A look in from Graduation Day at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Graduates reflect

NBCHS celebrates Graduation Day

Jun 30, 2023 | 5:04 PM

The long weekend kicked off with a bang for the senior class at North Battleford Comprehensive High School (NBCHS), as Friday marked Graduation Day.

A total of 116 students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas making up the Vikings’ class of 2023.

“I’m just proud of all our graduates, and wishing them all the best for their future and all the endeavours they take on,” principal of NBCHS, Jay Nichol said. “I’m glad to see all the friends and family here to support our students, and our community members too that are very supportive with scholarships for our students.

“We’re happy our students are able to celebrate today and we want them to be safe and happy and enjoy their summer.”

Jacinta Gillan, who served as valedictorian for the ’23 grad class, called the day “surreal.”

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“It almost doesn’t feel like this is actually happening, but at the same time I’m overcome with such an incredible sense of pride and joy for myself and all the rest of the graduates,” she said.

“It’s an indescribable feeling [to be named valedictorian], but I could not be more proud to represent this group of students, they just impress me every single day.”

Jaa Southgate, who played football, badminton, and some basketball over his high school years, was named Male Athlete of the Year and spoke to battlefordsNOW standing on the hill outside the backdoor of the school, overlooking his swell of classmates all around sharing hugs and taking pictures with family.

“It’s really exciting out here,” Southgate said after a moment of looking around to soak it all in. “Just being here surrounded by friends and family… and there’s lots of pictures for sure,” he added with a laugh.

Asked about what he’ll take away from the high school experience, Southgate’s answer is perhaps as profound as it is simple.

“Just the memories with my friends, honestly. It’s been quite a ride all year.”

For Raphael Lajeunesse, who moved to NBCHS from British Columbia for his final two years of high school, graduation day serves as a real achievement following a bit of a rollercoaster the last four years.

“It’s a pretty big day for me,” he said. “Earlier on in the school year, you have doubts about graduating, catching up on classes, falling behind and then having to catch up again, but all-in-all I’m pretty happy that friends and family pushed me to stay at it,” he said.

Like so many who have crossed the stage before, the NBCHS grad class of 2023 will have no shortage of memories to take with them from their high school years.

John Heidel, who played with the Vikings’ football team throughout his time at the Comp, said as he looks ahead to the next chapter his takeaway from the high school experience can be boiled down to three words:

“Live it up. We loved every second of the shop classes, messing around building projects, going to football practice and playing with the team, the long road trips. All of that was just amazing.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1