The number of students graduating from Steinbach Christian School is almost twice the number from last year with 44 students accepting diplomas.

Principal Emery Plett says the class is a diverse group of students who have strong skills in athletics, academics, and music. The valedictorian this year is Wellington Driedger and Plett says he has been a successful student who was the leader of the basketball team who won provincials this year.

Driedger says high school has been a great experience for him.

"I've really learned how to interact with people, just coming from homeschooling into SCS, I was super pumped to be able to hang out with people my age. I [also] got an opportunity to play sports, organized sports, which was really good, we were successful in that. I learned how to deal with conflict, how to apologize to people, and just interacting with people in general which I didn't get much of with homeschooling."

Driedger notes after graduation he will be working the summer at Eagle Lake Bible Camp, then working full-time before starting an internship with the International House of Prayer in Kanses City. 

Plett adds he encourages the graduates to continue seeking guidance from God as their life moves forward and they decide where they want to be and who they want to become.

Graduation is Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Emmanual Evangelical Free Church.