2006 Baccalaureate and Prize-Giving

Guest speaker Peter Daniel
Board chairman Joseph Levy presents one of several prizes to Felicitha Straus
Ann Montgomery presents the Stanstead Historical Society Prize to Thomas Kirkman-Gagnon
AJ Nelson receives the Senior Debating Award from former teacher Dorothy Duncan
Lindsay Smith receives the Sheila Ferguson Shield from former teacher Alex Philip. Lindsay also won the Wilder Shield as the junior student with the most positive influence.
Ian Spofforth presents his family's Science and Math trophy to Jean-Samuel Rancourt, one of many prizes he won this year.
Head Prefect Jen Bauer won this year's Pitcher Prize.

Do what your heart says is right in a way your head says will work, guest speaker Peter Daniel told graduates at the Stanstead College Baccalaureate and Prize-Giving held Friday, June 23 at Centenary United Church in Stanstead.

A member of Stanstead’s Class of 1954, Mr. Daniel was a well-known political correspondent for CBC before moving into the federal government as a deputy minister. He subsequently worked overseas as a communications expert for NATO and later for South Africa’s first multiracial elections. More recently, he entered the private sector as Executive VP Communications for BCE and Bell Canada, a position from which he recently retired.

Despite his vast and varied career, this was Mr. Daniel’s first commencement address. He delivered his speech with aplomb and sincerity, urging the graduates to ignore the nay-sayers and to pay attention to where they stumble as they make their way into the world.

“Be alert to your stumbles – they may be telling you to change course. And they may be pointing you to new opportunities,” he said.

He also urged the students to make a difference. “Those of you who have had the benefit of a Stanstead education have no excuse not to try,” he said.

The service also included a brief presentation by Ian Spofforth who was one of 20 British children evacuated to Stanstead College during World War II.

“You should be immensely proud of what you did for us,” he said.

Sixty Grade 11 and 37 Grade 12 students received diplomas at Friday’s ceremony, which also included the awarding of several prizes.

The school’s top prize, The Pitcher Memorial Prize for the student who has exerted the greatest influence for good, went to Jennifer Bauer of Ogden, Que. Headmaster Michael Wolfe said Jennifer’s poise, character, strength, wisdom and concern for others had earned her the respect of the faculty and student body alike.

Jennifer, who was head prefect this past year, also received the King Constantine Medal for commitment to Round Square ideals, the Amaron Prize for French (Grade 12), and the Sociology Prize. She has been accepted into the Education program at Queen’s University and recently received a local Millennium Scholarship worth $4000.

The other major prize-winner was Jean-Samuel Rancourt of Magog, Que. who won the Birks Silver Medal for the highest overall average in Grade 12; the Spofforth Trophy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics; the Arthur E. Curtis Jr. Award for the top student entering an Engineering program; and the Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics Prizes.

Jean-Samuel recently received a $2000 President’s Scholarship from the University of Waterloo where he will be studying Mechanical Engineering.

Felicitha Straus of Hannover, Germany picked up several prizes, including the Governor General's Meal for the highest overall average in Grade 11; the Trueman-McFadyen Award for a graduating girl scholar/athlete; the Biology Prize; and the J. Brian Clarke Economics Prize.

Thomas Kirkman-Gagnon of Ayer’s Cliff, Que. won the Birks’ Bronze Medal for the highest overall average in Grade 10; the Banting Bursary Award for a returning local student for academic achievement; the Historical Society, Physics and Chemistry Prizes; and the Sybil Galambos Prize for French (Grade 10).

Lindsay Smith of Stanstead East, Que. won the Wilder Shield for the junior student with the most positive influence; the Sheila Ferguson Shield for the all-round junior girl athlete of the year; the Kenneth Reed Memorial Award for a local junior student returning to school; and the Grade 9 Math and English Prizes

The complete list of prize winners is here.