Clinton News-Record, 1987-09-30, Page 26E
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987
SPECIAL SOUVENIR COMMENCEMENT EDITION
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Keep welcoming new ideas, valedictorian says
By Don Hearn
Teachers, graduates, parents, musi-
cians, award winners, members of the
community ... is that- Verybody? Much
as I loathe commencing an oratory so
mechanically, this is an "address" that I
have been commissioned to make;
therefore I•decided that that meant I
should "address" everyone ... but there
is more. Let us move on now from the
commencement of this speech, to the
commencement ceremonies at hand.
I have always considered it to be a
marvelous pretense — calling this event
commencement. After all, the reason
we're gathering together at this par-
ticular time is that our high school
careers,have just ended. If this is com-
mencement, the beginning, then what do
you call all that we have learned and ex-
perienced up until now? A mere prologue
to "real life"? Naturally, this last
chapter in our lives could hardly be
regarded as being of little significance.
As we witness the end of a pivotal time in
our lives, we can reflect upon all that we
have learned. I love rhetoric, can you
tell? Hopefully, one thing about which
our experience together has enlightened
us is how much we have yet to learn.
We're all continuing our education.
Some of us found we liked formal educa-
tion so much that we're going on to
universities and colleges. Some of you
realized what a waste of time that is and
have already begun to learn about the
real world a.k.a. the workforce where,
I've heard, one can work and actually get
money to take home. There's something
to be learned wherever you go, whatever
you do, just as long as you keep on
welcoming new ideas.
Now, it seems to be a tradition with
valedictorians to quote a favorite author
at some time during the address.
Well, my favorite author is Edgar
Allan Poe and so, you see, I had a bit of
trouble. I found it hard finding relevance
in lines such as "quoth the raven, 'Never-
more' ", and I didn't succeed. However,
obviously I did recall a pertinent line
Don Hearn spoke of beginnings and endings in
graduating class at CHSS. (Steve Oliver photo)
from one of his stories or else 1 would not
have brought it up.
Poe once wrote "not in knowledge is
happiness, but in the acquisition of
knowledge! In for ever knowing, we are
for ever blessed; but to know all were the
curse of a friend." Obviously, the latter
portion of that quotation is a little
extraneous.
I mean, one look at us on a Monday
morning would convince anyone that
his valedictory address to the 1987
knowing anything at all is a far more
serious concern for us than knowing all.
But doesn't that first part bring back
memories. Think of how much fun you
have learning to make those first few
steps, learning how to tie your shoe, how
to press along the perforations of a
Kleenex box without tearing the box.
Now, we are commencing a new journey
with more of these exciting learning
events.
We are very fortunate to have a good
grounding for our next stage of learning
by this top-notch institution. I always en-
vied the schools with the pools, the huge
gymnasium and the big tech wings but I
have since realised that people are what
makes the school what it is, not fancy
facilities. We had a first-class staff .af
teachers, an excellent athletic program,
complete with great coaches, and an arts
program to beat all arts programs.
This school is really something else.
There really is a lot here to miss. May I
reflect on a few things specifically?
How about sitting in the students'
lounge with smoke billowing as we wat-
ched the monthly 10 minute 'Cram for
. Fam' sessions; or what about the fun we
had sitting on the edge of our seats in
Calculus, waiting anxiously for Mr.
Russell to reveal to us the deepest,
darkest secrets of complex numbers;
also, I think Cheryl and I fooled all of you
into thinking we were sworn enemies
when we were best friends all along ...
really; and, of course, who could forget
the inevitable conclusions to morning
assemblies by a man whom I believe to
be the best joke -teller in this world, Mr.
J.L. Wooden. Of course, I could
reminisce for hours ... but I won't.
As I conclude this evening, I shall
fulfill my real purpose because valedic-
torian comes from the Latin "valedic-
tus", meaning "farewell'. I don't mean
"See you in a couple of years" at.a class
reunion or something. I mean that I hope
you fare well in whatever career you pur-
sue. We've had some great times
together and we may have a few more
Look down the rows. Get a good look at
everybody because there are bound to be
some people here whom you will never
see again. Therefore, I entreat you, don't
pass up an opportunity to bid a former
classmate farewell with a handshake or a
hug and a sincere thank -you for the four
or five wonderful years you have had
together.
Good night, farewell, and God bless all
of you.
Students honored for academic achievements
Don Hearn earned more than nine
awards at this year's Commencement Ex-
ercises, held on September 25, 1987 at Cen-
tral Huron Secondary School in Clinton.
He is the son of Bill and Mary Hearn of
RR4 Clinton. - •
Don was on stage several times at the
commencement ceremony. Along with
receiving top awards, he was also the
Grade 13 class valedictorian.
An Ontario Scholar, Don took three
scholarship award:; for Grade 13 studies.
He was the rt cipient of the George Jeffer-
son Memorial Scholarship, tie Sir Ernest
Cooper Estate Scholarship and the E.A.
Fines Mathematics Award.
He was the winner of W.D. Fair Scholar-
ships for Subject Proficiency in Calculus,
Functions and Relations, Physics, Algebra
and French.
He shared W.D. Fair Scholarship for
General Proficiency Awards with fellow
students, Gwen Holland, Shawn Lester,
Brenda Nesbitt and Bonnie Turner.
Other W.D. Fair Scholarships for Subject
Proficiency in Grade 13 went to: Bonnie
Turner, English and Family Studies;
Gwen Holland, Chemistry; Julie Howson,
Biology; Brenda Nesbitt, History; Sharon
Brown, Geography; Roxanne Martin,
Latin.
Gwen Holland also won the CHSS
Teachers' Award for Citizenship, while Bill
Latky won the Clinton Town Council
Citizenship Award, presented by Councillor
Case Buffinga.
W.D. Fair Scholarships in General Profi-
ciency were given out to top students in all
grades. Other award winners included:
Grade 9 - Adrienne Bartlett; Grade 10 -
Daryl Hemingway; Grade 11 - Kelly Vod-
den; Grade 12 - Andrea Aisenpreis, David
Andrews, Dianne Batkin and Heather
Bauman.
Grade 12 Scholars Awards were
presented to Lisa Boonstoppel, Peter
Brand, Colleen Glousher, Craig Hackwell,
Grace Johnston, Bill Latky, Doug Roy and
Anita Wilts.
Representatives from local businesses
and organizations were on hand to present
General Proficiency Awards to seven
deserving students.
Daryl Hemingway, Grade 10, won the
Fairholme Dairy Award and Kelly Vodder
Grade 11, won the Anstett Jewellers
Award. Grade 12 awards went to Craig
Hackwell, Technical Teachers' Award;
Bryan Taylor, Murphy Bus Lines Award;
Louise Proctor, Women's Auxiliary to the
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 140 Bur-
sary; Andrea Aisenpreis, Bartliff's Bakery
Award; Shawn Lester, Corrie's Valu Mart
Award.
OACETT Awards were presented to
Bryan Taylor, Computer Technology; Jim
Campbell, Construction Technology and
David Roorda, Mechanical Technology.
Super student awards
Twenty-two awards were given out to
SOS, Super Outstanding Students. Among
them were, Julie Young, winner of the
Blyth Festival Award and Julie Webster,
winner of the Top Student Award. The Se-
cond Top Student Award went to Kelly
Schoonerwoerd.
Janet Wilts won the Most Secretarial
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