Simrat Sekhon and Vaneet Chawla are the Okanagan Secondary School’s 2019 Valedictorians. (Dale Boyd / Osoyoos Times)

By Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Simrat Sekhon and Vaneet Chawla are humbly unsure why they were chosen as valedictorians by the Osoyoos Secondary School.

“I have no clue,” Chawla laughed.

Both have grown up together in Osoyoos. Chawla moved to town when he was around 10 years old and Sekhon has lived here since she was born.

“I went to elementary school, then high school and been with these people for the past 12 years, so it has been really nice to see all of us growing up from kindergarten to Grade 12,” Sekhon said.

She has played basketball since Grade 9, an enduring passion for her throughout her high school years.

“Basketball is the one thing I’ve been doing that I love so much. I love the coach (Amanda Girgan) and the people that you meet. Every year is different people that you meet and I just love the connection,” Sekhon said.

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Sekhon and Chawla both participated in drama club productions throughout their time at OSS, and most recently both worked as stage managers for the recent performance of Shrek the Musical Jr.

Both had a simple reason for coming back to drama club year after year: “Mrs. G,” Chawla said, referring to drama teacher Sarah Gilchrist.

Chawla took on the stage manager role in his Grade 9 year and “did an amazing job for a kid that young,” Gilchrist said.

“He did lighting for the last three years. He always shows up on time, ready to go. He will do whatever it takes to make the show just perfect, and he always shows up with my favourite candies, which always helps too — especially during production week,” Gilchrist said. “He is just a really great guy — he works hard, he keeps his cool under stress and pressure and he’s incredibly forgiving and has a great sense of humour, which you need when you work with me.”

Sekhon also worked behind the scenes during drama productions in sound and stage management.

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“Simrat has a smile that can light up a room, and there were many times when I was stressed or having a difficult time in the rehearsal process where she lifted my spirits and stepped up to help out,” Gilchrist said. “Simrat is an incredible person. She has been through her own personal challenges and despite that, she is one of the most positive people I know, which is rare for a teen.”

Sekhon enjoyed the sense of community surrounding a theatre production.

“I feel like I make more connections when you join a production. You’re always with each other, you have to work as a team to get it going,” Sekhon said.

Some of the valedictorians’ most fond memories at OSS were at the annual Hoops for Heart charity basketball games for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as well as the Storm the Wall event with students completing a year-end relay race by scaling a 12-foot wall.

Both expressed gratitude for the guidance they received from the teaching staff at OSS.

“Thank you to all the teachers and everyone for all their help. They always push us,” Chawla said.

Both Sekhon and Chawla are heading to UBC Okanagan in Kelowna after they graduate.

Chawla plans on pursuing engineering and Sekhon is looking forward to exploring the sciences.