Stelly's Secondary School is brimming with pride as it prepares to celebrate the graduation of its Class of 2025.
Among the graduating class, two students stand out, not only for their academic achievements but also for their unwavering dedication to their passions and their community.
Sarah Prouse and Tessa Hunter-Siebert, the school's co-valedictorians, have been recognized in their high school yearbook with ambitious predictions: Prouse is "most likely to be elected prime minister," while Hunter-Siebert is "most likely to go to the Olympics."
These predictions aren't mere wishful thinking; they are a testament to the students' remarkable achievements and their demonstrated potential.
Both Prouse and Hunter-Siebert have consistently demonstrated leadership, commitment and a drive to make a difference in the world around them.
Prouse's passion for leadership and service is evident in her extensive involvement in school and community initiatives. She has actively participated in leadership programs at Stelly's and immersed herself in a social leadership class, which she credits for enhancing her volunteer work.
"I do a lot of volunteering outside of the school," Prouse explained. "I volunteer on Thursday nights with a children's group and that's just one of my passions."
This dedication to serving others is not just a responsibility for Prouse; it brings her immense joy and fulfillment.
Hunter-Siebert, on the other hand, has focused her energies on sports leadership.
Throughout her high school career, she has participated in at least eight sports leadership programs each year, demonstrating her commitment to athletics and her desire to inspire others through sports.
Like Prouse, Hunter-Siebert is passionate about working with children, particularly through coaching. She has coached middle school students and organized sports camps for underprivileged students during the fall and winter months.
"I noticed there's a lack of access to sports in the community," Hunter-Siebert explained. "A lot of the time, it's based on privilege, on what opportunities you get through sports, so that's been a big focus of mine."
Despite their differing interests, Prouse and Hunter-Siebert found common ground through their participation in the school's Global Perspective program.
A recent trip to Africa, where they joined 14 other classmates, strengthened their bond and deepened their understanding of global issues.
"We had the opportunity to go on a trip to Tanzania to build a dorm for a school," Prouse shared.
"Travelling together definitely strengthened that relationship and we got to know each other very well," added Hunter-Siebert.
This shared experience served as the inspiration for their upcoming valedictory speech, which will centre on the theme of 'identity'.
The speech will explore how Stelly's Secondary School has shaped their identities and how those identities will continue to evolve as they move forward in life.
The two students said their speech will touch on how they view themselves and the prospect of moving away for college.
"It's important to let those changes happen and be willing to be changed and to become new people because that's what growth is all about," said Prouse.
After graduation, Hunter-Siebert will be attending Queen's University in Ontario to study health science and join the varsity volleyball team. She aspires to become a family physician and is particularly interested in addressing health-care inequities.
"I have a huge passion for equity, especially in health care, and that's something that I really want to focus on in the future," she said.
Prouse will be taking a gap year to pursue her passion for travel before heading to Nova Scotia to attend St. Mary's University's language arts program. She hopes to become a teacher and work for an organization in remote communities in Canada or abroad.
"I'm really passionate about language, and so I would love to be able to teach people from different communities," she shared.
Both Prouse and Hunter-Siebert are eagerly anticipating their graduation ceremony on June 26 at the University of Victoria, where they will address their classmates one last time.
"Tessa and I are going up the stage to represent the entire class," Prouse explained. "Doing it together was intentional, and despite our diverse backgrounds and hobbies, we'll do our best to be the greatest valedictorians we can be, to honour our classmates."
"We want to make sure that everyone's voices are heard and kind of leave that legacy of wanting people to feel welcome here," Hunter-Siebert added. "We want people to feel seen – that's really important to both of us."
Before graduation, the two valedictorians will join their classmates in a walk of honour on June 17, a tradition where the graduating class is sent off by the rest of the student population and the staff.
They will walk through student-lined halls as a sendoff from a place they've called home and loved in the last few years.
"We're both really proud to have gone to Stelly's and be Stelly's Stingers – the school mascot," they said.
As they embark on their respective journeys, Prouse and Hunter-Siebert are sure to make Stelly's Secondary proud and perhaps, one day, fulfill the ambitious predictions made in their high school yearbook.
