SCHS Grad class of 2021 are a resilient bunch of students

By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com

Twenty-three young people will be receiving graduation diplomas at the 2021 graduation at South Central High School (SCHS) in Oyen, Alberta. The students come from Oyen, New Brigden, Altario, Acadia Valley, Empress and Biindloss, Alberta.

“Three of the students in this year’s grad class are from Manitoba,” Tenelle Brost, a teacher at SCHS, explained. “They are here playing with Badlands Baseball Academy.”

Home Hardware and the thrift store in Oyen have hung banners in honour of the class of 2021, and Tenelle said to “stay tuned for a Class of 2021 website, which will be coming soon!” It will display a class photo, cap and gown photos, and biographies for each student.

The achievements of these graduating students will be celebrated on Friday, June 11, in the SCHS schoolyard at an outdoor celebration. According to Tenelle, the coordinator for this year’s grad celebrations, plans are well underway but are not set in stone due to the year’s uncertainty.

The uncertainty was made apparent when classes reverted to online learning from May 7-24. “This greatly affected our grad class,” Tenelle said. “Our original graduation was planned for May 21, but we were forced to postpone it until June 11, and we’re hoping that this day can actually happen.”

Plans for that day include a drive-in ceremony for the graduates and their immediate family. “Doug Griffiths will appear virtually as the guest speaker,” Tenelle said. “It is also expected that MLA Nate Horner and MP Damien Kurek will make appearances, either in person or virtually.” Steven Kuhn, the CAO of the Town of Oyen, will also be present at the grad.

“We are a small school with a big heart,” Tenelle said. “We are committed to giving our graduates memories to last a lifetime with a special celebration.”

Some of those memorable moments will likely include heartfelt comments delivered by the staff at SCHS. The graduates will be divided up amongst school staff members, who will then write a special tribute to each graduate who is assigned to them. A recording of each staff member voicing their special tribute will be played while the corresponding graduate receives their congratulatory package during the ceremony.

Following the grad ceremonies, grads will participate in a parade around town, at which time Oyen and area residents will be able to celebrate along with the grads.

“These grads are a caring, resilient, hardworking, outspoken group of students who have been through a lot in the past 15 months,” Tenelle concluded.

South Central High School Class of 2021. Photo by Shannon Hauck