Centennial graduating class encouraged to 'Just be there'

Deciding not to go the way of "uplifting and inspirational quotes that focus on the future," Ben Misener, the valedictorian for Olds College's 97th convocation, instead encouraged his 713 follow graduates to remember the special time they spent at the school.

"I want to relish what we had here at Olds College. I wanted my speech to be genuine and from the heart and it wasn't hard to do considering the supporting cast I had. I can honestly say that I enjoyed learning and working with each and every one of you," he said in his address. "Never forget this place: the early classes, the all-nighters, energy drinks and coffee, group projects, exams, the tough instructors who really just want the best from you and the instructors you could go to just to chat about life. Remember the Crossing, residence, the barns and the beautiful gardens. Think back on how labs weren't always in a lab and how field trips meant you actually went out in a field."

The college's graduating class of 2013, flanked by hundreds of parents, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands and friends at the Ralph Klein Centre on June 1, listened to Misener with an eagerness on their faces to start the next steps in their lives.

Recalling the first classes at the school of 65 boys in 1913 and 39 girls in 1914, Misener also pointed out to the sea of graduates adorned in black and gold that they were "lucky" to be graduating from the college during its centennial year.

And, he said, the college was lucky to have them.

"At the end of the day, it's all about the student. Because without you, there is no Olds College."

To wrap up, Misener thanked his fellow graduates for making his experience at the school what it was.

"The diploma you will receive when you walk across the stage doesn't quite capture our time here. Thank you, everyone, for creating the stories behind that piece of paper."

Along with the parade of students walking across the stage to receive their diplomas and certificates in programs such as agricultural management, animal health technology and farrier science, the college bestowed five honourary degrees.

Irma and Roy Wilson, who met and fell in love at the school and graduated in 1951, were honoured in the Alumni category and were recognized for donating more than $300,000 to the college; Allan Neurauter, who has provided horses to the school's equine program for 14 years—including the stallion that was killed at the school in September— was honoured in the Industry category; William Quinney, who is a past-chair of the college's board of governors and currently serves as chair of the centennial governance committee, was honoured in the Volunteer category and entrepreneur W. Brett Wilson, who advised the graduates to live their lives by making good choices, was honoured as a Champion of the college.

The most emotional moment of the graduation ceremony was when the parents of Cody Ghostkeeper, who was killed when he was hit by a train in April at a crossing in downtown Olds, accepted his environmental horticulture diploma.

The entire gathering of more than 1,000 people rose to their feet to honour Ghostkeeper's family in a standing ovation that lasted for more than a minute.

Dr. Tom Thompson, the college's president, brought the ceremony to a close when he shared the story of a basketball player he used to coach who, despite only standing six-foot-five, led the nation in scoring and rebounding for five consecutive years.

After his final university basketball game, a reporter asked the player, who Thompson described as a man who "led by example, not by his mouth,"

what his secret was.

"He said, 'Um, um, just be there'," Thompson said.

He added that when the reporter said that answer wasn't "profound," the player responded, "'That was my job. I was told when the shot goes up, go to the broken line, every time. Not once in a while. Every time. And put your hands above your shoulders and stay focused on that ball.' He said, 'So, I felt that that was my job, that was what I owed my teammates. There's no secret,' he said. 'Just be there'."

Such a philosophy was Thompson's advice to the graduates as they go into the world.

"When you're needed by those folks, and those folks and the person sitting next to you and the person that you're going to meet in the workplace or to share the rest of your life with, when you are needed, be there."

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