Published by Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services on July 3, 2024
Sault Ste. Marie – As the school year ends and summer begins, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) and Neech-ke-Wehn Homes are happy to celebrate Algoma’s Grade 8 graduates with the “Carolyn Harrington Award” which acknowledges the excellence of Indigenous students who are graduating elementary school and beginning their journey to high school. This year, we received a record-breaking 38 nominations for students across the Algoma region.
Nominated by school faculty members, awards of “Best Student” and “Most Improved Student” were gifted 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” 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. Carolyn Harrington was one of the founders of Neech-ke-Wehn Homes and was its President, with the award previously named the Neech-ke-Wehn Grade 8 Award. The award has continued for over the past 40 years, and as of 2023 was named in her honour.
“We are deeply moved by the record-breaking 38 nominations for the Carolyn Harrington Award this year. Named in honour of our dear friend Carolyn, this award celebrates the excellence and improvement of Indigenous students in our community,” says Thömas Kakapshe, Executive Director of Neech-ke-Wehn and Shkabewis at OAHS. “Carolyn would be incredibly proud to see so many students recognized for their hard work and dedication. This tradition continues to inspire and support future generations.”
OAHS and Neech-ke-Wehn would like to thank all the schools that nominated their students with such glowing and heartfelt nominations and illustrate how deserving their students are!
Congratulations go out to the following Algoma students for receiving this award:
Anna McCrea Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Carter Boissoneau-Syrette – Most Improved Student
Ben R. McMullin Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Austin Abernot – Most Improved Student
Central Algoma Intermediate School (Desbarats)
Tyson Simon – Best Student
Kayden Lapish – Most Improved Student
East View Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Brayden Pine – Best Student
Tyson Tangie – Most Improved Student
F.H. Clergue French Immersion Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Jaxon Belair – Best Student
Myka Eshkibok-Paquin – Most Improved Student
Grand View Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Avery Gauthier – Best Student
Alexa Mallette – Most Improved Student
Greenwood Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
J.J. Swanson – Most Improved Student
H.M. Robbins Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Rayden Motari – Best Student
Ryder MacIntyre – Most Improved Student
Holy Cross Catholic School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Ella Barry – Most Improved Student
Holy Family Catholic School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Randy Lundrigan – Most Improved Student
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School (Hornepayne)
Kenzie Moulton – Best Student
Mountain View Public School (Goulais River)
Avery Ogrins – Best Student
Jack Storms – Most Improved Student
Northern Heights Public School (Goulais River)
Tianna Couturier – Best Student
Keelin Richards – Most Improved Student
Pinewood Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Olivia Orozco – Best Student
Delina Saccarotti – Most Improved Student
Queen Elizabeth Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Noah Burch – Best Student
Joey Jancke – Most Improved Student
River View Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Ariona Aelick – Most Improved Student
St. Basil Catholic Elementary School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Kienen Robertson – Best Student
Aurora Nolan Russell – Best Student
Ella Malinowski – Best Student
Malakai Cripps – Most Improved Student
Dason Chapais – Most Improved Student
Gavin Boyer – Most Improved Student
St. Paul Catholic Elementary School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Journey Tegosh – Best Student
Mariah Fraser – Most Improved Student
Superior Heights Intermediate School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Dexter Thiffault-Lewis – Best Student
Everett Vresk – Most Improved Student
Tarentorus Public School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Ethan Paquin – Most Improved Student
White Pines Intermediate School (Sault Ste. Marie)
Tessa Vanderheyden – Best Student
Ceana Churchill – Most Improved Student
Congratulations to all the Grade 8 graduates and we wish them the best of luck as they enter secondary school this fall!
