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"There's no destination in life. There’s no getting anywhere. There’s just the going. The key to life is to make the going really fun."

That was one of several quotes sprinkled throughout the valedictory address given by Willie LeGrand as he spoke to the graduating class of 2011 at Kincardine District Secondary School commencement Friday night.

Valedictorian Willie LeGrand

Using a good mixture of humour, solid quotes and depth of message, Willie urged his fellow graduates to live life to its fullest potential, not dwelling on the past or fearing the future.

"While it is sad that this may be our last gathering as a class, we must embrace this change for it is not the end, it is the beginning," he said. "High school is often said to be the best time of your life, but I can’t help but disagree. We still haveour entire life ahead of us. For our life to reach its peak now would be tragic."

Having quoted Ferris Bueller, Malcolm X and William Shakespeare in his speech, Willie stated he was not "burying the lead here ... But before you ask and interrupt me, I should clarify that there won't be any quotes from Ghandi, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King or Mr. (Watson) Morris (KDSS teacher)."

He admitted he was at a bit of a loss as to why he was chosen to be valedictorian, having little to no participation in athletics, clubs, spirit days, and somewhat above-average academic achievement.

The only reason he figured his classmates voted him as valedictorian is because the speech would be funny. However, he actually noted some strong opinion about the expectations people face in high school. Sometimes these expectations are crushing and overwhelming, and more often than not, students are led to believe high school is some kind of fairy tale, when the reality is drastically different.

We can sit in judgement of others or we can realize that we are all people whose circumstances in life have brought us to where we are now, he said. "Recognizing this is called empathy. The more you develop this skill, the happier you, and those around you, will be."

He noted that in Ontario there is an 81-per-cent success rate for high school students graduating. "To some of you, this may be a bigger deal than others. Some of you might really not care about it at all. But you should be proud that you made that 81 per cent. This means you accomplished something that some people never will."

At this point, he referred to a quote by comedian Patton Oswalt: “It took me until my 40s to realize it: There’s no destination. There’s no getting anywhere. There’s just the going. Thekey to life is to make the going really fun.”

Willie hoped everyone had as good a time at KDSS as he did. "I will miss you all ... well, as much as a person can these days with Facebook and such.

"Good night, good luck, and in the words of Jim Henson: Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life, enjoy it."

Bluewater District School Board trustee Jan Johnstone

Along with the graduation diplomas, the following awards were presented:

D.P. Arscott student leadership scholarship, Jessilyn Wolfe

Bank of Montreal award for academic excellence, Katelyn McCallum

Bervie Construction award, sponsored by Wayne and Jean Anne Taylor to a deserving student from the Bervie Construction program, Matt Baker and Terry Fox

Beta Sigma Phi (Epsilon/Alpha chapter) award for excellence in a co-op program, Jenna Rees

Beta Sigma Phi (Xi/Zeta/Gamma chapters) award for making a significant contribution to the school, Cynthia Wickert

Bruce County Federation of Agriculture award for a student who is working or studying in the field of agriculture, Alex Prehn

Bruce Peninsula Art Show bursary for talented artists who display their work at the Civic Holiday Show, Jennifer Taylor

Bruce Power award for a student going into a technical or business program who demonstrated leadership and contributed to the school and community, Cale Peister

Bruce Power award for a female student entering skill trades or technologies, Amber McDonald

Canadian Federation of University Women award for high academic achievement and personal determination, Brianne Husk

Canadian Federation of University Women award for a mature student who completed graduation diploma, Jessica Gallant

Compass Group School Dining award for a student who has overcome some personal or academic challenges on the way to graduation, Marisa Almas

Bruce County agricultural scholarship, Madison Prehn

Dr. A.E.H. Couch bursaries for graduates entering medical field or biological sciences, Caden Allingham and Stephanie Thompson

Davey-Linklater Funeral Home bursary for student entering funeral service or health sciences program, Wesley Elmes

Audrey and Lester Ferguson award for student further his/her studies in social sciences, Bobbi-Jo Weber

Grant Helm scholarships for high-ranking student who has lived in Kincardine Township, Bruce Township or Tiverton for at least 10 years, J.D. Brown and Chris Weber

Kincardine Community Medical Clinic physicians group award for high-achieving students entering the medical field, Justine Watson

South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Kincardine, Auxiliary bursary for student pursing program allied to the medical field, Maica Glipo

KDSS athletic council award for student who participated in a variety of sports and promoted school spirit, Carly Schmidt

KDSS Certificates of Excellence in academics, athletic and extra-curricular activities, Lia Cavasotto, Deanna Gleeson, Amanda P. Smith, Jennifer Taylor, and Jessilyn Wolfe

KDSS Graduating Class of 1986-87 award for a graduate who overcame challenges along the way to graduation, Travis Harquail

KDSS Home and School Association award, Dayna Musselman

Kincardine and District Horticultural Society award for a student entering horticultural or related field, Danielle MacKinnon

KDSS participation award for a developmental learning student who has participated in a variety of activities, Myles Campbell and David Schell

KDSS Students' Council activity award, Anna McFarlan and Dylan Neilipovitz

Kincardine inclusiveness and diversity award, Amanda P. Smith

Kincardine Optimists - Friends of Youth award for students entering a helping profession or who did community work with children and youth, Molly MacLennan

Kincardine Summer Music Festival award, Amber Lang

Frederick Kirby Social Responsibility scholarship for a student attending a post-secondary institution who has demonstrated an attitude of respect for the human dignity of all people and participated in groups that seek to change the world, Kanza Saleem

Alexander McKenzie award to a male student with the highest graduating average of those residing in one of the three northern townships of Huron County or three southern of Bruce, Ethan Winterburn

Don and Irene MacKenzie award for a student who has resided in Huron Township, maintained academic standing and participated in school life, Brandon Twolan

MacKinnon academic awards for excellence in English, social sciences, Canadian and world studies, math and science, Brandon Finney and Willie LeGrand

Janice Matchett Financial Services business scholarship, Jenny Madic

Matheson-Pioneers memorial scholarship for high academic standing and furthering studies at university, Deanna Gleeson

Don and Doris Milne scholarship for maintaining high academic standing while contributing to the school, the community or both, Lia Cavasotto

Mohindra Family award of excellence in the area of science and mathematics, Holly Xu

A.E. Nelson scholarship for high-ranking student pursing a career in teaching, Samantha Bianco

Northern Light Lodge No. 93 bursary, Aaron Lewis

Ontario Power Generation award for a student entering a technological program at college or university, Sven Wehrmann

No. 253 Order of the Eastern Star award, Paul Williams

Point Clark Kinsman bursary for a student who resides in Point Clark or Huron-Kinloss and is attending a post-secondary institution, Cody Dewar

Sauble Lodge No. 227, IOOF Tara bursary, Kurtis Guerette and Julie Madic

Principal's leadership award, Janelle Taylor

Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top scholarships, Marisa Almas, Katelyn McCallum, Anna McFarlan, Alanna McKay, Cale Peister, Brian Roppel, Sven Wehrmann, Paul Williams, Holly Xu and David Yun

Leslie D. Ray scholarships for the top four graduates proceeding to university, David Yun (96.7% average), Chris Weber (96.5% average), Holly Xu (95.7% average), Brandon Finney (94.5% average)

Retired Teachers of Ontario Community Service award for a student who contributes to the school and community, Chris Potter

Ripley Legion Ladies' Auxiliary award for a student continuing his/her education and has resided in Huron Township or Ripley, Lauren Scott

Ripley Shipping Association award for a student entering post-secondary education related to agriculture, Spencer Harris

Rotary Business award, Mike Adair and Keith Purves

Shoreline Conservationists & Wild Turkey Association award for a student pursuing a program in the environmental field, Jared Purves

Toni Thielman award - in memory of Thielman who taught at KDSS and died October, 2009 - to a student with an adventurous spirit who has a passion for words, Amber O'Brien

Valedictorian award – Willie LeGrand

Victoria Park Gallery award for graduates who are pursuing careers in the field of art or technology, Dylan Evans, Brian Roppel, Emily Strachan and Jennifer Taylor

West Wawanosh agricultural award, Alanna McKay

John Forrester memorial award - in memory of John who died in the summer of 2007 before having a chance to follow his dream of attending Canadore College, Wade Armstrong

Governor General's academic medal for the student with the highest average in his/her graduating year, David Yun

The following students were Ontario Scholars:

Mike Adair, Kerri Adams, Marisa Almas, Wade Armstrong, Robin Ashley, Easton Battler, Taite Bell, Cayley Bellan, Kent Bernath, Phil Bernath, Samantha Bianco, J.D. Brown, Jessica Brown, Lia Cavasotto, Andrew Cormier, Connor Coultrup, Dan Cunliffe, Alexandria Dacosta-Webster, Rebecca Dadson, Colt Dellandrea, Cody Dewar, Ashley Dickson, Bruce Eisen, Karsen Ellis, Dylan Evans, Mitch Finlayson, Brandon Finney, Robbie Fitzsimmons, Shane Ford, Deanna Gleeson, Maica Glipo, Adam Grubb, Kurtis Guerette, James Hardman, Spencer Harris, Brooke Hoover, Brianna Husk, Michael Iharosy, Tom Irwin, Emily Jolley, Marissa Jolley, Heather Kotva, Amber Lang, Willie LeGrand, Ira Lehtovaara, Cailin MacKay, Brooke MacKenzie, Danielle MacKinnon, Molly MacLennan, Julie Madic, Bradley Mangotich, Matthew Mawhinney, Katelyn McCallum, Jeffrey McFadyen, Anna McFarlan, Alanna McKay, Adam Melick, Alex Morariu, Dayna Musselman, Dylan Neilipovitz, Lainey Ogilvie, Ashley Orr, Matthew Osadca, Matt Pagnan, Cale Peister, Traci Phillips, Christopher Pickard, Chris Potter, Jared Purves, Keith Purves, Brittany Quipp, Sumeet Randhawa, Lauren Reay, Jenna Rees, Michael Reid, Miles Reid, Cody Ribbink, Brian Roppel, Cathleen Roppel, Kanza Saleem, Carly Schmidt, Nathan Schut, Lauren Scott, Jacob Siekierski, Amanda P. Smith, Jordan Springer, Michael Stanley, Alli Taylor, Janelle Taylor, Jennifer Taylor, Stephanie Thompson, Lydia Treidlinger, Brandon Twolan, R.J. Walker, Jamie Waring, Justine Watson, Dallas Watterworth, Bobbi-Jo Weber, Sven Wehrmann, Cynthia Wickert, Paul Williams, Jessilyn Wolfe, Holly Xu, Kelsey Young.

Jan Johnstone (L) presents the Leslie D. Ray scholarships to David Yun, Chris Weber and Holly Xu; absent is Brandon Finney

Bill McLaughlin (L) presents the Retired Teachers' of Ontario Community Service award to Chris Potter

Paul Rigby (L) presents the Rotary Business award to Mike Adair; absent is Keith Purves

Peter Wolfe (L) presents the Valedictorian award to Willie LeGrand

Kathie Hackney (L) presents a Grade 12 graduation diploma to Rebecca Dadson

Natalie Potter (L) and Christiane Ritter perform prior to the commencement ceremony

Sandy Conrad presents a certificate to David Yun; the certificate came by special "owl," in recognition of David forming the Harry Potter Club at KDSS

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Sunday, October 09, 2011