Wahsa Distance Education students celebrate achievements at graduation ceremony

Mike Lawrence - Staff Writer

Wahsa Distance Education Centre held its 2022 graduation ceremony on June 16 at the Sioux Lookout Legion. The event was well attended with many families and friends on hand to support the seven graduating students as they received their diplomas and celebrated their achievements. 
John Cutfeet was the Master of Ceremonies and started the afternoon off by welcoming all that were in attendance as well as those connected remotely. 
The ceremony opened with drumming and a prayer, then moved on to the introduction of the seven graduating students. 
After the event’s guest speaker, Dr. Christopher Mushquash finished addressing the gathering via video, Valedictorian Brittany Morris took a moment to address the gathered families and friends, noting that although it, “Took me a long time to finish my Grade 12, I’m so happy to be standing here today and getting my Grade 12 diploma.”
In a conversation earlier in the evening, Morris explained, “Today actually means a lot to me because it took me a long time to get my Grade 12. It took me a long time to get here, actually. I started Grade 9 back in 2010. I’m so glad to be finishing finally. I plan to move on to college right away in the fall. I have five younger siblings that I know look up to me. So, I want to set a good example for them.”
This year’s graduating class consisted of Brittany Morris (Muskrat Dam First Nation), Grant Mawakeesic (Deer Lake First Nation), Darcy Gray (Lac Seul First Nation), Marie Kejick (Lac Seul First Nation), Kevin Smith (Sachigo Lake), Glenda Whiskeyjack (Slate Falls), and Kairee Martin, (Wunnumin Frist Nation).
A highlight of the ceremony was the diploma presentation to Marie Kejick, who graduated from Grade 12 this year at the age of 65.
Each graduating student received an award celebrating their accomplishments with items and cash prizes donated by area businesses. One of the speakers for the graduation ceremony was Sioux Lookout Municipal Councilor Joe Cassidy, who encouraged the graduates to remember that when you do what you love, you “Will never work a day in your life.”
The graduation ceremony was followed by a dinner for all attending students and families.