Massey sends off record number of grads

Vincent Massey High School celebrated its largest graduating class in history on Monday afternoon at Westoba Place.

About 276 of this year’s 288 grads walked on to the stage, cheered on by a half-full arena of proud family members and friends, flowers in hand, ready to congratulate the Class of 2025.

The ceremony marked an important transition for graduates into the next phase of their lives, said principal Kurt Hunter.

“This is just a stepping stone,” Hunter told the Sun. “Whether you’re going into post-secondary, athletics, travel, the arts, or are still figuring it out, you’ve built a foundation here. Now it’s up to you to decide what you do with the rest of your life.”

Hunter described the Class of 2025 as a special one, not just because of its historic size, but because of the resilience and character they showed during a uniquely challenging high school journey.

“This is the biggest grad class we’ve ever had,” he added. “Fifty-five more than last year. It speaks to growth in our city, but also to the strength of this group.”

The challenges and triumphs of the past four years were captured by valedictorian Newman Chikwado, whose speech earned emotional applause and laughter from his peers.

“This isn’t just another day, it’s D-Day,” Chikwado said, reflecting on the journey that began in Grade 9 amid COVID-19 restrictions. “We walked into high school masked up and spaced out, not just physically, but emotionally.”

He painted a vivid picture of hallway arrows, isolation and online classes in pyjama pants before the students gradually returned to in-person learning, trying to remember how to socialize and function “without using emojis.”

“We battled isolation, burnouts and blue project partners who disappeared,” he said to laughter from the crowd. “But through it all, we made it together.”

Chikwado thanked the teachers for teaching “resilience, patience and how to chase excellence,” and gave a heartfelt shoutout to parents who “survived four years of teenage chaos,” including panicked midnight assignment emergencies and last-minute rides in freezing weather.

In closing, he urged his classmates to chase their dreams, not fears, and to let setbacks be the reason they rise.

“This isn’t the end of something,” he said. “It is the beginning of everything.”

Among the graduates was Martin Riquelme, who received the prestigious Governor General’s Academic Medal for having the highest academic standing.

“I feel excited,” he told the Sun. “It’s a recognition of the work I’ve put in over the last four years.”

He plans to study neuroscience at the University of Calgary and is considering a career in the field of medicine.

Hunter pointed out that future grad classes will be just as large, if not larger, due to Brandon’s growing population.

“Each school in the Brandon School Division offers something unique,” the principal said. “But at Vincent Massey, there’s a little bit of everything — advanced placement, business, arts, sciences, trades. There’s something for every student.”

The afternoon concluded with a tradition: students moved their tassels from right to left as Hunter officially pronounced them graduates.

“On behalf of Vincent Massey High School, the Brandon School Division and the Province of Manitoba,” he declared, “I proudly present to you the graduating class of 2025.”

As the class tossed their caps in the air, the arena filled with cheers, not just for academic success, Riquelme said, “but for a future filled with promise.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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