Prairie Hope grads celebrate milestone

A class of 54 graduates walked across the stage, smiled to their families and hugged their principal as part of Prairie Hope High School’s Class of 2025 on Thursday afternoon.

Graduates draped in blue and white sat in front of friends, family and school staff at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium to receive their diplomas.

“You should all feel great — there’s so much pride you should feel in your hearts for yourself as you did it,” said graduate Tord while addressing the class.

“You leave this building today knowing that you’re done,” Tord said. “You did it, and you did it all by yourself.”

Another graduate said coming to Prairie Hope was scary, but definitely the right choice.

“When I first started, I wasn’t sure how it all worked. It was a new place and it was a little bit scary,” Kendra Nelson told the crowd. “Once I started to come regularly, then I started to see all the reasons to be here.”

Prairie Hope High School provides an alternative to what regular programming might look like in a traditional high school. Students set their own pace and there is more flexibility than a regular high school.

Principal Katherine MacFarlane said it was a great day that showed how much hard work every graduate had put in.

“It’s a special day, and we are all so happy for you,” MacFarlane said. “You have all amazed me in different ways.”

MacFarlane said it’s important for the graduates to look back and see how far they’ve come.

“I urge you to reflect on the journey that brought you here today,” she said. “Reflect on your identity and what is important to you.”

The ceremony featured poems by two graduating students and a live performance of OneRepublic’s “I Lived” by staff, who invited students to join them on stage.

Students from the school plan on different futures going forward. One student said she’s going to Assiniboine College for nursing.

“I want my dream to become true,” Best Kemigisa said. “I’m so happy.”

Another student said she’s planning on going to England to visit family and “spread my wings.”

“Just get out of Brandon, go see the world and just experience life a little bit more,” Sara Leslie said.

She said she doesn’t feel like the graduation has fully set in her mind.

“I don’t think it’s actually hit me yet,” she said. “I kind of graduated scraping over the line, but I’m over the moon.

“I haven’t cried yet, but I can feel that emotion. I’ve come a long way, and I’m just really proud of myself.”

She said going to Prairie Hope was a great decision.

“I love Prairie Hope. They’re so accepting and understanding, and you can take it at a pace that you need to take it at.”

Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson offered graduates a piece of advice going forward, saying doing the little things right will help the most.

“Kindness is contagious. When you do something kind, even something small, it will boost our happiness and well-being,” Gustafson said.

”These moments may seem small, but they are powerful,” he said.

“Don’t underestimate the power of your everyday actions. You are stepping into a world that needs your ideas, your energy and your empathy.”

BSD board of trustees chair Linda Ross said achieving this milestone is amazing, and the people receiving diplomas should feel great about what they have accomplished.

“It’s particularly commendable as many of you have encountered all sorts of challenges along the way that you had to overcome in order to complete your high school education.”

She said having the diploma will open up opportunities that weren’t available before.

“In addition to everything that you have learned academically over the years, I sincerely hope that you are leaving with other important things … Great memories and lasting friendships,” Ross said.

» alambert@brandonsun.com