A group of Grade 12 students at JPII pose for a quick snapshot outside before heading into the gym to take the stage and receive their diplomas. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

A day to remember

JPII Graduation brings mixed emotion, excitement for what’s ahead

Jun 27, 2019 | 5:36 PM

It’s been circled on the calendar for some time, but graduation day came for many senior students at John Paul II Collegiate (JPII), Thursday afternoon.

For Jennifer Tran, who will attend the University of Saskatchewan come the fall, the high school experience was a memorable one.

“There are a lot of memories from this class; we’ve done a lot together and really grown close,” Tran said. “If I had to pick one [memory that stands out], I might have to say today because it’s a big deal to all of us, and it’s going to be the last time we all see each other.”

Another senior making the leap to the U of S come September is Chloe Winterhalt, who said she plans to start her post-secondary journey with a focus on arts and sciences, before perhaps transitioning into the business side of things in the future as well.

Winterhalt echoed the sentiment put forth by Tran saying as the year went along, the high school’s graduating class seemed to only grow closer.

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“At prom, our whole class had a lot of fun together and I think we grew a lot closer at May long [weekend,]” she said. “We hung out a lot, and it was just nice having a whole class that’s all friends that you can talk to pretty much anybody.”

For athletes like Zach Wells and Kaitlyn Yockey, perhaps their fondest memories of the last four years have come on the school’s football field and gymnasium court, respectively.

“The most fun I had in high school were the football games,” Wells, a middle linebacker with the Crusaders’ football team said. “All my favorite memories were [during] football practices, hanging out after, and playing football games.”

Yockey, meanwhile, said she too will look back on her time spent with the school’s sports teams gladly, adding that with graduation will come a lot more free time on weekends.

Yockey was involved with basketball, volleyball and track with the high school, leading to several road trips to various tournaments and out of town games and trips she said she’ll remember for a long time.

Yockey said she will likely take the year off, with plans to attend University in Edmonton in the future for an education in business.

One hundred and fourteen students walked across the stage Thursday to claim their certificates, as part of the JPII graduating class.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1