Merritt Secondary School
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Grad 2014
Prepare yourself so that you can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud. I was reading a newspaper article last week about heroes and how most of today’s heroes are male athletes. The article suggested that this is wrong and we needed more female heroes and suggested a few — astronauts, doctors and politicians. As I thought about the article later, I realized they still had it wrong. For me, a hero is an ordinary individual who does something ordinary so well that it inspires or supports others. A hero to one person is not necessarily a hero to others. For example: Mother Teresa was an ordinary nun who took caring for the poor and sick to a new level and became a hero to the world. Terry Fox was an ordinary Canadian who moved the marathon to a Marathon of Hope; a hero to a nation. Maya Jonas is an ordinary runner who qualified for the Boston Marathon. You might think, no big deal, a lot of people qualify for the Boston Marathon. But she becomes an inspiration when you learn Maya is a blind breast cancer survivor; a hero to the blind and cancer communities, and to her family. In Maya’s words: “People look at me and see a cute, marshmallow girl. But
I am a tough little cookie.” Remember, a hero is an ordinary individual who does something ordinary so well that it inspires or supports others. Like these 110 “ordinary” individuals graduating this year, who have inspired and supported their peers and families. These 110 students are heroes and I ask that you join me in congratulating them for this achievement. To these 110 heroes, I want you to listen to the words of another world hero. Her parents divorced when she was 3. She was sexually abused when she was 9. A single mom at 17. Became a shake dancer, prostitute, and cook. Yet when she died last month, she was mourned throughout the world. You see, she went on to be: A singer. An actor. A civil rights activist. A college professor. A writer. And a renowned poet. This was Maya Angelou. I challenge you with her words: “Prepare yourself so that you can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud.” Congratulations to our grads, our heroes, and the best of luck in being someone else’s rainbow. Dr. Robert Peacock Superintendent, School District 58
Congratulations Alisha! We are so proud of you and of all of your accomplishments . As you begin the next chapter of your life remember that we will always be here for you. Keep smiling, have fun and study hard! We love you and will miss you.
Phone: 250-378-2332 2025 Coutlee Ave., Merritt
Love always : Mom, Dad, Samreeta and Miya. xoxox & Appliances Ltd.
B2 • THURSDAY, June 26, 2014
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Alexis, Latrisha
Angel, Courtney
Atkinson, Emily
Baillie, Griffin
Bara-Canadien, Jayni
Baxter, Logan
Baynes, Kiyl
Bhander, Amanjot
Black, Tameka
Blatchford, Ian
Boyd, Crista
Brabant, Tiffany
Brewer, Courtney
Briggs, Miles
Burnham, Claire
Buttar, Harmanat
Cheema, Ravinder
Chiu, Brennen
Cleveland, Madison
Colter, Bradley
Congratulations & Best Wishes to all the
GRADS OF 2014
Congratulations to the 2014! graduating class of 2013! From everyone here at (250) 378 6808 Located at 1951 Garcia Street
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR BP FAMILY GRADUATES
www.bostonpizza.com U (250) 378-4222 3839 Crawford Ave., Merritt, BC
We would like to extend a
Special Congratulations
To all of the 2014 graduating class,
CONGRATULATIONS
to Kirra Racine on a job well done.
AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE
from all of us at
From staff and management at Aspen Planers Ltd.
2760 Forksdale Road
250-378-1841
2399 Quilchena Ave., Merritt Phone: 250-378-9266
Class of
2014
5JGGBOZ #SBCBOU WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU
LOVE SHERRY & ALAN RAUCH EVAN & WADE RAUCH AND BRITTANY BRABANT GRANDMA MILDRED DESY
THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 • B3
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If you take that first step, you can accomplish amazing feats. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Go for the gold, without fear for what may happen. Fellow graduates, teachers, administrators, parents, other miscellaneous family members , and frenchies, I welcome you to the Graduation of the Class of 2014. My name is Evan Snee, and I am here to inspire you all to be the best you can be. Before I get started, I would like to thank those who helped me get to the podium here today, the students who voted for me, I thank you both. The teachers who have no problems with taking bribes. In preparation for this speech, I used every resource at my disposal, mainly Google and Wikipedia, in order to find a quote that would properly describe our experiences, hardships, victories, and accomplishments in our short 12 years of education. However, it seems even the great and powerful internet
can fall short, and looking back, I think the word I would use would be... growth. We started out as wailing children, still in diapers and still learning to speak properly, and now look at us! Look at how far we’ve come since September... none of us are in diapers anymore. But seriously, today is our last day as high school students. Our last day of routine and schedules imposed upon us. Our last day before each and every one of us steps into the unknown. For some of you, this change could not come
soon enough, while for others, it has been a day that you have been looking forward to with quiet anxiety and excitement. However you feel about graduation, there is no question things are going to be different from here on out. One thing I know I have learned from our time here in school is to just go out and do it. I know some of you might not believe me, but I also know some of you will agree with me when I say I have not always been this charismatic, confident, and amazing. When I first came to High School, I was overcautious, timid, and scared. Sometimes I still am. But one thing I learned from my grad class, THIS grad class, is to just be brave, and despite your doubts, take that first step. If you take that first step, you can accomplish amazing feats. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Go for the gold, without fear for what may happen. If you give 100% to life, you’re far more than likely to get that 100% back. Life will hit you hard, but if you can roll with the punches of life, you can get back up again with a little help from your friends. I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends. I’ll get... never mind. Now that I’m spouting “wisdom,� let me spout a little more. In the wise words of my Grandpa Snee “You can lead a horse to water, but if ya teach him to fish, he’ll neither a borrower nor a lender be.� Here’s another piece of information you probably didn’t know. Many times have I looked back on my past experiences and been extremely thankful that I know this one thing. I’m sure in time, you will value what I am about to tell you just as much as I do today... On a side note, do you know what they say about cliff hangers?... Moving on. For all those who don’t already know, there is a mysterious world outside Merritt Secondary School, and although we’ve dipped our toe in, and some of us have even gone for a swim, today is the day we jump off the boat of Merritt Secondary School, and we don’t get back on. The big blue can be intimidating, but you just gotta have courage, and take that first step... or risk drowning. I guess you can’t really step when you’re floating, but you get the picture. —Evan Snee, Valedictorian
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRAD CLASS OF 2014 Special Congratulations
on a Job Well Done!
to
Michael Peterson
Alisha Kandola
Chloe Gabara
Paula Murphy
Madison Cleveland
Matthew Parr
Kelsey Kynoch
Tina Tancsa
www.merritt.ca
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Colvin, Randy
Colvin, Shane
Coulombe, Devin
Cox, Dakota
Edward, Tyler
Edwards, Daniquea
Egan, Renney
Evdokimoff, Kendra
Finch, Mackenzie
Forner, Athena
Fosberry, Fallon
Gabara, Chloe
Gorst, Kathlene
Gradinaru, Sefora
Harder, Kyrsten
Heller, Kevin
Hillson, Trevor
Holmes, Tierra
Hopson, Casandra
Hughes, Eric
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2014. MAY YOUR FUTURE BE FILLED WITH HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY.
DAN ALBAS, MP Okanagan-Coquihalla
STOYOMA DENTAL CLINIC
Best wishes and brigh
t futures
To all the Grads of 2014! From all of us here at
STOYOMA DENTAL CLINIC 1999 Voght Street (next to the Credit Union)
TOLL FREE: 1-800-665-8711 DAN.ALBAS@PARL.GC.CA • WWW.DANALBAS.COM
PO Box 3090, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 Call Today to Book Your Appointment. Ph:
Class of 2014
250-378-5877
If God had let us handpick our firstborn son, we would've picked you! We are so proud of what you've accomplished but even more proud of who you are inside, your integrity, your heart, your perseverance and, of course your great sense of humour. May God continue to bless on the next part of life's adventure. Love, your family.
THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 • B5
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Grand March
JORDANNE
HUB International Insurance
For all that you are and all that you do we could not be more proud of you.
Congratulates
You’re one awesome daughter and a wonderful sis but we don’t really need to tell you this.
JAYNI
You’ve really become an exceptional young lady But you will always be our darling “baby”
BARA-CANADIEN
From all of us at CONGRATULATIONS
It’s time now to grow and leave the “nest” and we wish you nothing but only the BEST
Now it’s off to Switzerland Possibly Paris and Rome... And we’ll always be here at the place you call home.
TO ALL THE GRADUATES CLASS OF 2014!
dq.ca
$E7OLF 7AY -ERRITT "# s
You accomplish so much when put to the test AFS, Rugby and all the rest
May your joys be many and your sorrows be few, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
Congratulations
to All Grads
FINALLY!! , Love Mom, Dad Justin, Jessica, ndpa Grandma’s & Gra
from the Management & Staff of the Grand Pub & Grill
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED LOVE FROM MOM, DAD, GITANE, GRAMMA AND EVERYONE
Special Congrats to Renney Egan, Devon Coulombe, Kewiet’n Beatty-Smith, Kevin Heller, Riley Thomsen & Evan Snee. Good luck in all your future endeavours. We are all so proud of you.
Devin Coulombe
B6 • THURSDAY, June 26, 2014
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Isaac, Shane
Isaac, Shawn
Jenner, Brandon
Joe, Savannah
Kandola, Alisha
Keyser, Kevin
Knudslien, Cheyenne
Kubo, Kayla
Kynoch, Kelsey
Labounty, Alex
Lund, Michael
MacLaren, Amy
Major, Mitch
Maloney, Emily
Marshall, Spencer
Martindale, Rachel
McClure, Bryson
McLeod, Richard
McMaster, Cristiana
McNiven, Benjamin
MY NAME IS ROBERT – I am Haida.
NVIT respects
With campuses in Merritt and Vancouver and over 300 courses available, come and experience what makes NVIT a great place to grow.
my goals, helps me
prepare for the future and guides my journey. It feels like home. Robert, Law Enforcement Preparation Learner
WWW.NVIT.CA MERRITT CAMPUS 250.378.3300 VANCOUVER CAMPUS 604.602.9555 TOLL FREE 1.877.682.3300
THE HOME OF ABORIGINAL PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN BC
THURSDAY, June 26, 2014â&#x20AC;˘ B7
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Commencement
C
ongratulations
to the Upper Nicola Band Graduates for 2014
May all your dreams come true!
Tierra Holmes
Courtney Brewer
Miles Briggs
Richard McLeod
Thomas Manuel
From the Upper Nicola Band
Devon Van Uen
Shaylene McRae
B8 • THURSDAY, June 26, 2014
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THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 • B9
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Achievements
Be proud of all that you have accomplished 2014 Scholarship RECIPIENTS
Adventure Management Ltd.
First Nations Education Council
Kelsey Kynoch Riley Thomsen
Fallon Fosbery Stephanie Tourand
Albert R. Brown
Adair Ng
Grad Legacy
Amy MacLaren Austin Warren
Merritt Seniors Centre
Paula Murphy
Paula Murphy Charity Pender
Harris & Company
Alberta Fraser Emily Maloney Adair Ng
Merritt Firefighters/ Monte MacLean memorial
Alisha Kondola
Merritt Sikh Society Kaitlyn Suzuki Alisha Kandola
Hospital Employees Union Haley Shae
BC Cattleman’s Association
Merritt Vintage Car Club/ Canadian Tire
Interior Savings Credit Union
Fallon Fosberry
Eric Hughes
Alex Labounty
C.M. Suttie Memorial Evan Snee
Merritt Volleyball Association
Jamie Gillespie Evan Snee
Catholic Women’s League - Mary Caruk Memorial
Fallon Fosbery Kaitlyn Suzuki
Jeremy Bain Memorial Evan Snee
Stephanie Tourand
Nadina Logging Kelsey Kynoch Fallon Fosbery
Kamloops Blazers Hockey Club Award
Coopers Kayla Kubo
Jordanne Sulz
CUPE - Local #847
Nicola Valley Community Arts Council
Merritt Centennials Booster Club
Stephanie Tourand
Amy MacLaren Austin Warren
Brennen Chiu Savannah Joe
Eastern Star
Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary
Adair Ng
Nicola Valley Farmers Market
Patricia Rebekah Lodge Kevin Keyser
Adair Ng
Charity Pender
Kelsey Kynoch Adair Ng
Nicola Valley Principals & Vice Principals Association Chloe Gabara
Nicola Valley Teachers’ Union
Partners in the Community
Take this moment to honor this important milestone in your life. The abundance of opportunities awaits and it is time to embrace your future.
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2014
Cong�at�lations
To the Grad Class of 2014
Special Congratulations to Savannah Joe on making the Honor roll
Congratulations to the Merritt Secondary graduating class of 2014
Suki Randhawa Memorial
Rotary Club of Merritt Sunrise
Teck Highland Valley Copper
Harman Buttar
Evan Snee
TNRD
Royal Bank Scholarship
Paula Murphy
Jordanne Sulz
Stephanie Tourand - Service Jordanne Sulz - Tutoring Trevor Reed - Kennedy-Hughes Ashlee Tom - Kennedy/Hughes Kaitlyn Suzuki MacKenzie Finch
School District Scholarship
Tolko
Riley Thomsen Trevor Reed Dakota Cox
Kaitlyn Suzuki Amy MacLaren Evan Snee Kelsey Kynoch Adair Ng Courtney Brewer Fallon Fosbery Ashlee Tom Emily Atkinson Ben McNiven Austin Warren Kirra Racine Alisha Kandola Mackenzie Finch Santaya Stander
Nicola Valley Women’s’ Institute Kelsey Kynoch
NVIT
Amanjot Bhander
Old Time Fiddlers Austin Warren
Special Congratulations CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES
Class of
2014
Best wishes for your future!
We would like to extend a
Jordanne Sulz
Stephanie Tourand Kelsey Kynoch
Kaitlyn Suzuki Alisha Kandola Kelsey Kynoch
Evan Snee
Highland Valley Copper
Spectra Energy
Rotary Club of Merritt
Kaitlyn Suzuki
Elks Lodge
Jordanne Sulz
Pharmasave
Nicola Valley Kennel Club
“Smitty” the Baker Memorial
to Tristan Couture and the entire 2014 Graduating Class
250-315-0208
From the Staff at
2190A Voght Street
250-378-3646
Stuwix Resources Joint Venture
Merritt, B.C.
250-378-2277
www.stuwix.com
Cascade Dental Care
#110-1700 Garcia St.
You did it! Love Mom, Dad & Brendan
CONGRATS KEVIN!
From Dr. Todd Smith and staff at 3623 DeWolf Way
Congratulations Bradley
378-4000
COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIRS
2338 Nicola Avenue, Merritt 250-378-2030
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU, LOVE MOM & DAD
B10 â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAY, June 26, 2014
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Grad
Lower Nicola Indian Band
Congratulations Graduates
May your future be bright and prosperous
Tameka Black
Christiana McMaster
Julia Spahan
Lower Nicola Indian Band
Savannah Joe
Tyler Edward
Phone: 250-378-5157
Kathlene Gorst
Alisha Sterling
Ashlee Tom
Talon Tom
Alex Shuter
Jack Sterling-Moses
Shane Isaac
181 Nawishaskin Lane, Merritt, BC, VIK 0A7
THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 • B11
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Parade
Congrats Brennen on your High School Graduation!
.ICOLA 6ALLEY -USEUM !RCHIVES !SSOCIATION
CLASS OF
2014
would like to congratulate the 2014 grads and wish you all good luck!
Special Congratulations to: would like to Congratulate
Kirra Racine!
You've come a long way Dot! Love Mom, Dad, and Noah www.millcreekdesign.ca Office: (250) 378-6311• Mobile: (250) 378-7579
Your dedication, strong work ethics and striving for success in whatever you do makes us very proud of you. We love you, Mom, Dad and Stefan
Canada Cafe Canadian & Chinese Restaurant 2055 Quilchena Ave Across from Fields
250-378-5551
Emily Atkinson
Alex Labounty
.ICOLA 6ALLEY -USEUM !RCHIVES
Riley Thomsen Phone: (250) 378-4145 1675 Tutill Court Email: nvma@uniserve.com
B12 • THURSDAY, June 26, 2014
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Munro, Keisha
Murphy, Paula
Ng, Adair
Opper, Catherine
Parr, Matthew
Paterson, Travis
Pender, Charity-Angel
Peter, Lukas
Peterson, Michael
Prowal, Nolan
Racine, Kirra
Randhawa, Karun
Reed, Trevor
Reimer, Trent
Riddle, Aleah
Ross, Alexander
Ruttan, Alexander
Sampson, Tristan
Sanderson, Zachary
Sciarpelletti, Andrew
k yo n a u h T The 2014 Grad Committee would like to thank everyone involved in making the Grad Ceremony and Prom Night such memorable experiences.
A very Special Thank you to the 2014 Grad Committee Executive members and Julie Musgrave, Cheryl Fex and Roni Lali for all they have done to help us along this year. • • • • • • • • • • • •
Sd 58 teachers and staff City of Merritt Grand pub and grill Return-it-Depot City Furniture Home Hardware Daz and Harjit Kandola Tolko Steelworkers Teck Tim hortons Doctors eye care
• Sunrise Rotary Club • Merritt Liquor Store Management and staff • MMHA • Coldwater Hotel • The grad parents of 2014 for all their volunteer hrs. • Grade 11 student and parent volunteers. • May Lund • Lordco • Canadian tire • RCMP
THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 • B13
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Prom
CONGRATULATIONS! Graduating Class of 2014
GO FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS
CLASS OF
Class of
2014
SHAWN, HEIDI, DOUG & CATHERINE AND THE STAFF AT DCS AUTO WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE
CONGRATULATIONS
BRYSON YOU MADE IT!
We are so proud of you. Now off to BCIT.
Travis Paterson
Love Mom, Briar, Shadin, Gram, Gramp, Zaine & all aunties & uncles
“Success for ALL Learners ~ Today and Tomorrow” Congratulations to the Class of 2014 The Board of Education of School District No. 58 (Nicola-Similkameen)
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry D. Threau
2014
2152 Lauder St 250-378-2929
Congratulations Chloe! We’re proud of you, best wishes for a bright future. Love Mom, Dad & Mckenzie
B14 • THURSDAY, June 26, 2014
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Shackelly, Tashina
Shea, Haley
Snee, Evan
Spahan, Julia
Sterling, Alisha
Sulz, Jordanne
Suzuki, Alana
Suzuki, Hyacinth
Suzuki, Kaitlyn
Talerico, Cody
Tanda, Govind
Thom, Elizabeth
Thomsen, Riley
Tom, Ashlee
Tom, Talon
Missing Photos
Tourand, Stephanie
Van Unen, Devan
Athena Forner We enjoyed having you in Merritt as this year’s Rotary Exchange Student.
From Rotary Club of Merritt and Sunrise Rotary Club of Merritt
Voght-Bob, Lanor
Warren, Austin
Brown, Justine Couture, Tristan Mort, Preston Muir, Braydon Ned, Robert Philips, Mikayla Poulin, Daniel Saul, Felix Stead, Kristian Wills, Mathew
Congratulations
THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ B15
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Prom
Graduating Class of 2014
Devan Van Unen
youth. We would like to congratulate Devan who is a part of our Cooper’s Foods Team and the entire Graduating Class of 2014.
At Cooper’s Foods, we are proud to be a major employer of Merritt’s
Congratulations Devan!
CLASS OF 2014
GRADUATION
B16 • THURSDAY, June 26, 2014 www.merrittherald.com