Four years of hard work finally came to fruition for the 49 young men and women who comprised the first ever graduating class of Quest University during the school's first Commencement Ceremony on Saturday (April 30).
It was a celebration and a reflection of just how far both the students and the school have come since 2007.
"These students have been our partners for four years," said David Helfand, Quest's President. "Their energy and enthusiasm, their ideas and their commitment have played a huge role in making this day possible."
A quartet of trombone players kicked off the procession, which took place in a large tent structure that was erected in between the University Services Building and the Academic Building. The 49 students then entered the tent, followed by the Black Tusk Caledonia Pipes and Drum group, with faculty bringing up the rear. Several distinguished guests such as Mayor Greg Gardner, West Vancouver Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan, West Vancouver Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre and Quest's first president David Strangway were also in attendance.
"I've been waiting five years to say these words," said Eric Gorham, the master of ceremonies for the event. "Welcome to the first Quest University graduation ceremony."
After the playing of the national anthem and a welcome from the Squamish First Nation, graduating class speaker Kevin Eastwood addressed those in attendance.
"This day is bittersweet for us all," he said. "It signifies the end of an exhausting and rigorous four years, but it also means moving on from a place we've helped build and a place that has fundamentally changed us in so many ways. I believe that at the very essence of what we've learned, we as Quest graduates are taking away a new attitude that is less common in our world - an attitude of cooperation and consensus building. At Quest we've learned to listen and to learn from others, to realize that all opinions deserve respect and understanding, and to move forward based on consensus."
Only one of the 49 graduating students called Squamish home and for Charmaine Neufeld the experience of learning at Quest is something she'll always cherish.
"It feels great to graduate," she said. "I really feel like others from Squamish should try and come to this school, it's important for there to be locals who come here. Everyone here is unique and it's been such a great experience."
Neufeld admitted that students and staff leaned on her at times for her local knowledge.
"I did find it kind of funny that a lot of the staff and students assumed that no one came from Squamish," she said. "They definitely used my help to get around Squamish, especially on field trips."
Neufeld said that Quest students enjoy living in Squamish and she thinks building a deeper connection to the community is important for the school.
"There's been a bit of an effort to get Quest more out there," she said. "We don't want to be viewed as just the school on top of the hill."
Neufeld said she is taking well-deserved break for the next few months but hopes to work towards a PHD in Zoology at either UBC or SFU in the near future. A number of her classmates will move on to graduate studies in education, epidemiology, economics and development, language studies, law, and outdoor education. One student has been accepted into the US Peace Corps for a two year posting to Africa, and several students have received job offers or have secured employment in their field through connections made during their experiential learning blocks.
Following the ceremony, a recessional was held on the top floor of the library with music and food served. Students then had the chance to boogie the night away at the Dancing Bear Festival, which began at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and lasted well into the evening.
