Lake City Secondary School graduates took centre stage Friday evening, June 7, in Williams Lake as hundreds of family, friends and School District 27 staff gathered to celebrate their achievements.
In all, 246 Grade 12 students took part in the commencement ceremony in Rink 1 at Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex from 6 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m.
Students entered the arena to the sound of live Indigenous drumming and singing. Speeches were kept to a minimum to allow time for each student to cross the stage, shake the hand of their principal Curt Levens, and to have their picture taken with him.
At the same time, a handful of school staff - consisting of Troy Johnston, Robert Fahoum, Marike Andres, Caroline Chupa, Melinda MacKinnon, Kim Nowotny and Jeannette Gobolos - took turns reading information provided by the students, who often thanked their families and teachers for helping them get through their school years, while also sharing some insight into their future plans.
Nursing, engineering, law, the trades and the arts were just some of the many career paths students said they are embarking on, while others noted they will pursue travel, 'making money' or taking a 'gap year' in the months to come.
This year's valedictorian was Kalli Campbell, who gave guests some insight into the experiences and personalities of the grad class while also thanking families and teachers of the class for their support over the years.
Many scholarships and bursaries were awarded over the evening to the students, some of whom received multiple awards.
This year more than $260,000 was given out to the LCSS class of 2024.
They are as follows:
LCSS District Authority Awards 2024
a. Indigenous Language and Culture
• Tamara Blain
• Yellicyia Elkins
• Jalil Myers
• Logan Stanislaus
• ParkerBarbie Testawich
b. Fine Arts
• Kirsten Williams
• Edwin Lee
• Sienna McCarvill
• Nakota Chorney
• Gosmer Redford
c. Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST)
• Shailynn Brommit
• Raghav Bhatia
• Mary Froom
d. International Languages
• Sarah Lehar
e. Physical Activity
• Anika Wallin
• Braedi Hamar
• Emma Penner
• Gabrielle Knox
• Caen Passeri
• Andrew Smid
f. Technical and Trades Training
• Ty Waterhouse
• Erik Krause
• Celina DeDood
• Grace Elgert
• Kevin Bursinger
School District #27 Scholarship and Bursary Award Winners 2024
Chelsea Albrechtsen Intergenerational Program Bursaries
• Ava Trudel
• Allison McKinnon
• Dane Christianson
• Andrew Smid
• Anistynn Dennis
• Fisher Smith
Atlantic Power Corporation Scholarships
• Kalli Campbell (Sciences)
• Jenna Hunt (Community Involvement)
Big and Beaver Lakes Livestock Association Bursary
• Angus Paul
Henry Bob Memorial Bursary
• Nya Chutskoff
Bernard Boe Memorial Bursary
• Ila Watson
Nino Calabrese Memorial Scholarships
• Gabrielle Knox
• Joelle Thurow
Canadian Parents for French Award
• Anika Wallin
Canadian Royal Purple Bursary
• Norah Reissner
• Gosmer Redford
Cariboo Bethel Church Bursary
• Sienna McCarvill
Cariboo – Chilcotin Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association Scholarships
• Boston Levens
• Addyson Cullum
Cariboo – Chilcotin Teachers’ Association Scholarships
• Braedi Hamar
• Layla Knevel
• Shailynn Brommit
• Raghav Bhatia
• Daelin Riplinger
Cariboo Foundation Society Scholarships
• Adrian Scrooby
• Kayden Fraser
• Braxton Brown-John
• Sophia Kolodychuk
• Carter Boyles
• Kevin Bursinger
• Sarah Heimlich
• Dane Christianson
Cariboo Foundation Society - Group #1 (Named for Glen Jackson, Graham Pritchard, Mike Levitt, Matt Weingart, & Danielle Helmer)
• Joelle Thurow
Cariboo Foundation Society - Group #2 (In memory of Rob Stobbe, Donald Sutherland, & Brett Preston)
• Gosmer Redford
Cariboo Foundation Society - Group #3 (In memory of Irene Griffith/Glendale School, Satre-Graham-King, and Jack Van Diest)
• Allan Fernie
Cariboo Foundation Society - Group #4 (In memory of Shelley Fullerton and Joan MacDonald)
• Nash Overton
Cariboo Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Bursaries
• Taryn Hinsche
• Layla Knevel
• Peyton Bailey
Cariboo Regional District Bursary
Kalli Campbell
Cariboo Woodlot Education Society Bursaries
• Erin Getson
• Liam Marshall
Douglas Castling Memorial
Nya Chutskoff
Caidence Topley
Hannah Cheek
Walter and Cathy Chernoff Leadership Award
Chloe Skoblanuik
Community Arts Council Bursaries
• Lucas Ward
• Kate Neufeld
• ParkerBarbie Testawich
Royce Cook Memorial
• Summer Poirier
Ryan Corbin Memorial Bursary
• Oliver Pole
Cynthia Dare Memorial Scholarship
• Shailynn Brommit
Sid Davis Memorial Scholarship
• Boston Levens
Daybreak Rotary Club Bursary
• Nash Overton
Dhillan and Rai Memorial Bursary
• Allan Fernie
Don’t Quit Bursary
• Jackson Hatch
Dunn and Coupal Bursary
• Lucas Ward
Gordon R. Elliott Memorial Scholarship
• Jake Sutton
2004 Forest Capital Committee Scholarship
• Casey Sawyer
FYI Doctors Scholarship
• Oliver Pole
Wallace Evan Ford Memorial Bursary
• Marley McKimm
Jack and Hazel Gardner Memorial Bursary
• Kacey Caron
Caleb Gill Memorial Scholarship
• Everett Tollefson
Leslie Hall Memorial Bursary
• Jared Telford
Rick Hansen Difference Maker Fund
• Hanna Hutchins
Walter Hardy Memorial Bursary
• Abby Green
Rusty Helgason Memorial Bursary
• Kirsten Williams
Horsefly Women’s Institute Memorial Bursaries
• Joey Augustine
• Kacey Caron
• Gabrielle Knox
Hub International – Barton Insurance Brokers’ Bursary
• Sarah Heimlich
IKON Award
• Sarah Heimlich
IOUE Bursary
• Paige Romaniuk
JDR Law Bursaries
• Joe Oler
• EV Thompson
Laura Kaufman Storoschuk Memorial Scholarship
• Joey Augustine
Knights of Columbus Bursaries
• Chloe Fournier-Hill
• Isabelle Groundwater
Felix & Maisie Kohnke Memorial Scholarship
• Allison Mckinnon
Fred & Masako Kozuki Award
• Ila Watson
Lake City Secondary Fine Arts Awards (BAND)
• Kirsten Williams
• Edwin Lee
• ParkerBarbie Testawich
• Abby Green
• Madison Peats
• Tamara Blain
Lake City Secondary School Grow-Operators Bursaries
• Kalli Campbell
• Hannah Maas
• Gabrielle Knox
Lake City Secondary School PAC Bursaries
• Andrew Smid
• Joelle Thurow
• Hannah Cheek
• Adrian Scrooby
• Shailynn Brommit
Lakers Car Club Bursaries
• Kaleb Sytsma
• Summer Poirier
Lions Club Bursaries
• Joey Augustine
• Oliver Pole
Little Moccasins Head Start Graduate Bursaries
• Bella Allen
• Nathan Surette
Sharon MacDonald Memorial – Museum of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Bursary
• Paige Romaniuk
Masonic Order Bursaries
• Lauren Wright
• Allison Mckinnon
• Kalli Elliott
Medieval Market Emerging Artist Awards
• Everett Tollefson
• Sienna McCarvill
Myckatyn Family Scholarships
• Emily Bruneski
• Hannah Maas
Jason Noble & Marilyn Martin Bursary
• Joelle Thurow
Old Age Pensioners Organization (Branch #93) Scholarship
• Charlize Arseneault
Order of the Eastern Star (Princess Pine #67) Bursary
• Lauren Wright
Parent Support Group of Sacred Heart School Scholarship
• Kayden Fraser
Roop Rathor Parmar Memorial
• Brianna Irawan
August Martin Piltz Foundation Grants
• Carter Boyles
• Adrian Keats
PMT Chartered Professional Accountants Robert A. Court Memorial Bursary
• Sarah Heimlich
Punjabi Sports Club Bursary
• Raghav Bhatia
RCMP Citizenship Bursaries
• Hanna Chabot
• Oliver Pole
• Chloe Skoblanuik
Trudy Redl Memorial Bursary
• Erin Getson
Right Photography Bursary
• Nya Chutskoff
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #139 Bursaries
• Makena Petruk
• Rem Isnardy
Jordan Siegmueller Memorial Bursaries
• Boston Levens
• Daelin Riplinger
Skipp – Latin Memorial Golf Scholarship
• Caen Passeri
Skipp – Twan Memorial Rodeo Scholarship
• Mesa Slavens
A.G. Scott Estate Scholarships
• Charlize Arseneault
• Peyton Bailey
• Edyn Halfnights
• Emma Penner
• Chloe Heidema
• Brooke Bennison
• Taryn Hinsche
Soda Creek Truckers’ Association Bursaries
• Makena Petruk
• Isabelle Groundwater
South Cariboo Bar Association Scholarship
• Emma Allen
Taseko Mines – Creating Opportunities Scholarships
• Erin Getson
• Declan Pocock
Tolko Industries Ltd. Scholarships
a. Lakeview Division
Jenna Hunt
Charlize Arseneault
b. Soda Creek Division
Bella Allen
Sarah Heimlich
c. Cariboo Woodlands
Caen Passeri
Makena Petruk
UNIFOR Bursaries
• Marley McKimm
• Peyton Ransome
• Launa Power
• Erin Getson
• Ava Trudel
United Steel Workers Local I-425 Bursaries
Kenzie Gentles
Kyle Vigeant Memorial – Citizenship in Sport
• Kalli Campbell
Vision for the Future Scholarship
• Anika Wallin
Ronald and Jean Duncan Waite Memorial Scholarships
• Kenzie Gentles
• Brody Berfelo
• Madison Peats
• Hailey-Anne Dunbar
• Danton Enns
Walsh Performing Arts Award
• Olivia Dickens
Weldwood Truckers’ Association Bursary
• Hanna Chabot
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Plywood Division Scholarships
• Sarah Lehar
• Tamara Blain
• Kalli Elliott
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake Lumber Division Scholarships
• Ajay Virk
• Taryn Hinsche
West Fraser Mills Ltd. Williams Lake South Cariboo Woodlands Scholarships
• Jake Sutton
• Paige Romaniuk
• Rem Isnardy
West Fraser Truckers’ Association Bursary
• Sarah Lehar
West Fraser Truckers’ Association Scholarships
• Hanna Chabot
• Isabelle Groundwater
• Makena Petruk
• Abby Green
• Yellicyia Elkins
• Joe Oler
• Allan Fernie
• Elise Carson
• Brady Wood
• Kevin Bursinger
• Angus Paul
• Erik Krause
• Jared Telford
• Landon Coombes
• Logan Stanislaus
Williams Lake Community Forest Youth Awards
• Anika Wallin
• Tiannah Scott
• Isabelle Groundwater
Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce Bursary
• Jenna Hunt
Williams Lake and District Credit Union Bursaries
• Allan Fernie
• Tiannah Scott
• Kate Neufeld
Williams Lake Field Naturalists’ Bursary
• Kirsten Williams
Williams Lake First Nation - Excellence in Education Achievement Awards
• Darian Louie
• Athena Stuart
• Garry Abbott
• Jacy Gilbert/Louie
• Peirce Duncan
• Kaleb Kobelt
Williams Lake High School Rodeo Club Bursary
• Mesa Slavens
Williams Lake Log Haulers’ Scholarships and Bursaries
• Makena Petruk
• Abby Green
• Yellicyia Elkins
• Isabelle Groundwater
Williams Lake Medical Staff Scholarships
• Anika Wallin
• Olivia Dickens
Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association Scholarships
• Danielle Helmer - Hanna Chabot
• Leon Whitford Memorial - Hanna Hutchins
• Kenny Loewen Memorial - Andrew Smid
• Tyler Tenning Memorial - Dane Christianson
Williams Lake Rotary Club Scholarships
• Katie Croswell
• Ila Watson
Willie Crosina Memorial Bursary sponsored by the Williams Lake Stampede Association
• Mesa Slavens
Williams Lake Student Support Fund Bursary
• Norah Reissner
Williams Lake Studio Theatre Society Biddy Jones Bursary
• Sienna McCarvill
Williams Lake Woodlot W1579 Bursary
• Haedyn Lens
Williams Lake Youth Soccer Association Scholarships
• Kenzie Gentles
• Jenna Hunt
• Joey Augustine
Bob Rogerson Memorial Scholarship (WLYSA)
• Ian Foster
Jack Wong Memorial
• Gosmer Redford
Ken Wright Memorial Bursary (San Jose Logging)
• Lauren Wright
Wyse Family Bursary
• Edwin Lee
Harriet Zirnhelt Memorial Bursary
• Olivia Dickens
Zirnhelt Timber Framing Bursary
• Carter Boyles
Editor's note: This story will be updated with more photos throughout the day, and also watch for more coverage of grad, including the grad parade at efteen.com and Williams Lake Live on Facebook
