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PDHS celebrates the Class of 2025 at commencement ceremony

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This week, The Paris Independent proudly highlights two exceptional members of Paris District High School’s Class of 2025 - graduates who not only excelled academically, but embraced curiosity, community and leadership along the way. Their paths remind us that success is shaped by passion, perseverance and the people who walk beside us. These are the young leaders who will help shape our future.


Paris District High School celebrated the Class of 2025 during its commencement ceremony on October 16. The event was led by Master of Ceremonies Sarah Roberts, with Principal Kristy Johnson offering congratulatory remarks to the graduates. Special guests in attendance included Dr. JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education with the Grand Erie District School Board, Trustee Tom Waldschmidt and Superintendent Jennifer Tozer.

Graduates received their Ontario Secondary School Diplomas, along with Specialist High Skills Major diplomas, the Ontario Secondary School Certificate and various academic distinctions. Several students were also recognized as Ontario Scholars and for achieving Honour Roll status (80–89%) or Honours with Distinction (90% and above).

Trudeau Gulati delivered the Valedictorian address. Gulati and Graycee McLaren were recognized as Outstanding Grads, voted on by PDHS staff. These students graduated with a minimum of 80% and were active in extracurricular programs.

McLaren also received the Principal’s Leadership Award for showing outstanding leadership within PDHS and the larger community.

Harrison Power received the Governor General’s Academic Medal for having the highest average of all grades 11 and 12 courses in the graduating class. 

Isaac Mills was presented with the Lieutenant Governors Community Service Medal for exemplary contribution and outstanding achievement through volunteer activity. 

The Hillier Scholarship went to Nikolas Barandich. 

Here is a closer look at this year’s graduates and the awards presented.


  • Lujain Abu-Mandil – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Muslim Association Award donated by the Muslim association of Brantford.

  • Hannah Adams – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Liam Ainslie – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Hamza Alaodat – OSSD

  • Tiana Austin – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Nolan Ayres – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Jack Bailey – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Cadence Baird – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Jamal Bakare – OSSD

  • Megan Baldwin – OSSD

  • Hilary Bannon – OSSD

  • Nickolas Barandich – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honors with Distinction, James Hillier Foundation Scholarship Recipient, Grade 12 Architectural Award donated by MMMC Architects, Grade 12 Technological Design Award donated by PDHS Technical Studies Department

  • Gavin Bernard – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Briana Birley- OSSD

  • Brooklyn Boer – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, H.A. Barner Award in French donated by H.A. Garner Trust Fund

  • Alexis Boutilier-Penney – OSSD

  • Sam Bowler – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Charlotte Brozina – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Chancellor’s Award from Queen’s University, Eric Irving Memorial Beauti-Tone Paint Award donated by Home Hardware, Paint and Home Products Division, Dr. Geoffrey Bell Memorial Fund award, Mike Poremba Memorial Award donated by the PDHS Science Department, H.A. Garner Award in Art donated by the H.A. Garner Trust Fund, Second Place Graduate in Memory of Joseph Downey, donated by the Optimist Club of Paris.  

  • Madison Burr- OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, School Spirit Award – Female, donated by Dufferin Aggregates

  • Emma Burse – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Bennett Cadwell - OSSD/SHSM, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Lauren Cardy – OSSD

  • Della Carley – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Charles Caron – OSSD/SHSM, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Faith Carruthers – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Dylan Carter - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, H.A. Garner Award in Technology donated by the H.A. Garner Trust Fund

  • Jaimeet Chani – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Douglas & Sandra Hanna Scholarship – Male – donated by Douglas & Sandra Hanna

  • Matthew Clement – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Owen Clendening- OSSD

  • Kylie Cliffe- OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Ariel Cormier – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Mikhael Cromwel – OSSD

  • Kyra Curtis – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Beth Doherty Memorial Award donated by Rosslyn Doherty

  • Mykaela Cutting – OSSD/SHSM, Honour Roll, GrandBridge Energy Award, donated by GrandBridge Energy

  • Nathan D’Cunha – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Mekenzie Davidson – OSSD

  • Raychelle Davidson – OSSD

  • David Deane – OSSD

  • Ken Decloedt – OSSD

  • Claeb Dedecker – OSSD, Whitelaw Automotive & Industrial Supply Award 

  • Sherin Dedo – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Retired Teachers of Ontario District 40 Award

  • Hunter Delaney- OSSD/SHSM, Honour Roll

  • Sarah Diebold – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, David Moore Memorial Art Scholarship donated by Pat Moore, Tom Flack Memorial Art Scholarship donated by PDHS Art Department, Women in Business Award donated by Sarah Kirby

  • Ethan Dixon – OSSD

  • Maggie Donkers – OSSD, Brant County Federation of  Agriculture/Bountiful Brant Award

  • Jarrett Dow – OSSD

  • Terry Drew – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, PDHS Musicianship and Citizenship Award donated by Jim Stonham, William Blackmore Perseverance Award donated by Melissa Blackmore. 

  • Marissa Driscoll – OSSD, Honours with Distinction

  • Tyler Dunk – OSSD, Honours with Distinction, Les Clarke Motors Memorial Award donated by Norman Mulloy, Grade 12 SPH4C Physics Award donated by PDHS Science Department 

  • Anfal Fazal – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Nicholas Ferris – OSSD

  • Dameion Foster – OSSD

  • Elsadig Frayjoun – OSSD

  • Benjamin Garcia Benson – OSSD, Honours with Distinction

  • Samantha Geddes - OSSD, Honours with Distinction

  • Nolan Generoux – OSSD

  • Gabriel Gibbons – OSSD, The Glen Morris & District Lions Club Scholarship 

  • Jacob Gibson – OSSD

  • Travis Gibson – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Hunter Giles – OSSD

  • Reese Gingras – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Nathan Graham – OSSD/SHSM, Honours with Distinction, Paris District High School Commitment Scholarship in Memory of Wilton Dawdy, donated by Optimist Club of Paris

  • Alexander Grygorcewicz – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Paris Optimist Club Technological Excellence Award

  • Trudeau Gulati – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Paris Lions Club Citizenship Award in Memory of Robert Knill, Grade 12 University French Award donated by PDHS French Department, Athletic Council Award donated by PDHS Physical Education Department

  • Alexander Haller – OSSD

  • Archie Harkness – OSSD

  • Nolan Hart – OSSD

  • Idrees Hashim – OSSD

  • Avah Hastings – OSSD

  • Arwen Hauley – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Jadenn Hearn – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Kylie Hensen – OSSD

  • Nicholas Henwood – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Paige Hewitson – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Grade 12 Co-operative Education Award donated by PDHS Co-op Department

  • Noah Hoch – OSSD, Learn to Work Bursary donated by PDHS Co-op Department

  • Mark Hodge - OSSD

  • Keira Hodgkinson - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Hailey Holgate – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Celine Holzhauser-Kane – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Meeting Waters Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star Award

  • Jakob Hunter – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Aiden Hurst – OSSD

  • Lukas Ilola - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Connor Jakowetz – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Owen Jakowetz - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Elliott Janzen – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Dylan Jasny -OSSD

  • Balraj Johal – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Paris and District Chamber of Commerce Award

  • Simon Karolidis – OSSD, Brant Arts & Culture Art Award

  • Benjamin Kingsbury – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Kindred Spirits Art Award

  • Kohen Kirby – OSSD

  • Jack Klunder – OSSD/SHSM, Honours with Distinction, Paris Horticultural Society Bursary

  • Andrew Knill- OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Max Koekoek – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours Roll

  • Maximus Kohman – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, The Grade 12 Brantford School of Instrumental Music Award

  • Maxim Kolesar – OSSD, Honour Roll, Canadian Tooling & Machining Association Award, Grade 12 Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Award donated by PDHS Co-op Department, William Kusch Memorial Award donated by CoorsTek Advanced Materials Hamilton ULC

  • John Kulmaatycky – OSSD, Honour Rolls

  • Dion Lamallari – OSSD

  • Van Langille - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Lance Lester – OSSD

  • Sky Loeppky – OSSD

  • Carter Louch – OSSD

  • Cameron MacGillivary – OSSD

  • Ava Macneil – OSSD

  • Tiana Malcolm – OSSD, Kyla Anne Casey Memorial Fund

  • Armaan Mangat – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Sophia Marino - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Taylor McComb – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Brant Mutual Insurance Award

  • Kaylee McCrea – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Juliet McGregor – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Graycee McLaren – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, PDHS Eco Club Leadership Award in Memory of Jack Kempert donated by Optimist Club of Paris, Spirit of Optimism Award in Memory of Harry McKinnon donated by Optimist Club of Paris, Preceptor Alpha Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Award

  • Alyssa McLean – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Douglas & Sandra Hana Scholarship (Female), Social Science and Humanities Award donated by PDHS History Department

  • Olivia McLean -OSSD

  • Tanner McLeod – OSSD

  • Isaac Mills – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Dufferin Aggregates Award

  • Devan Minshall – OSSD

  • Madison Miranda – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Karrvin Misener – OSSD, Honours with Distinction, Grade 12 College English Award, Grade 12 SCH4C Chemistry Award

  • Venezuela Monahan-McHale – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Melia Montoya-Martin – OSSD

  • Pyper Morley – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, St. George Applefest Award, Grade 12 University Social Science Award donated by Paris Southern Lights Inc, Sportsmanship Award donated by Sarah Kirby

  • Kailyn Muche – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Beth Doherty Memorial Award donated by Rosslyn Doherty, H.A. Garner Award in Music, H.A. Garner Award in Science, J. St. Clair Memorial Scholarship, Grade 12 Instrumental Music Award, First Place Graduate in Memory of Jack Thomas donated by Optimist Club of Paris

  • Tefik Murphy – OSSD

  • Taylor Newell – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Iris Nicolae – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, The Optimist Club of Paris French Award in Memory of Gord Simons

  • Carver Noonan-Rosebrugh – OSSD

  • Victory Odoemene – OSSD / SHSM, Honours with Distrinction

  • Emre Oner – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, I.B. Webster Engineering Scholarship donated by Bruce Webster. 

  • Amaya Osmond- OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Cole Oviedo – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Elif Ozturk – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, H.A. Garner Scholarship in Physical Education Award

  • Nolan Paine – OSSD

  • Javonte Parchment – OSSD

  • Evan Park – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Naren Parker – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, School Spirit Award donated by Dufferin Aggregates, Athletic Leadership Award donated by PDHS Physical Education Department, Hannah McCosh Scholarship Award donated by Mildred Barrie Trust Fund

  • Joseph Parkhill - OSSD/ SHSM, Honour Roll, Paris Construction Company Ltd Scholarship

  • Coleman Peacock – OSSD, True Grit Award in Memory of Julie Nichols-Clement donated by the Optimist Club of Paris

  • Ryan Pearson – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Gabriel Peters – OSSD

  • Bailey Phipps – OSSD

  • Braeden Pike – OSSD/SHSM Honour Roll

  • Samantha Porteous – OSSD

  • Harrison Power – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, R. G. Enticknap Scholarship donated by Janice Enticknap, Waterous, Holden, Amey, Hitchon Award, Home Hardware Paint and Home Products Division Award, The Grade 12 Brantford School of Instrumental Music Award

  • Kiniushha Premananth- OSSD, Larry R. Jones & Norma E. Dynes Award

  • Emma Prime – OSSD

  • Amberpreet Rana – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Ryan Rayner – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Rifaad Razak – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction

  • Ryan Reay – OSSD

  • Evan Reid – OSSD

  • Caleb Rodgers – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Jeffery Rosebrugh – OSSD, Whitelaw Automotive & Industrial Supply Award

  • Tyler Rush -OSSD

  • Tayvin Sayles – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Canadian History and Politics Award donated by PDHS History Department

  • Adelaide Schiedel – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Daniel Schmitt – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Sienna Schneider – OSSD

  • Emma Sellars – OSSD

  • Shaaf Shoaib – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest Participant, Data Management Award donated by PDHS Mathematics Department, H.A. Garner Award in Business, Canadian and World Issues Award, The Grade 12 University English Award donated by PDHS English Department 

  • Van Shuart- OSSD/SHSM, Honour Roll

  • Evelyn Sibbick – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Haeima Siddique – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Jase Simons – OSSD

  • Maddison Smith – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Ryan Smith – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll 

  • Keonte Smyth – OSSD, Paris Lions Club Award in Memory of Mel Sharpe

  • Hannah Spence – OSSD, Honour Roll, Learn to Work Bursary donated by PDHS Co-op Department

  • Addison Sprowl – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Marreit Award, Grade 12 Communication Technology Award donated by PDHS Technical Studies Department 

  • Gavin Stafford – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Nicholas Staples – OSSD

  • Lucas Stern – OSSD

  • Sutton Stuart - OSSD

  • Adam Sustr – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Daniyal Syed – OSSD

  • Megan Tate – OSSD, Ontario Scholar

  • Sam Taylor – OSSD, Ontario Scholar and Honour Roll

  • Alyssa Thielman – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, Derrick History Scholarship in Grade 12 University History donated by Norman & Alberta Derrick Trust Fund, H.A. Garner Award in English

  • Keira Timmons – OSSD

  • Neil Trimble - OSSD

  • Gwen Tugman – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll 

  • Kalum Vallee – OSSD, St. George Lions Club Scholarship

  • Russell Van Wolferen – OSSD/ SHSM, Honour Roll

  • Cohen Vander Hoek- OSSD

  • Logan Vandewiel-Stiltz - OSSD/SHSM

  • Owen Veit – OSSD, Honour Roll

  • Mya Virk – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honours with Distinction, H.A. Garner Award in Geography, The Bruce & Velda Cochrane Family Award, Create Well Award

  • Lailah Wade - OSSD

  • Thomas Wallace – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll 

  • Julia Walters- OSSD

  • Kayla Warden – OSSD, Compass Group Canada Scholarship

  • Nina Walter - OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll

  • Chase Watts – OSSD

  • Lillian Weir – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, St. George Lions Club Scholarship

  • Kartir White – OSSD

  • Kyler Williams – OSSD

  • Ruby Williams- OSSD

  • Sofia Zubek – OSSD, Ontario Scholar, Honour Roll, Paris Optimist Club Scholarship in Memory of Helen Shipp

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