Through a nomination by teachers, CBC Radio named McLurg graduate Kabri Sittler as the provincial valedictorian to present her speech on a two-hour graduation program aired on CBC Saskatchewan June 5.
When the pandemic put a halt to traditional graduation celebrations, CBC Saskatchewan decided to host a program that would feature many of the same aspects of an annual graduation program. The live broadcast included Saskatchewan Roughrider Jon Ryan delivering the commencement address as well as Premier Scott Moe speaking to graduates. There were a number of other prominent Saskatchewan citizens who provided video and audio for this event that included musical artist Brad Johner, Olympic medallist Mark McMorris and comedian Brent Butt.
Additionally, the Blue Sky noon phone-in show that day was also dedicated to the class of 2020 and included other notable students, teachers and messages from Saskatchewan people.
The Press-Herald spoke to Sharon Gerein of CBC, who generated the idea of this program. She told us CBC National was also airing a virtual yearbook June 15 and graduates could go to the website cbc.ca/classof2020 to enter their submission. As well, the CBC social media channels will include coverage of all of these events and activities.
“I don’t have kids myself but I have a nephew that was supposed to graduate and was disappointed at the turn of events,” Gerein says.
“I saw a video by Ryan Reynolds with a message to grad classes in Vancouver and it sparked an idea for this program. I met with colleagues and brainstormed ideas of how we could recognize the Class of 2020.”
When asked how Kabri Sittler was selected to deliver the provincial valedictorian address for this program, Gerein says, “There were close to 50 nominations submitted from teachers across the province and they all were remarkable students with exceptional accomplishments, but Kabri stood out for her leadership, her mentorship, her academics and her community citizenship.”
A CBC online story, June 5, stated, “one shining star burned the brightest, Kabri Sittler of McLurg High School in Wilkie.”
Chris Kent, an educator at McLurg and Kabri’s wrestling coach has also been one of her biggest fans, and took the time to submit her nomination. Kent noted in past interviews that Kabri, in his opininion, is one of the most driven people, most athletic and most brilliant, earning a 98 per cent average in her Grade 12 year.
Kabri was recognized as Wilkie’s Junior Citizen of the Year in 2020. Kent says in the online CBC story, “She is the best person a young person can be.”
Gerein says other nominees are being given an opportunity in other parts of this dedicated Grad of 2020 program.
“I was very excited and honoured. Everyone has been congratulating me and saying the’re going to tune in, which is really appreciated, Kabri says. "My best advice would be to keep being resilient!”
Some of Kabri’s speech read, “When I reflect on my senior year, resilience is the first thing that comes to mind. A person whom I admire once told me that ‘resilience separates luck from true success.’ I feel that this statement suits our graduation quite well. We are graduating not because we got lucky, but because we have worked hard, because we have put countless hours into our education, because we have been resilient.
“Resilience is more than just a word; it is more than just adjusting to change. When you achieve success without challenges, you don’t learn from it; you don’t grow as a person. When succeed you with resilience, you become wise and you develop yourself into a better person. We, the Class of 2020, have been given a unique chance to show our resilience, a chance to persevere and grow.
“Every generation faces challenges in one way or another, but I like to think about the stories what the class of 2020 will have to tell, about how we finished strong, proud and ready to face the future, as uncertain and daunting it may have been.”
Kabri closed with a quote from Helen Keller, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.”
