JPII graduates, Kezi Albert and Dominic LaRose pose for a picture prior to walking the stage on graduation day. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

The next chapter

JPII Collegiate celebrates graduation day

Jun 29, 2022 | 6:56 PM

It was a day the senior class of 2022 has had circled on the calendar for some time, as John Paul II Collegiate celebrated graduation day, Wednesday.

Always the biggest benchmark of the school year, this year held an added air of excitement as well, marking the high school’s first full graduation ceremony with a gymnasium of families and friends in attendance in three years.

Principal at JPII, Bruce Yockey said the return to a full ceremony brought an added energy to an already special day.

“It’s the culmination of our year every year and it’s a special one this year as the first time we’ve been able to have a full graduation ceremony since 2019, so we’re excited and it’s been an awesome day,” Yockey said. “It’s just an awesome way to end off the year.”

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Following mass at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in the morning, the students took the stage in cap and gown in the afternoon, to receive their awards and diplomas.

Valedictorian for the class of 2022, Genesis Ocampo said it meant a lot to be able to share the day with friends and family.

“It’s probably the last time I’ll see a lot of [classmates], and when I just look at them and see everyone smiling and laughing, it just reminds me of all the years,” Ocampo said. “It’s a lot of emotions, but I’m more than grateful for the opportunity as valedictorian and I’m just really proud of everybody.”

For Cody Lindquist, it’s the little things, like the hours spent playing ping pong in the school survery with friends that stand out most, as he looks back at a whirlwind last four years.

“It just feels pretty surreal; everything flew by pretty quick,” Lindquist said with a laugh. “We had COVID kind of shut things down for a bit, so the years went by faster, but for most of my friends we all grew up together so now, all here in these cap and gowns, I’m just glad we’re all doing this together.”

Lexea Fauth said while she enjoyed her time in high school, she’s looking forward to the journey ahead and what comes next, following graduation day.

“I’m really excited to move on to a new chapter, and to see where everybody goes and what they do after this,” Fauth said with a smile. “Every high school experience is going to be different, and I’m glad I chose to come here,” she said.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1