion Hall
Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce Bursary
Ava VeenKamp
Williams Lake and District Credit Union Bursaries
Ava VeenKamp
Yashmeet Bansal
Falin Durant
Williams Lake Field Naturalists’ Bursary
Kaitlyn Brown
Williams Lake Fire Department Auxiliary Bursary
Emersyn Sanford
Williams Lake First Nation Awards
Tegan Gordon
Maximus Alphonse
Deklyn Keener
Cash Sellars
Williams Lake Ladies Soccer Association Scholarship
Maleah Fraser
Williams Lake Log Haulers Scholarships and Bursaries
Kody Camile
Lauren Derksen
Noah Porter
Bayne Cons
Williams Lake Medical Staff Scholarships
Emma Koster
Sarah Kashfia
Peyton Bos
Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association Scholarships
Kenny Loewen Memorial - Kaitlyn Brown
Danielle Helmer - Calleigh Skerry
Leon Whitford - Kacey Huffman
Tyler Tenning Memorial - Kody Camille
Williams Lake Rotary Club Scholarship
Bayne Cons
Eloise Hobi
Williams Lake Senior Centre Bursary
Maksym Masun
Williams Lake Stampede Association Scholarship
Kacey Huffman
Williams Lake Student Support Fund Bursary
Peyton Bos
Williams Lake Woodlot W1579 Bursary
Geordi Wonnacott
Williams Lake Youth Soccer Scholarship
Mion Kinugasa
Hailey Sherlock
Maleah Fraser
Jack Wong Memorial
Amber Lennox
Ken Wright Memorial Bursary (San Jose Logging)
Lauren Derksen
Harriet Zirnhelt Memorial Bursary
Madilyn Harrison
Zirnhelt Timber Framing Bursary
Jude Carr-Humphries
Group #1 – Danielle Helmer Memorial, Levitt & Weingart Elite Rugby Players Award, Graham Pritchard Rugby Dedication Award, and Glen Jackson Memorial Bursary
Gavin Brown
Group #2 – Rob Stobbe Memorial, Donald Sutherland Memorial, and Brett Preston Memorial Bursary
Hunter Tyre
Group #3 – Glendale School / Irene Griffith Memorial, Satre-Graham King Memorial, and Jack Van Diest Memorial Bursary
Kiera Dyer
Group #4 – Shelley Fullerton and Joan MacDonald Memorial Bursary
Marie Holland
District Authority Awards 2025 and scholarships for LCSS
Indigenous Language and Culture
Marie Holland
Aiden Fulton
Fine Arts
Ella Kruus
Annabelle Greig
Kyra Williams
ADST
Eric Bowman
Arianna Edwards
James Sterne
Jamie Kranabetter
International Languages
Rowan Smith
Evie MacDougall
Physical Activity
Jordyn Stokes
Jessabelle Trelenberg
Mion Kinugasa
Sierra Van Diest
Niko Grondines
Technical and Trades Training
Ali Calabrese
Masen Noble
Kiera Dyer
Tyler Kitsul
Community Service
Dion Hall
Winnie Lee
Journey Carlson-Campbell
