RYAN WILLMAN
Arrow Lakes News
The Nakusp Secondary School 2015 graduating class will celebrate 12 years of hard work and dedication to academic study with their banquet and convocation this weekend. The events will be the climax of fundraising and organizing efforts primarily by students and parents under the direction of lead parent organizer, Karen Surina and teacher sponsor, Tessa Wiseman. The grad class started their preparations back in 2014 when tradition necessitates grade 11 students volunteer to help work the banquet of the grad class ahead of them. In gratitude, the graduating students kick-start the fundraising initiatives by donating money during the convocation ceremony to the next graduating class. With the coffers primed, the 2015 grad class wasted no time getting down to work, and completed the majority of their fundraising efforts during a late summer bottle drive.
The Friday grad banquet will begin with a promenade down Broadway Street on a float at 3:30 p.m. with friend and family pictures to follow at the Nakusp waterfront at 4 p.m. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. in the Nakusp Arena Auditorium and is themed The Great Gatsby (the Roaring 20’s). Academic and athletic awards will be presented during the banquet as well as speeches from staff, students and parents. The prom dance will follow the banquet. The students will return to the Nakusp Arena on Saturday at 1p.m. to participate in convocation and walk the stage to receive their diplomas.
The organizers would like to remind graduates and guests that the banquet, prom and convocation are dry events and expect that there will be no substance use.
Grad sponsor Tessa Wieseman would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Karen Surina and the countless hours parents dedicated to this event.
“This has been a an incredible group of parents fundraising and volunteering for this event throughout the year who should all be commended,” Wiseman praised. “Together they are a class of incredible people who look out for one another, look for the right things in life, and speak out for what is fair.”