The first-ever graduating class of Niverville High School walked the stage—well, the parking lot—to collect their diplomas at a unique convocation ceremony on the evening of Wednesday, June 24. To accommodate social distancing, the 52 grads and their families pulled into the school’s parking lot in an assortment of cars, vans, and open-top convertibles to enjoy the ceremony drive-in-style.
Principal Kimberley Funk began by acknowledging the surreal nature of the event—and indeed, the last several months.
“I’ve gotta be honest, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a scenario quite like this,” Funk said. “You were thrown into a new situation in your last year of high school and then, to top it all off, faced with a global pandemic. Remarkably, you took it all in stride and handled it with maturity. As a group, you have been kind, modest, humble, and hard-working. You have quietly gone about your studies and activities without demanding attention or any spotlight even though you’ve experienced many great accomplishments.”
Her remarks focused on the unprecedented challenges and obstacles faced by the graduates in the final stretch of their high school experience.
“We’ve been separated in ways we’ve never experienced and we’re facing a world that will never be the same,” she said. “But it’s a world that needs you. These challenges can make it difficult to remain hopeful, but it is important that you continue to look forward. You are the next generation. We need poets and builders, scientists and artists, engineers, firefighters, teachers, and entrepreneurs. It’s time to take the torch and make your mark in the world. Put your stake in the ground and take the first steps toward your future. Maybe it’s baby steps, maybe it’s a leap of faith. Either or, it’s important to make a move. You may be tested, you may falter, but keep going. Believe in yourself.”
Instead of applause, the assembled vehicles honked their approval.
The rest of the speeches had been recorded beforehand and assembled into a video presentation, beginning with greetings from the Hanover School Division, delivered by first-term trustee Carisa Klassen. Outgoing superintendent Randy Dueck was also in attendance. He took in the convocation from his Mini Cooper in the back row of the parking lot.
Next up was a tribute video in which the high school staff singled out each and every graduate for special attention.
Special guest speaker Matt Falk then took a few moments to entertain the crowd.
“It’s very weird for a stand-up comedian to be talking to the camera with absolutely no response,” Falk began. “It’s like the first five years of my career!”
After a short stand-up set, Falk’s comments took on a more challenging, more motivational tone.
“Who do you want to be?” he asked. “Kind? Cruel? Empathetic? Powerful? A person who stands up for others? A person who gets what they want? A champion of the marginalized? A trendsetter? Hopefully when you think about it, you want to be somebody good. A philanthropist. Someone who stands up to tyranny. But remember, you could be that person while doing anything… You can be a CEO who pays more than fair wages—and be an economic game-changer. You can be a business owner who leaves the environment better than when you found it—and be a planet-saver. Filter all of your questions through that. Who do you want to be?”
Valedictorian Graham Pinkerton then had his opportunity to address the class.
“Today is a big day. A day of success, a day of excitement, and a day of closure,” Pinkerton began. “Today marks the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another. Today is also a strange day, not one that most of us would have anticipated. These are very strange and unusual times. But I am happy that we are still able to gather together for this special day and moment.”
Over the course of his five-minute speech, Pinkerton took his fellow graduates on a tour of their grade school careers, with an emphasis on high school.
“This pandemic has made me realize something that I did not pay very much attention to before: the social aspect of school is so important,” he said. “The simple day-to-day conversations with teachers, staff, and friends. It is the simple things like this that make school so special. It’s not always about the courses or the grades, although they have their place. It is about the memories that you make and the relationships that last. These are the connections that hold the most value.”
Pinkerton closed by thanking his fellow graduates, their families, and school staff.
“Thank you to all of our teachers,” said Pinkerton. “Many of you have taken extra steps during this pandemic to reach out, to teach in new ways, and to help us to learn despite our circumstances. Thank you to everyone who has worked very hard to organize and set up this graduation ceremony. It will not be one to forget.”
Following a tassel ceremony, the graduates exited their vehicles and came forward to receive their diplomas from Principal Funk.
The event concluded with a celebratory parade through town, with the graduates and their families riding down Main Street, and snaking through a route that took them through Fifth Avenue Estates and the south side of town.