The 2023 Northlands College Adult Basic Education graduating class. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

ceremony

Northlands College celebrates ABE grads

May 31, 2023 | 2:49 PM

Seventeen Adult Basic Education students become graduates on Wednesday at a diploma ceremony hosted by Northlands College.

The ceremony occurred at Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre and it included dignitaries such as Athabasca MLA Jim Lemaigre, Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette, Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski and Métis Nation Saskatchewan regional director Laura Burnouf.

In his opening addressing, Northlands President and CEO Karsten Henriksen told those in attendance that this group of Adult Basic Education graduates were unique.

“Many of you do not know this, but as we prepared to enter our Northlands College Year of Transformation, we were actually watching, listening and seeing what your experience was and, as a result of your work and your leadership, we began to transform the college to make the college stronger for learners to come,” he said.

“Learners are joining us today from across northern Saskatchewan to participate in this celebration, which is really a celebration of your journey. Your journey and your own transformation. I want you to acknowledge that you on a daily basis have an impact on not only your own life, but the life of your family members and the lives in your community.”

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Karsten mentioned while the ceremony was about celebrating the graduates, it’s also about the impact of each of their families had. He noted it is also a day to celebrate the work of the college’s staff and faculty for supporting them up to this point.

This year’s Adult Basic Education graduates are Tammy Lynn Ballantyne, Jeffrey Bell, Connie Brooks, Mathew Nagy-Charles, Ricky Charles, Jamie Halkett, Ruby Halkett, Samantha Iron and George Laban.

Darla Mercredi, Krista Roberts, Joshua Roberts, Chesna Sewap, Scott Shiel, Jayson Tremblay, Susan Venne and Kimberly Woodward.

This year’s Adult Basic Education valedictorian was George Laban.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno