Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Four Jasper High School graduates received Rotary Club of Jasper Citizenship Awards: Hailey Duguay, Emma Glover, Isabelle Glover and Arianne St-Jacques.聽
Students in their senior year in high school and who had an average of 55 per cent in their grades were eligible to apply for the awards and winners were chosen based on essays they submitted to the club.
Each of them received $500 cash, a no-strings-attached award, said Cathy Jenkins, incoming president.
"It is a reward for them living by the Rotary Four-Way Test and contributing to the community," she said.
The Four-Way Test is Rotarians鈥� ethical guide for their personal and professional relationships.
It asks: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
And students were asked to submit either a 250-word essay, or a two-minute video based on how they live the Four-Way Test, as well as three letters of reference from a parent, a friend and a teacher.
"The references have to explain how they had seen the applicant live by the Four-Way Test," said Sandra Coombe, a member of the Rotary Club of Jasper.
This year there were five applications; one was submitted after the deadline so it was disqualified.
"We decided to award four scholarships instead of (the usual) three," Coombe said. "All four applications were strong - and because of COVID-19, we haven't been doing as many activities as usual, so we had more funds to share in the community."
All recipients of this year's award are members of the Jasper Junior/Senior High School Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and the Youth Community Helper Program, through Community Outreach Services.
Coombe explained that the club revamped the requirements for essay and video submissions a few years ago.
"We wanted to make it not about academics but about citizenship and community - how students are involved in the community and how they fulfill the objectives of the Rotary,鈥� she said.
The citizenship awards are an initiative of the Rotary Club of Jasper, however Coombe pointed out, as an international organization, Rotary "offers an incredible array of awards and scholarships through the foundation".
Certified, graduated
The COVID-19 pandemic didn't stop the celebration of Jasper High School graduates. It happened on a different scale, that's all.
Over the course of June 18 and 19, a ceremony was held for each graduate on a scheduled basis - 14 on each day. Principal Mark Crozier and vice principal Eric Bouchard flanked the ends of a festively-decorated stage as each graduate came up to receive their certificate.
A few family members and friends, along with Jasper High School staff, watched nearby.
"It's making the best of a situation," Crozier said, noting the leadership of grad coordinator, Leslie Currie, to make the individualized ceremonies a success.
"It was a great time for families to celebrate in small groups. It still had the feel of a graduation."
