Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services and Neech-ke-Wehn Homes celebrated Algoma’s Grade 8 graduates with the newly named Carolyn Harrington Award, which acknowledges the excellence of Indigenous students who are graduating elementary school and beginning their high school journey.
Nominated by school faculty members, awards of Best Student and Most Improved Student were presented to 24 grads along with a $100 bursary. The Best Student title was given to a graduate who received high marks and greatest all-around participation in school activities, and Most Improved Student went to a graduate whose grades and activity participation improved the most.
This award began in the 1980s when the late Carolyn Harrington was a community worker at the Sault Ste. Marie Indigenous Friendship Centre. She was one of the founders of Neech-ke-Wehn Homes and was its president, with the award being named as the Neech-ke-Wehn Grade 8 Award.
This year, the award was renamed in her honour.
“I am deeply moved by the decision to rename this long-standing award after my late and dear friend Carolyn,” saaid Thömas Kakapshe, Executive Director of Neech-ke-Wehn and Shkabewis at OAHS. “Her legacy of unwavering dedication to education and Indigenous youth in Bawaating will carry on in a good way for years to come for many generations.”
Following is a list of award winners:
Ben R. McMullin Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Kaleb Commanda – Best Student
Blind River Public School (Blind River)
Brooke Boyer Chiblow – Best Student
Xavier Baranyai – Most Improved Student
East View Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Alyx Syrette – Best Student
Wisdym Kaboni – Most Improved Student
Grand View Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Brooke Johnston– Most Improved Student
Holy Cross Catholic School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Autumn Levesque – Most Improved Student
Holy Trinity Virtual School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Kyle Pritchard – Best Student
Jordan Arcoutte – Most Improved Student
Korah Collegiate & Vocational School – Intermediate (Sault Ste. Marie)
Molly Gauthier – Best Student
Miranda Aro – Most Improved Student
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Brooke Kenny – Best Student
Richie Matte – Most Improved Student
Pinewood Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Sara Toulouse – Best Student
River View Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Anakin Perreault – Best Student
Lakota Caibaiosai – Most Improved Student
St. Basil’s Catholic Elementary School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Jacob Wilson – Best Student
Darren Chapais – Best Student
Lexi Wilson – Most Improved Student
Aurora Boone – Most Improved Student
Tarentorus Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Miranda Kletke – Best Student
Averie Scott – Most Improved Student
White Pines Collegiate & Vocational School – Intermediate (Sault Ste. Marie)
Alex Fournier – Best Student
Alexis Mazur Hutchens – Most Improved Student