July 9, 2026 • Volume 40, No. 7
Next edition July 23
L’édition de cette semaine à l’intérieur...
Orléans top scholars lead Class of 2026
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School graduate Colin Brooks finished his final year at the high school with a 98 per cent average, making him this year’s top student. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO
By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star Another school year has ended and another cohort of graduates are moving into the next phase of their lives. Some with trepidation, some with excitement – but all with the hope of furthering their lives whether it’s through academics or entering the workforce. Four area students in particular are looking forward to seeing just how far they can go in their respective fields after receiving the Governor-General’s Academic Medal for finishing at the top of their class at their respective schools. This year’s top scholar in Orléans was Colin Brooks who earned a 98 per cent average at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School. Brooks is fortunate in that he is one of those rare students for whom academics comes naturally. Besides working on various assignments throughout the year, his main focus in terms of hitting the books was reserved for his exams in January and June. His ability to do well academically without
studying for hours on end meant that he had time to fully enjoy his final year of high school by joining several school clubs and playing trumbone in the school’s pit band for the musical production of “Hades Town”. With his high school years finally behind him, Brooks is looking forward to starting the next phase of his academic career at Carleton University where he plans to major in aerospace engineering. His interest in space and rocketry goes back to the COVID-19 pandemic when he and his mother used to watch old episodes of Star Trek. But Brooks has no aspirations to travel to outer space himself. “It’s too scary. I’d rather stay on the ground and help other people get there,” says Brooks. The Governor-General’s Academic Medal recipient at St Peter High School was Ryan MacDonald. MacDonald, 18, managed to finish at the top of his class with a 96.17 per cent CONTINUED ON PAGE 2