École Olds High School cap and gown ceremony May 24 featured a major announcement.
The school's first-ever valedictorian scholarship, named after 2014 valedictorian Mitchell Ormann will be presented during the school's fall awards evening to this year's valedictorian, Rexelle Asis.
Ormann, an engineering student, passed away last fall.
In addition to being the 2014 valedictorian, he was awarded the Governor General’s Academic Medal, did well in several sports, including setting a lifetime achievement of 94 Olds Rapids Swim Club records. He was also admired for his skills playing the piano.
"We're honoured to carry on his name, which represents so much to Olds High School. And what a great first recipient of it, so congratulations," principal Tom Christensen said to loud applause.
He also paid tribute to Mitchell's mother, Lisa, who attended Friday's ceremony.
"I remember five years ago her being here as the parent of the valedictorian, and it just means a lot for you to be here, Lisa," he said.
Christensen told the Albertan that 128 students graduated this past weekend, down a bit from the average of around 130. However, he said that class was relatively small all the way through high school.
During his address to the grads, Christensen congratulated the graduates and their families and friends for all the hard work that enabled them to get to this point.
"The hard work you've put in, the challenges you've faced, the success you've now found. We're all so proud of you. You make us very happy," he said.
Teacher Brad Clapp introduced Asis by noting to be chosen valedictorian, a student must have the highest average in their graduating class. Asis went one step further by scoring 100 per cent on the Math 30 provincial diploma exam. That announcement sparked cheers and sustained applause.
"This is an unbelievable feat of freakish skill," Clapp said, spurring laughter. "For most of us mere mortals, math is either uncomfortable or downright painful. Achieving a perfect score is most definitely an avenger's superpower or a Jedi mind trick."
Clapp noted Asis and his family moved about 11,000 kilometres from the Philippines to Canada when he was in Grade 4 and to Olds when he was in Grade 7 "so it amazes me that he is one of my top English students.
"I know that there are more than a few grads down there who wonder just how his second language has surpassed their first," he said.
Asis is also a very accomplished and enthusiastic musician who composes his own music in his spare time.
During his address, Asis advised his classmates to "please take care of yourself."
"I know all of us have dreams, aspirations. And sometimes it feels like if we don't keep running, we'll be swallowed whole. But if we don't take care of ourselves — physically, mentally and spiritually — those goals will never be attained," he said.
