ELMSDALE, P.E.I. — By the time he got to deliver the Westisle Composite High School valedictory address, Luke Dyment was already quite experienced in the role.
He had been valedictorian both in Grade 6 and in Grade 9.
“Yeah, I did complete the hat trick,” Dyment said following Westisle’s graduation celebration Monday night, June 24. “It’s phenomenal to have the streak go that far.”
With 139 graduates, the 2019 class is the smallest in the school’s 39-year history.
Dyment, who built his speech around a “life is a highway” theme, said he appreciates the trust his fellow graduates placed in him to deliver the final words.
“Being valedictorian is not about me; it’s about the whole class and that’s my job - to represent the whole class up there in that position,” he said.
Standing nearby, students' council president Cailin Gaudet revealed that Dyment was the council’s emcee all year.
“He was awesome. My go-to guy,” said Gaudet.
“The years of school, especially at Westisle, have been nothing short of a wild, wild ride,” Dyment said to the packed gymnasium.
He compared high school to a five or six-hour drive in a decent car with an unreal music playlist, and family and friends along for the experience.
“Each and every one of you will do something great,” Dyment said, encouraging his classmates.
“You are now graduates. You have come a long way and you have a long way to go. You kept pushing and pushing and pushing to the truck stop on the highway and have earned a well-deserved rest and celebration.
“Take your time to get prepared and you will be ready to push further and harder in the future.”
As he waited for the line of graduates to move into the gym for Monday’s ceremony, Ethan Oliver said graduation means heading back to school, this time for university.
“I’d say the easy part is over. Now, we’re just getting going,” said Oliver. “High school was a great time; I had the best time of my life.”
Waiting just ahead in the alphabetically arranged line, fellow graduate Jersey Noye said she is looking forward to university too. Both are heading off to UPEI in the fall – but Noye is looking forward to the summer first, for a little break.
Oliver said jumping off the Cascumpec bridge after final exams each June was one of his favourite high school memories. Graduation prom topped Noye's list.
Brynne Perry won several awards, including the Governor General’s Medal for highest ranked student in the college preparatory program and the Principal’s Scholastic Achievement Award.
Getting those awards was a goal, she said, adding she was nervous as the presentations moved towards the final awards of the night.
“I cut other things out of my life so that I could focus more on school.”
Perry is heading to the University of New Brunswick to study kinesiology with the hope of moving on to study medicine.
Whether his streak of valedictory addresses ends at Westisle, or continues on to Kings College where he is enrolling in the journalism program, Dyment just shrugged.
"You never know. Life is a highway.”
WESTISLE HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS – 2019
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1. |
Jared Perry Memorial Award
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2. |
Evangeline-Central Credit Union Darlene Frances Corcoran Memorial Bursary Presented by Robert Corcoran
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3. |
Tignish Co-op Scholarships
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4. |
PEI Command, Royal Canadian Legion Bursary
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5. |
Kevin Gallant Memorial Automotive Award
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6. |
Kevin Gallant Memorial Peer Helping Award
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7. |
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8. |
The Jon Potashnick Memorial Bursary Madison Perry |
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9. |
Shirley Doyle Memorial Bursary. Madison Doucette. |
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10. |
Holland College Awards A. Holland College Transitions Leadership Award valued at $250
C. Holland College Judith A Lund Memorial Award for Early Childhood Educators valued at $500
D. Holland College Leadership and Community Involvement Award valued at $1000
E. Holland College Louis W. MacEachern Bursary for Aspiring Business Leaders valued at $1000
College Partners in Value Student Award
G. Holland College Princess Auto Foundation Entrance Award valued at $1750
H. A $1000 Holland College Partners in Value Student Award AND the Holland College Samuel Entrance Scholarship valued at $3000
I. Holland College President’s Award of Excellence valued up to $5000
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UPEI Scholarships A. Celebrating Student Achievement Awards valued at $500 per year with a potential of $2,000
B. Celebrating Student Achievement Awards valued at $1,000 per year with a potential of $4,000
C. Celebrating Student Achievement Awards valued at $2,000 per year with a potential of $8,000
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Saint Dunstan’s University Awards A. St. Dunstan’s Bursary valued at $600
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UNB Scholarships A. UNB Entrance Scholarship valued at $500 to
B. UNB Entrance Scholarship valued at $1000 to
C. UNB William & Lois Paine Founder’s Scholarship valued at $1500/year with a potential total of $6000
D. UNB Entrance Scholarship valued at $5000/year with a potential of $20,000
E. UNB President’s Scholarship valued at $8000/year with a potential of $32,000
F. The Schulich Leader Scholarship valued at $80,000 over four years
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Keefe Family Memorial Award - Cameron Boyce |
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15. |
The Alan Barbour Memorial “Love of Music” Award - Jayce MacNeil |
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The Jesse Reginald Harper Memorial Scholarship - Hayden Porter |
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The Jennifer Peters Memorial Bursary AND The Freetown Nazarene Community Church Bursary for a student going on into ministry studies, valued at $1,000 - Marshall Wilson |
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The Irma McInnis Memorial Scholarship - Tamara Wedge |
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The Russell Williams Memorial Carpentry Bursary - Shawn MacDonald |
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20. |
Island Oxygen Welding Award - Connor Horne |
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21. |
West Prince Chamber of Commerce Bursary - Chase Gaudette |
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22. |
Alberton Lions Club Bursary - Sarah Hagen |
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23. |
Ellerslie Legion Bursary - Brandi Noye |
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24. |
Slemon Park Corporation Bursary - Dylan Deagle |
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24B. |
College de L’Ile Entrance Scholarship valued at $1000 - Karolyn Coughlin |
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25. |
Community Leadership in Agriculture Award - William Dorgan |
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26. |
Westisle Cosmetology Award - Madison Gallant |
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27. |
Westisle General English Award - Madison Williams |
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28. |
Westisle Student Leadership Award - Cailin Gaudet |
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29. |
Westisle Academic Excellence Awards
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30. |
Westisle Improvement Awards Dylan Campbell
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31. |
O’Leary Farmers Co-op Bursary, AND Westisle Academic Excellence Award
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32. |
West Cape & Norway Wind Energy Bursary, AND Prince County Fisherman’s Association Bursary
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33. |
Reverend Richard Ellsworth Memorial Scholarship, AND a Tignish Legion Bursary
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34. |
CBDC Charlie Sark Memorial Award, AND a Westisle Academic Excellence Award
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35. |
The MacLeod-Pridham-Ellsworth Family Bursary in memory of “Kaylie Alyssa Pridham”, AND a Tignish Legion Bursary
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36. |
A Tignish Credit Union Bursary, AND a Westisle Academic Excellence Award Emma Ellsworth |
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37. |
PEI Road Builders Award, AND a Westisle Academic Excellence Award presented to
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38. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND a Westisle Perseverance Award
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The Jessica Gaudet “Making a Difference” Memorial Award, AND a Westisle Academic Excellence Award
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40. |
The South Shore Fisheries Award, AND a Western Gulf Fisherman’s Association Bursary
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41. |
A Keefe Family Memorial Bursary, AND a Bloomfield Legion Bursary
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42. |
An Ellerslie Legion Bursary, AND a Westisle’s Perseverance Award
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43. |
The PEI Industrial Technology Association, AND Prince Cabinets & Carpentry Award in Memory of Robert Arsenault
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44. |
The Adam Murphy Memorial Award to the top student in the Motor Vehicle Program, AND The NAPA Auto Parts award for Excellence in the Motor Vehicle Program
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45. |
The CBDC West Prince Ventures Limited Bursary, AND a Westisle Academic Excellence Award
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46. |
The O’Leary Town Player’s Bursary, AND a St. Thomas University Achievement Award valued at $1000/year with a potential of $4000
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47. |
The PEI Agri-science Award, AND a Westisle Agri-Science Award
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48. |
The Westisle Advanced Electronics Award, AND The Evangeline ATV Club Bursary, AND A Tignish Legion Bursary
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49. |
The Royal Canadian Air Force Association Bursary, AND The Evangeline/Central Credit Union Bursary, AND The Wilson Family Bursary
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50. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND The Atlanta Perry Memorial Award, AND The Wilson Family Bursary
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51. |
The West Cape & Norway Wind Energy Bursary, AND A Reverend Richard Ellsworth Memorial Scholarship, AND A Tignish Legion Bursary
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52. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND An O’Leary Lions Club Bursary, AND A PEI Mutual Insurance Company Bursary
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53. |
A Westisle PEI History Award, AND The Stewart McKelvey Bursary, AND An O’Leary Legion Bursary
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54. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND A Westisle Perseverance Award, AND The Maximus DeltaWare Systems Computer Science Award
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55. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND A Westisle Perseverance Award, AND A Community Leadership in Agriculture Award
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56. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND A West Prince Chamber of Commerce Bursary, AND An O’Leary Farmer’s Co-op Bursary, AND The Isabelle Campbell Memorial Scholarship
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57. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND A West Prince Arts Council Award, AND The Isabelle Campbell Memorial Scholarship, AND A Kings College Entrance Scholarship valued at $7,250 over four years
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58. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND A Westisle Academic Biology Award, AND The Sheila Phillips Memorial Award, AND A Prince County Fisherman’s Association Bursary
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59. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award, AND A Westisle Contribution to School Life Award, AND The O’Leary Legion Ladies Auxiliary Improvement Award, AND A Reverend Richard Ellsworth Memorial Scholarship, AND A Tignish Credit Union Bursary
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60. |
A Westisle Academic Excellence Award , AND A Westisle Contribution to School Life Award , AND A Westisle French Immersion Language Award, AND An Alberton Lion’s Club Bursary, AND The Amber Morrell Memorial Bursary, AND An O’Leary Legion Bursary, AND A Memorial University Entrance Scholarship valued at $1, 275
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61. |
The Peter Bolo Award for Students Exhibiting Exceptional
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62. |
The Westisle Awards for All-Round Student
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The Canadian Parents for French Immersion, AND The Green Diamond Bursary, AND The Summerside Chrysler Dodge Bursary, AND A Dalhousie Institute of Agriculture Entrance Scholarship valued at $3500/yr with a potential of $14,000, AND
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The Elmsdale Corner Gas Bursary, AND A Bloomfield Legion Bursary, AND The Preston & Helen Murphy Community Service Award “In Memory of Frank Murphy”, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award and tied for 10th Place Standing
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The Westisle French Immersion Sociology Award, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 9th Place Standing
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66. |
The Westisle Leadership 621A Award, AND The Long & McQuade Music Distinction Award, AND An O’Leary Legion Bursary, AND An Evangeline/Central Credit Union Bursary, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 8th Place Standing Kara MacIsaac |
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A Western Gulf Fisherman’s Association Bursary, AND A Tignish Credit Union Bursary, AND A Memorial University National Entrance Scholarship valued at $2550 A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 7th Place Standing Abby Hackett |
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The Westisle Reg Gaudet Advanced Mathematics Award, AND The Westisle Calculus Award, AND The Cecil Dennis Memorial Bursary, AND An Acadia University Entrance Scholarship valued at $2000, AND An Acadia University Renewable Scholarship valued at $2000/yr with a potential of $8000, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 6th Place Standing
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69 |
A Westisle Contribution to School Life Award, AND A Westisle Academic Mathematics Award, AND A Westisle Academic English Award, AND The College of Piping Post-Secondary Scholarship, AND The Canadian Women in Municipal Government Bursary, AND A National finalist for the Loran Scholarship valued at $5000, AND The Queen’s University Chancellor’s Scholarship valued at $9000/yr with a potential of $36,000, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 5th Place Standing
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A Westisle Academic Mathematics Award, AND A Westisle Music Excellence Award, AND The O’Leary Pharmacy-PharmaChoice Bursary, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 4th Place Standing
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71 |
A Westisle Academic Physics Award, AND An award for a Deserving Student Pursuing a Degree in Science, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award with 3rd Place Standing Anna Herget |
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72 |
A Westisle Accounting Award, AND A Westisle Canadian History Award, AND A Westisle Reg Gaudet Advanced Mathematics Award, AND A Westisle Contribution to School Life Award, AND The Natalie Shea Memorial Bursary, AND An Ellerslie Legion Bursary, AND An Evageline-Central Credit Union Bursary, AND The Robert & Debra Little Kings College Scholarship valued at $5000/yr with a potential of $20,000, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award and tied for 2nd Place Standing
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A Westisle Academic Chemistry Award, AND The PEIHA Jim Sterling Scholastic Scholarship, AND An Evangeline- Central Credit Union Bursary, AND A Westisle Academic Excellence Award and tied for 2nd Place Standing
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The Westisle AP Biology Award, AND The Westisle Francis W. J. Bolger Geography 621A Award, AND The BioVectra Award for AP Chemistry, AND A South Shore Fisheries Award, AND A Tignish Legion Bursary, AND A Hockey PEI Scholastic Award, AND The Westisle Principal’s Scholastic Achievement Award, AND
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Westisle Composite High School Class of 2019
Junior Adams
Brandon Arsenault
Cassidy Arsenault
Reece Arsenault
Savannah Arsenault
Madelyn Aylward
Talynn Banks
Madison Barlow
Olivia Batten
Philip Benard
Cameron Boyce
Morgan Brennan
Danielle Bryanton
Colton Bulger
Chandler Buote
Jackson Burden
Emmalee Butler
Megan Butler
Carter Cahill
Dylan Campbell
Ryan Campbell
Taylor Campbell
Morgan Caseley
Tristan Chaisson
Crystal Clements
Makayla Costain
Karolyn Coughlin
Sean D’Amato
Logan Dawson
Dylan Deagle
Dalton DesRoche
Monica DesRoche
Kelby DesRoches
Logan DesRoches
William Dorgan
Jenna Doucette
Madison Doucette
Hanna Doyle
James Doyle
Matthew Doyle
Luke Dyment
Maggie Eldershaw
Lauren Ellis
Emma Ellsworth
Jolene Ellsworth
Mikayla Ellsworth
Carson Fennessey
Alecia Gallant
Breanna Gallant
Brodie Gallant
Cole Gallant
Drake Gallant
Haley Gallant
Madison Gallant
Jamie Gamble
Bailey Gaudet
Cailin Gaudet
Jayden Gaudet
Ryan Gaudet
Sherrise Gaudet
Chase Gaudette
Olivia Gavin
Grainne Gilks
Cassie Gillis
Ashton Grigg
Abby Hackett
Sarah Hagen
Gracyn Handrahan
McGuire Handrahan
Chandler Harper
Anna Herget
Nick Hoben
Jacob Hogan
Connor Horne
Eryn Hustler
Talia Jesso
Benjamin Kinch
Cameron Kinch
Emma Leard
Cloie LeFave
Francis MacDonald
Shawn MacDonald
Kara MacIsaac
Ashley MacLean
Claudia MacLean
Jillian MacLean
Connor MacLeod
Jessica MacLeod
Keelan MacLeod
Morgan MacLeod
Jayce MacNeill
Chandler MacWilliam
Annalise Madeley
Joel Matthews
Emily Maxfield
Keisha McCallum
Maggie McCue
Morgan McKay
Ryan McKay
Alex McRae
Aleisha Meggison
Cameron Milligan
Xavier Morrison-Robinson
Tanner Murray
Brandi Noye
Jersey Noye
Ethan Oliver
Brynne Perry
Madison Perry
Pacey Perry
Carter Phillips
Skyler Phillips
Hayden Porter
Maria Rayner
Ty Rayner
Sydney Rennie
Thomas Rennie
Julia Richards
Ethan Rix
Carissa Shaw
Karlyn Shea
Thomas Shea
Draven Shields
Colby Silliker
Ben Smallman
Jonathan Smith
Tyler Smith
Claudia Sweet
Bailey Thibodeau
Dylan Tuplin
April Watson
Shannon Watson
Matana Wedge
Tamara Wedge
Madison Williams
Matthew Williams
Marshall Wilson
Sophie Wilson
Bryce Wood
