Left to right, Skyler Cheyne, Gabby Dela Cruz, and Julien Chrusch each take their turns to received their diplomas during Monday's graduation ceremony. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Planning for tomorrow

Proud day for young JPII Collegiate grads

Jun 28, 2021 | 3:29 PM

It was a proud and exciting day for many John Paul II Collegiate graduates in North Battleford Monday.

The youth took turns posing for pictures after receiving their diplomas and filed into the facility one at a time with their families to meet COVID-19 protocols.

New grad Gabby Dela Cruz says she has long-term plans for a career in software engineering.

“I feel really good, I’m really excited for what the future holds,” she said.

The honours-standing grad says she plans to study computer software technology at Saskatchewan Polytechnic next.

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Dela Cruz says even though it has been a difficult year for everyone, she managed to keep on track.

“I’ve been trying to stay motivated throughout everything because in the long run, I know it is going to be good for me,” she said.

Little Pine First Nation Chief Wayne Semaganis attended to see his son Julien Chrusch graduate.

Semaganis says he is glad the youth are able to celebrate their achievements, despite the challenges of the pandemic this year.

“We still have to hang on to the positives in life, and ensure that our youth remember all the hard work, and everything that was done to get them to this day,” he said.

Chrusch says he will take the summer off to work, now that he is done. He is considering attending North West College in the fall to study plumbing and pipefitting, as he has an interest in the trades. Most of all, Chrusch is just happy to be receiving his high school diploma now.

“It feels good to graduate today,” he said. “I feel [a weight] lifted off my shoulders, as I take the next chapter of my life.”

Skyler Cheyne plans to pursue a business certificate at North West College, and after that is considering going to the University of Saskatchewan to major in business.

“That’s what best interests me, and I want to follow that path,” he said.

While it was a different graduation experience this year without the traditional celebration of proms and dances, Cheyne is still happy to be finishing high school.

“I’m kind of disappointed but at the same time, it’s always pretty great. I still graduated and got my diploma,” he said.

JPII Collegiate co-principal Bruce Yockey says there are 92 grads in total this spring receiving their diplomas over two days at the school. Graduates also received any awards they won along with their diplomas. Yockey thanks the business community for continuing to support the graduates.

He says the grads are moving on to a variety of new experiences ahead.

“Many of them are going to our Saskatchewan universities – U of R (University of Regina), U of S (University of Saskatchewan). We have some people that are travelling out East, into Ontario and Quebec universities… A number of students are going into the trades,” he said.

Yockey said, for other kids, now that they have reached this milestone, they are still deciding on mapping out a career path for their future.

“First and foremost, we are just so proud of this class this year that they have persevered and got to this day. That’s what it’s all about,” Yockey said.

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow