$1 including gst
Niko’s year end dance photos ~ inside on page 23
Your LOCAL Media since 1918! VOLUME 107: ISSUE 39
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Wednesday, May 28, 2025 More HRA photos inside
HRA celebrated the graduation of 16 Grade 12 students at the Holden Complex on Friday, May 23. Principal Brent Anderson said the graduating class broke yet another record, as the first class to graduate from HRA consisted of three students in 2023, and eight in 2024. KARI JANZEN PHOTOS
Holden Rural Academy celebrates 16 graduates Kari Janzen Staff Reporter
Holden Rural Academy (HRA), a rural public charter school teaching grades 7-12, celebrated the graduation of 16 Grade 12 students at the Holden Complex on Friday, May 23. Principal Brent Anderson said the graduating class broke yet another record, as the first class to graduate from HRA consisted of three students in 2023, and eight in 2024. Grade 11 students Cheyenne Suchy and Ashton Zemlak were the evening’s emcees. Speeches were interspersed among graduate introductions, which were all filled with fond memories and many laughs. Principal Brent Anderson offered advice to the grads, encouraging them to go forth with confidence and remember their roots. “Graduation is more than a farewell. It's a milestone that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Whether you're headed to college, joining the workforce, taking a gap year, or pursuing a dream that's uniquely yours, I wish you all the best. Maximize your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and the next chapter will work out for you. “Take risks. Growth rarely comes from comfort zones. Re-
member your roots, your families, your friends, the school, and your teachers. We are proud to be part of your foundation. We believe in you, and we can't wait to see what you do next,” Anderson said. Superintendent Wes Oginski advised the students to remember their Place-Based experiences as they move on from high school to new adventures. “This isn't just any Grade 12 celebration. This is a celebration from a school that prides itself on Place-Based Learning. You've explored the local landscapes, analyzed the rich history etched into your communities, and engaged directly with the challenges and opportunities right here in your own backyard. You've tackled real world challenges, understood the unique fabric of our rural life, and found ways to apply your knowledge in meaningful ways. “As you step out into the world, remember the valuable lessons that you have learned. You are a class of innovators, critical thinkers, and compassionate individuals. The future is bright; I'll need sunglasses. Congratulations class of 2025,” Oginski said. Beaver County Councillor and Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec was also present, and was also part of the Holden Ag Society crew who catered supper.
“I grew up in this community and attended my first 10 years of school in Holden, but I was also here as a councillor when they closed the school. I was also here as a councillor when they reopened and you guys are number three; the third time that I say congratulations to the class. I’m very proud of you for choosing Holden Rural Academy as your choice for your education. We as a community are always here for you. Take pride in how far you've come, have faith in how far you can go, but just don't forget to embrace and enjoy the journey as you take it,” Hrabec said. Board Chair Justin Ewasiuk congratulated the students and also thanked their parents for choosing to send their children to HRA. “From a young age, we're often asked what we want to be when we grow up, and we usually don't get to discover that occupation until after school, often to only find out it wasn't what we thought it was, and then maybe we don't like it. We feel stuck, because you're now a young adult with bills and responsibilities. With our Place-Based Education, it allows you the opportunity to find a career you enjoy, but more importantly, discover which ones you don't enjoy, without the financial restraints.
“I'd also like to take time to thank the families that are here with you tonight who supported you and helped you get here. This grad class is special to HRA. Three years ago, during our first year of operation, you took a chance on us to start your high school education. I remember talking to some of your parents in the weeks before we opened, wondering if we were the real deal and if we'd still be here after one year. Now I look out and I see their kids in the graduating class. Thank you for choosing us and believing in us to provide your child with a quality education outside of the traditional black and white lines,” Ewasiuk said. Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely was also in attendance and presented each graduate with a scroll of congratulations. “What you accomplished here over this last couple of years has been incredible, and you are the envy of the province. We have many communities who want to emulate what you have done here, even right here in our constituency, and I refer to the success and the number of students and the size of this graduating class. Well done,” she said. Rebekah Abbott was this year’s valedictorian, and recounted the memory of starting Grade 10 in a new school.
“Our high school experience has been anything but ordinary. HRA isn’t your typical school. Some of us showed up as nervous tenth graders, unsure of what we'd signed up for. We were placed in a rundown elementary building greeted by new teachers and a principal who dressed like every day was spirit week. “Then the next year came, and with it, a new principal. Tall, bald, and rocking the equivalent of one good eye. We weren’t sure what to think at first but eventually we grew to like him too. This year, it all started to blend together, cramming for diplomas and counting down the days until they're over. Somewhere between the stress and excitement we also made some of our best memories. Tonight, we are celebrating where we come from and where we're going. Don't worry, you haven't ruined your life yet. Every day is a chance to choose who you want to be and the kind of life you want to live. You're going to make mistakes. We all do, but don't let that stop you. Wherever you go, don't forget where you came from. A funny little high school in the middle of nowhere that somehow became home,” Abbott said. Continued to page 12