As they prepare to take that big step into the real world, Penticton Secondary School valedictorians Anika Holowaty and Aiden Hutcheson shared some memories of fun days on the links and their hopes for the future.
Both Hutcheson and Holowaty enjoyed their time on the Pen High golf team, though they didn’t make provincials like some of their colleagues, Hutcheson said they were the “best looking ones out there.”
“That’s what matters,” Holowaty joked.
“It’s a really fun group of people. It’s fun because it’s girls, guys and all grades at the same time. It’s such a medley of people and when it’s nice out and you’re at the golf course with your friends it’s a lot of fun,” Holowaty said.
Both felt surprised when they were named valedictorians of Pen High’s 2016 grad class.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the most academically advanced student,” Hutcheson laughed. “It was a bit of a shock.”
“I just think it’s really surreal because we’re the people who represent such a vast group of different people, it’s really cool. It’s exciting, it’s nerve-wracking,” Holowaty said. “You don’t really realize what is the hardest thing you have to do until you have to write the valedictorian speech.”
Both said they are feeling some of the pressure of writing the big speech to be delivered at the convocation ceremony at the South Okanagan Events Centre on June 3.
“It’s been really fun though,” said Hutcheson of writing the speech together.
Hutcheson played Penticton Minor Hockey, golf and any other sport he had time for.
“This last year of hockey, had a great time with a great group of guys,” Hutcheson said.
Hutchison said his favourite classes were biology and history, mostly due to history teacher Lesley Lacroix and biology teacher Scott Harkness.
“In both cases the teachers were really awesome, they make the class fun and the subjects are interesting,” Hutcheson said.
Holowaty said she enjoyed her time in arts classes, but also called Harkness “amazing” and said that Lacroix, who was also her basketball coach, was one of her “all-time favourite teachers.”
During her time on the basketball team, a standout moment for her was scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter to win the game at a tournament in Kelowna.
Both are attending Okanagan College in the fall, and Holowaty is leaving for Germany after a semester to travel with a friend. Hutcheson said he envisions himself pursuing a career in education after taking general studies.
“My dad is a teacher and he’s been an inspiration to me,” Hutcheson said.
Holowaty’s father is a teacher as well, the vice principal at Wiltse Elementary School, she wants to pursue a teaching career with attending law school as a plan B.
Both attended the school’s summer trip to Tanzania, Holowaty last year and Hutcheson this past summer, to help out with humanitarian work. It had a long-lasting impact on both, who hope to continue humanitarian work in the future. Hutcheson helped build a kitchen for a local orphanage and Holowaty was the part of the largest group the school has ever sent, helping build a library.
“It was life changing,” Hutcheson said. “Eye-opening for sure.”
“It was amazing,” Holowaty said. “I just think about my girls … and you will just never forget it.”
Holowaty hopes to return to Africa to help teach after pursuing education in post-secondary.
Both thanked their teachers and parents.
“Thank you to my parents. I’m sure they know, but I probably don’t express it enough, so thank you for getting me here,” Hutcheson said.