OXFORD - They began as Oxford Regional High School students but left as the first graduates of the Oxford Regional Education Centre.
For 42 students, Monday night's graduation ceremony held that special symbolism.
Chosen by his peers, Valedictorian Ryan Brookins reminisced about the old school, having only been in the new education centre since January.
"As we as students changed with age, the building of ORHS did the same," he read after 40 of the graduating students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. Two graduated in absentia.
"Sadly, we've changed in very different ways. We began to grow up, and the poor building began to fall down. I really don't know how we managed to find enough buckets and garbage cans to catch all the drops of water seeping through the ceiling."
With the opening of the new school, Brookins said it was almost uncomfortable for the students, who seemed to want the familiarity of their old school - complete with full-length lockers - back.
But although they may have wanted to go back to the old, Brookins said he and his classmates were proud to be the first graduating class of OREC.
"We've only been able to spend a mere few months inside these walls, but there are definitely great memories that will stay with us forever," he said while looking to his classmates.
"Though it's been somewhat of a struggle for nearly all of us, we made it guys. Be proud of yourselves."
The evening got underway fairly quickly, with students receiving their diplomas immediately after principal Judy Davis welcomed everyone.
When it came time for the awards presentation, there were four students that receive major honours.
Isaac Fresia was given the Governor General Award for having the highest average based on all classes in both grades 11 and 12. He was also awarded the Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary ($200), Friday Nigh Jam Sessions (held at Capitol Theatre) award ($250), the Nova Scotia Recycles contest award ($1,500), and the Nova Scotia Recycles finalist award ($5,000). In the fall, Fresia's plans are to attend the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and was awarded a $1,500 renewable scholarship totaling $6,000.
Karen Brookins was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Medal for superior achievement through grades 10, 11, and 12 while maintaining an outstanding record in all aspects of school and community life.
She was also handed six additional awards, including the Isabelle Simpson Memorial Bursary ($200), Student Advisory Council Bursary ($250), Friday Night Jam Sessions ($250), IODE Provincial Chapter ($500), Betty Rector Memorial Bursary ($500) and the Town of Oxford award ($500).
She has also been awarded a $1,200 scholarship for Mount St. Vincent University in the fall, renewable over four years.
Megan Purdy received eight awards Monday night, including a Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary ($200), Josh Spence Memorial Bursary ($250), Oxford Home and School Bursary ($250), Cedar Temple #21 Pythian Sisters Memorial Bursary ($300), the Collingwood Fire Department's Gordon Purdy Memorial Bursary ($500), the Oxford and Area Lions Club Bursary ($750), a Community Credit Union Bursary ($1,000) and a Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Widow's Son Lodge #48 ($1,000).
Mike Reid was another big winner, receiving five awards. He received a MacDonald Surveys Bursary for the highest mark in calculus ($100), a Craig's Grocery Bursary for the highest mark in pre-calculus ($200), the Harry and Eileen Oickle Memorial Bursary ($300), the Fred Nix Memorial Bursary ($500) and the Encana award ($2,500 for four years). He's also received the first year Acadia University Excellence Scholarship ($5,045 with a renewable portion totaling $8,795).
Oxford Regional Education Centre graduates, 2010
Robin Atkinson
Blake Best
Josh Best
Cody Black
Evan Black
Matthieu Black (honours)
Andrew Bragg
Karen Brookins (honours)
Ryan Brookins (honours)
Simon Davis
Erin Dorn (honours)
James Ellis (honours)
Rae Farr (honours)
Emily Fenton
Isaac Fresia (honours with distinction)
Kenneth Gilbert
Brooke Gordon
Gregory Gordon
Christine Harrison
Andrew Hicks
Kiersten Hiltz
Zackary Knol (honours)
John Lambert
Jenna MacNutt
Brandon Mattinson
Brett Mattinson
Brittany McLaughlin
Chad McNutt
Kristin Mills
Khoder Mohamad
Daniel Moore
Mandy Oickle (honours with distinction)
Casey Perrin (honours)
Matthew Perrin
Lucas Porter
Megan Purdy (honours)
Michael Reid (honours with distinction)
Samantha Rushton
Liberty Sherman
Cody Stevens
Ryan Wilson
Jillian Wood
Oxford Regional Education Centre award winners, 2010
Matthieu Black - Royal Bank, Amherst
Karen Brookins - Isabelle Simpson Memorial Bursary; Student Advisory Council Bursary; Friday Night Jam Sessions; IODE Provincial Chapter; Betty Rector Memorial Bursary; Town of Oxford; Queen Elizabeth II Medal
Ryan Brookins - Oxford Home and School Bursary
Rae Farr - Royal Canadian Legion Branch #36 Poppy Fund; Josh Spence Memorial Bursary; ORSH All Years' Reunion Bursary
Isaac Fresia - Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary; Friday Night Jam Sessions; Nova Scotia Recycles Contest; Nova Scotia Recycles Contest finalist; Governor General Award
Brooke Gordon - Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship, Widow's Son Lodge #48
Greg Gordon - Student Advisory Council Bursary; Royal Canadian Legion Branch #36 Poppy Fund; Oxford and Area Lions Club Bursary
Christine Harrison - Josh Spence Memorial Bursary; Oxford Pharmasave Bursary; Oxford Volunteer Fire Department
Kiersten Hiltz - OREC Staff Award; Nova Scotia Freemasons Wimburn Lodge #75; Oxford Volunteer Fire Department
Zach Knol - ORHS All Years' Reunion Bursary
Brett Mattinson - Bobby Mattinson Memorial Bursary; MacDonald Surveys Bursary
Mandy Oickle - Aliant Telecom Pioneers; Prince Arthur Boarding House/Louise Oickle Bursary; Cumberland County 4-H Council Award, Oxford Pharmasave Bursary
Megan Purdy - Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary; Josh Spence Memorial Bursary; Oxford Home and School Bursary; Cedar Temple #21 Pythian Sisters Memorial Bursary; Collingwood Fire Department's Gordon Purdy Memorial Bursary; Oxford and Area Lions Club Bursary; Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Widow's Son Lodge #48
Mike Reid - MacDonald Surveys Bursary; Craig's Grocery Bursary; Harry and Eileen Oickle Memorial Bursary; Cedar Temple #21 Pythian Sisters Memorial Bursary; Fred Nix Memorial Bursary; Encana award
Samantha Rushton - Westchester Firefighter's Ladies Auxiliary Bursary
Jillian Wood - Cumberland South Progressive Conservative Association, MLA Murray Scott Bursary; Nova Scotia Teacher's Union, Retired Teachers Organization; Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Wimburn Lodge #75; APSEA Interprovincial School Development Award; Oxford Volunteer Fire Department
OXFORD - They began as Oxford Regional High School students but left as the first graduates of the Oxford Regional Education Centre.
For 42 students, Monday night's graduation ceremony held that special symbolism.
Chosen by his peers, Valedictorian Ryan Brookins reminisced about the old school, having only been in the new education centre since January.
"As we as students changed with age, the building of ORHS did the same," he read after 40 of the graduating students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. Two graduated in absentia.
"Sadly, we've changed in very different ways. We began to grow up, and the poor building began to fall down. I really don't know how we managed to find enough buckets and garbage cans to catch all the drops of water seeping through the ceiling."
With the opening of the new school, Brookins said it was almost uncomfortable for the students, who seemed to want the familiarity of their old school - complete with full-length lockers - back.
But although they may have wanted to go back to the old, Brookins said he and his classmates were proud to be the first graduating class of OREC.
"We've only been able to spend a mere few months inside these walls, but there are definitely great memories that will stay with us forever," he said while looking to his classmates.
"Though it's been somewhat of a struggle for nearly all of us, we made it guys. Be proud of yourselves."
The evening got underway fairly quickly, with students receiving their diplomas immediately after principal Judy Davis welcomed everyone.
When it came time for the awards presentation, there were four students that receive major honours.
Isaac Fresia was given the Governor General Award for having the highest average based on all classes in both grades 11 and 12. He was also awarded the Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary ($200), Friday Nigh Jam Sessions (held at Capitol Theatre) award ($250), the Nova Scotia Recycles contest award ($1,500), and the Nova Scotia Recycles finalist award ($5,000). In the fall, Fresia's plans are to attend the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and was awarded a $1,500 renewable scholarship totaling $6,000.
Karen Brookins was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Medal for superior achievement through grades 10, 11, and 12 while maintaining an outstanding record in all aspects of school and community life.
She was also handed six additional awards, including the Isabelle Simpson Memorial Bursary ($200), Student Advisory Council Bursary ($250), Friday Night Jam Sessions ($250), IODE Provincial Chapter ($500), Betty Rector Memorial Bursary ($500) and the Town of Oxford award ($500).
She has also been awarded a $1,200 scholarship for Mount St. Vincent University in the fall, renewable over four years.
Megan Purdy received eight awards Monday night, including a Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary ($200), Josh Spence Memorial Bursary ($250), Oxford Home and School Bursary ($250), Cedar Temple #21 Pythian Sisters Memorial Bursary ($300), the Collingwood Fire Department's Gordon Purdy Memorial Bursary ($500), the Oxford and Area Lions Club Bursary ($750), a Community Credit Union Bursary ($1,000) and a Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Widow's Son Lodge #48 ($1,000).
Mike Reid was another big winner, receiving five awards. He received a MacDonald Surveys Bursary for the highest mark in calculus ($100), a Craig's Grocery Bursary for the highest mark in pre-calculus ($200), the Harry and Eileen Oickle Memorial Bursary ($300), the Fred Nix Memorial Bursary ($500) and the Encana award ($2,500 for four years). He's also received the first year Acadia University Excellence Scholarship ($5,045 with a renewable portion totaling $8,795).
Oxford Regional Education Centre graduates, 2010
Robin Atkinson
Blake Best
Josh Best
Cody Black
Evan Black
Matthieu Black (honours)
Andrew Bragg
Karen Brookins (honours)
Ryan Brookins (honours)
Simon Davis
Erin Dorn (honours)
James Ellis (honours)
Rae Farr (honours)
Emily Fenton
Isaac Fresia (honours with distinction)
Kenneth Gilbert
Brooke Gordon
Gregory Gordon
Christine Harrison
Andrew Hicks
Kiersten Hiltz
Zackary Knol (honours)
John Lambert
Jenna MacNutt
Brandon Mattinson
Brett Mattinson
Brittany McLaughlin
Chad McNutt
Kristin Mills
Khoder Mohamad
Daniel Moore
Mandy Oickle (honours with distinction)
Casey Perrin (honours)
Matthew Perrin
Lucas Porter
Megan Purdy (honours)
Michael Reid (honours with distinction)
Samantha Rushton
Liberty Sherman
Cody Stevens
Ryan Wilson
Jillian Wood
Oxford Regional Education Centre award winners, 2010
Matthieu Black - Royal Bank, Amherst
Karen Brookins - Isabelle Simpson Memorial Bursary; Student Advisory Council Bursary; Friday Night Jam Sessions; IODE Provincial Chapter; Betty Rector Memorial Bursary; Town of Oxford; Queen Elizabeth II Medal
Ryan Brookins - Oxford Home and School Bursary
Rae Farr - Royal Canadian Legion Branch #36 Poppy Fund; Josh Spence Memorial Bursary; ORSH All Years' Reunion Bursary
Isaac Fresia - Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary; Friday Night Jam Sessions; Nova Scotia Recycles Contest; Nova Scotia Recycles Contest finalist; Governor General Award
Brooke Gordon - Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship, Widow's Son Lodge #48
Greg Gordon - Student Advisory Council Bursary; Royal Canadian Legion Branch #36 Poppy Fund; Oxford and Area Lions Club Bursary
Christine Harrison - Josh Spence Memorial Bursary; Oxford Pharmasave Bursary; Oxford Volunteer Fire Department
Kiersten Hiltz - OREC Staff Award; Nova Scotia Freemasons Wimburn Lodge #75; Oxford Volunteer Fire Department
Zach Knol - ORHS All Years' Reunion Bursary
Brett Mattinson - Bobby Mattinson Memorial Bursary; MacDonald Surveys Bursary
Mandy Oickle - Aliant Telecom Pioneers; Prince Arthur Boarding House/Louise Oickle Bursary; Cumberland County 4-H Council Award, Oxford Pharmasave Bursary
Megan Purdy - Marilyn Thompson CCRSB Board Member Bursary; Josh Spence Memorial Bursary; Oxford Home and School Bursary; Cedar Temple #21 Pythian Sisters Memorial Bursary; Collingwood Fire Department's Gordon Purdy Memorial Bursary; Oxford and Area Lions Club Bursary; Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Widow's Son Lodge #48
Mike Reid - MacDonald Surveys Bursary; Craig's Grocery Bursary; Harry and Eileen Oickle Memorial Bursary; Cedar Temple #21 Pythian Sisters Memorial Bursary; Fred Nix Memorial Bursary; Encana award
Samantha Rushton - Westchester Firefighter's Ladies Auxiliary Bursary
Jillian Wood - Cumberland South Progressive Conservative Association, MLA Murray Scott Bursary; Nova Scotia Teacher's Union, Retired Teachers Organization; Nova Scotia Freemasons Scholarship Wimburn Lodge #75; APSEA Interprovincial School Development Award; Oxford Volunteer Fire Department
