Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Mature Grade 12 Grad
There are six more Sioux Valley Dakota members who can now boast about being high school graduates. Carla Demas, Lindsay Paul, Francine Mazawasicuna, Deandra Taylor, Kristen Ventnor, and Diandra Wombdiska proudly donned the blue graduation cap and gown and walked to the head table to the honour song by Riverside Dakota Drum Group.
MC Bill Taylor welcomed the family and friends of the graduates, Chief and Council, Yellowquill staff, and Education and Training staff to the 2017 graduation ceremony. Russell Taylor began the ceremony with an opening prayer.
Chief Vince Tacan congratulated the graduates and spoke of the importance of education in this day and age. He also encouraged Sioux Valley residents to take advantage of the educational opportunities available to them, including receiving a high school diploma through the Mature Grade 12 Program.
Doreen Beauchamp, Director of Yellowquill College and Diana Roulette, Program Manager, Education and Training, offered congratulations to the graduates and acknowledged the hard work and determination of the students to arrive at this day.
Viola Fleury, Instructor, introduced the Valedictorian, Lindsay Paul. Valedictorian, Lindsay Paul, spoke on behalf of her classmates with a heartfelt speech thanking all the people who supported the students to achieve their goal of receiving a high school diploma; including family, friends and staff of Education and Training.
The students received Participation Certificates from Language Instructor Colleen Hall for their participation in the Dakota Language class they took part in during the third and fourth terms.
Students were presented with a star blanket for successfully completing the program. The star blankets were presented by Counsellors Jennifer Bone and Eleanor Elk.
Kristen Ventnor received the Academic Excellence Award for the highest overall average. Lindsay Paul received the Outstanding Achievement Award for diligence in attendance and completion of assignments, steady effort throughout the year and for actively participating in classroom discussion and activities.
Everyone enjoyed a wonderful lunch and visited and took many pictures with their graduate. It was a celebration ten months in the making. Good luck to all the graduates and their future endeavors.
