Graduates, family, friends, community members and Education Department staff gathered at the New Community Hall on Thursday, August 1st from 3-6pm, to celebrate and acknowledge Sagamok’s graduating class of 2024 from Secondary School, ISETS, College and University programs. The afternoon was humid and sunny, with a welcome breath of a breeze.Grad themed hand-held fans provided relief to ceremony attendees. Kudos to the catering staff who put together a wonderful turkey and ham supper in the heat! Miigwetch; it was tasty. Thank you to those who contributed to the beautiful decorations and table settings for this special event.
The smiling, eager, confident, and proud faces of each graduate present gave the real indication of their successful academic achievements in higher education. The workload, struggles, personal growth and adaptability, as well as perseverance, resilience, dedication, and pride of accomplishment were sentiments echoed throughout the afternoon.
We celebrate 69 graduates from the community of Sagamok Anishnawbek in the 2023-2024 class! The ceremony was held to honour each of them for their achievements, and was done so with prayer, drumming, announcement of award recipients and their education achievement by a master of ceremony, inspirational speeches from keynote speakers, and a full-course traditional meal. The Young Warriors drummed the Honor Song as the graduate procession took place, with each graduate’s name being announced as they entered the hall. Numerous awards and sponsored gifts were presented by Sagamok Education Department Staff.
Completing higher education and earning a diploma or degree is a huge accomplishment. Those present at the ceremony were proud to honour these achievements and celebrate the successes of the graduates. Gimaamiikwenamigo, congratulations to each graduate! Congratulations also to all community members who were involved in these successes—"it takes a village” as the saying goes, and it is necessary to acknowledge that everyone plays a part in these important stories of success. Chi miigwech everyone and thank you Creator. May we continue to support these graduates as they spread their wings and pursue careers in their specialized fields. Their contributions to community and new roles are beginning anew, but the love, support and encouragement evident in our celebration will continue to propel them forward to live out their dreams. Wishing everyone all the best on their future paths.
