SCAP holds grad ceremonies

By Jack Elliott
Correspondent

Students of the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program from across the District, along with family and friends crowded the Sturgeon Creek gymnasium on Wednesday evening, July 21, 2007 to celebrate academic excellence, and honour the graduating classes of Grades 8 and 12.Theme of the celebration was On the Wings of Eagles, drawn from Isaiah 40:31.
Under the direction of Master of Ceremonies Shari Reynolds, the honourees marched in to Pomp and Circumstance performed by the SCAP High School Band and all joined in to the singing of O Canada performed by Jody Brown. Mark Mast asked the opening prayer. Additional music throughout the evening included duets by Yvonne and Mark Barron, as well as two hymns by the whole assembly
Ten young men graduated from Grade 8: Daniel Cunningham, Simeon Firth, Dirk Friesen, Tyler Friesen, Eric Fuhrer, Andrew Gobeil, Nicholas Olsen, Bob Petkau, and Jameson Shortreed. Shortreed received Top Academic Student Award for Grade 8 maintaining an average of 88.7%.Shortreed, Gobeil and Firth gave the Grade 8 Valedictory address
Also honoured were many students in other high school grades each maintaining an 80% or better grade average. The top achievers were: Grade 9, Mirriam Mast with 93%; Grade 10, Felicia Schmutz with 95%; Grade 11, Danny McBride with 94%.
The 2007 Grade 12 Graduates were Allison Barron, Joshua Boven, Kory deGroot, Natasha Dyck, Peter Gerber, Morgan Ikert, Tiffany Marinaro, Rachael Mast, Douglas Veldhuisen, and Joel Veldhuisen. Class Valedictorians were Marinaro and deGroot.
Barron walked off with several awards including top Academic Award achieving an average of 95%. She also was joined by five classmates in attaining Ontario Scholar status. Joining her were deGroot, Mast, D. Veldhuisen, Marinaro and Gerber.
John Loewen, now retiring as a teacher from SCAP delivered an address to the graduates, challenging them to live by their faith. Parents of the graduates serenaded their children with On Eagles Wings, while Gerald Veldhuisen asked for a blessing on behalf of all parents.
Following the traditional toss of the miterboard, the Class of 2007 marched off bravely to face the future. But tarried long enough to mingle, and enjoy cake and punch with family and friends.
SCAP is a Christian Faith based education campus established under the Rainy River District School Board over 20 years ago. Its campus north of Stratton operates as an annex of Sturgeon Creek School. It offers K through 12 to its 95 students.