Jun
21
Written by:
Melanie Barrett
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Forty-four students representing 13 countries graduated from Albert College on Saturday during their 153rd convocation. Thirty-seven graduates received their diplomas as Ontario Scholars achieving an 80 percent average or above and 68 percent of those Ontario Scholars were also Albert College Scholars achieving a 90 percent average or above. 7 graduates were also honoured by graduating with distinction achieving an average of 75 percent or above in all subjects in grades 11 and 12 and who have received their Arts and Activities Senior “A” and their Athletics Senior “A” and a Silver Community Service Pin.
Surrounded by family and friends, the class of 2011 gathered with their classmates outside Albert College’s 160 Dundas Street West location to celebrate their many achievements. The College’s top convocation awards were awarded to students from Belleville – all of whom have attended the college for 11 years or more.
Albert College’s top female award, The Howard Award, was presented to the finest representative female student in the graduating class, Madori Sakamoto, who was also the 2011 valedictorian. Madori has attended Albert College for 11 years beginning in the Junior School in Grade 2. She graduated with distinction, as an Ontario and Albert Scholar, and was Head Prefect this year which is the top student leadership position at Albert College.
In her valedictory address, Madori reflected on her and her fellow graduates’ time at Albert College – whether it be 1 year or 12 years. “I’ve often heard that ‘Beginnings are hard, endings are usually sad, but it’s what happens in the middle that counts’. Whether our beginning at AC started twelve years ago at the old Junior School, or just 10 months ago at Camp Tamakwa, I hope that somewhere along the way we laughed, we grew and we found our own place in the history of Albert College.” Madori will study Forensic Science at Laurentian University in the Fall.
For the second time in the school's history, Albert College awarded The Marsh Award to two recipients as the finest male representatives of the graduating class to Andrew Aulthouse and Ian Dickinson.
Andrew Aulthouse graduated with distinction, as an Ontario and Albert College Scholar, and has been a day student at Albert since Grade 1. His most notable achievement, this year, was his recognition by the Governor General of Canada for earning his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Pin. In September, Andrew will study Politics at Queen's University.
Ian Dickinson graduated with distinction, as an Ontario and Albert College Scholar and, like Andrew, came to Albert in Grade 1. Throughout his time at Albert, Ian has been involved in every aspect of school life. He has earned all three Albert College community service pins and amassed in excess of 300 hours of community service work. As Arts Prefect this year, he has provided excellent leadership for the school. In September, Ian will begin the Business program at McGill University.
Andrew Doxtator was the recipient of two top athletic awards, The Pete Beach Award and Class of ’49 Most Outstanding Athlete. “Andrew has been a dynamic force in athletics for his entire 12 years at Albert College,” said Athletic Director, Colin Gulliver. Andrew’s devotion to athletics is second only to his focus on his academics which is reflected in obtaining the Governor General’s Academic Medal for the highest standing in Grade 12 and Ontario and Albert College Scholar status. Next year, Andy will study Energy Systems Engineering at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and also plans to try out for their varsity hockey team.