Friday, September 19, 2025

Secondary and Post-Secondary Graduation Ceremony 2025

July 31, 2025

Sagamok’s Lifelong Learning Centre recently held the Secondary School, College, and University graduation ceremony to honour our special graduates from Sagamok! The ceremony was held at a new location this year, the gym at Biidaaban, which offers more space and the comfort of Air Conditioning! This was a gathering of family, friends, and graduates, all present to celebrate Sagamok’s remarkable students on their achievements!

 

From the Education Department and Lifelong Learning Centre staff, as well as Sagamok’s Guidance and Career Coaches, we share a round of applause and heartfelt congratulations to ALL of the graduates of the Class of 2025! Your demonstration of hard work, perseverance, dedication, and resilience proves that dreams can become reality if you put in the effort!

The ceremony, organized by Lifelong Learning Centre Staff, Josephine, Lorna, Tracey, Edie, Lorrie Ann, and Claudette, with assistance from numerous others in the education community, saw the gymnasium decorated in purple and gold for this year’s theme of “Igniting the Path to Your Future”. The Master of Ceremonies and Member of the Education Committee, Marjorie Owl, announced the entry of the graduates and as they stepped on stage to receive their gifts and awards. The Opening Prayer was provided by Patricia Trudeau. Miigwech Patricia for providing this special component of the ceremony. And miigwech to Darcy Trudeau & Terrance McNichol for drumming and performing the Honour Song to greet our graduates! Welcoming Remarks were provided by our Director of Education Vance McPherson and Keynote Speakers included college representative, Jacinta Eshkakogan, and University representative, Cheyenne Sego.

Let’s offer a ‘Graduation Roll Call Shout out’ to our Sagamok students who successfully received their diploma, degree, and honourable distinctions.

Graduating from Secondary School we celebrate the following students:  

Ainsley, Buddy, Honey, Juanita, Rayne, Drew, Aiden, Waasi-aaban-anakwot, Memphis, Nicole, Annabelle, Niimki, Danyelle, Dominic, Rowan, Preston, Savannah, Amber, Jayden, Miranda, Carter, Connor, Quentin Jr., Tallulah, Vaydah, Vilena, Christopher and Connor.

The following high school students received Awards or Bursaries:

  • Espanola Horticultural Society Bursary: Dominic
  • McGregor Bay Association--Louis Polk Award: Gavin
  • UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service Bursary: Quentin
  • Desjardins Bursary: Vilena

Indigenous Student Success Awards were presented to the following students:

  • Bravery – Rayne
  • Humility – Connor
  • Love – Quentin
  • Respect – Dominic
  • Truth – Vilena

Congratulations to all our Secondary School Graduates! We look forward to seeing where you channel your energies next! Good luck on your future path.

The following graduates earned a diploma from college programs! Miranda, Liam, Alyssa, Krystal, Felicia, Asia, Emma, Jacinta, Logan, Samantha, Vincent, Byron, Dwayne, Genevieve, Russell, Kaylee, Tara, Rae-Lyn, Allan, Gloria, Alara, Trista, Whitney, Claira, Jayson, Angel, Jared, Jessica, Janice, Donald, Jordan, Stephen and Tanya! Congratulations to each of you and best wishes on your life path!

And finally, we have our University Graduates! Congratulations to Susanne, Taylor, Madison, Renee, Helena, Carly, Paige, Cheyenne, Acadia, Devon, Ethan, Starr, and Teddy on receiving your degrees!

Several Memorial Awards, Service Awards, and Industry Partner Awards for Secondary, College, and University graduating students were handed out during the afternoon festivities. Congratulations to all award recipients and miigwech to all award donors and sponsors!!

 

Special thanks are extended to Charlene Sterling and her assistants for their catering services and to Home Baked for creating a beautiful cake for the guests. Thank you to Allison Abitong and assistants for their beautiful decorating efforts, and Darian Jones and associates from Sweet Sips for providing a variety of popular iced coffees, teas, and punch during the ceremony! Chi Miigwech to our Education Staff for everything they did to offer this celebration to the Graduates, and to everyone who played a role in the success of this ceremony. We appreciate your generous spirit and continued support of Sagamok students! Congratulations to our 2025 Sagamok Anishnawbek Graduates and we wish you well in all your future endeavors!

Remember that Sagamok Anishnawbek has many career opportunities right here at home and we would love to have you, and your unique talents, remain in the community. If you are not sure what to do next or would like a free consultation with a Guidance & Career Coach, drop by the Lifelong Learning Centre at 717 Sagamok Road. They are on site and will help you discover and develop your personal learning journey towards Bimaadiziwin. No appointment necessary – drop by Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM to connect with a Sagamok Guidance and Career Coach OR access other supports and services offered to you here in our community.