Regional Director Mary-Ann Shukla says they usually average between 40-45 graduates, but this year there were only 21 students graduating from their adult learning centre program. “That just means we can spend a little more time with each of them. We've been at this since 2006, which means we've had over 300 students graduate.”

Kimberley La Liberty was chosen by her fellow students to represent the class as this year's Valedictorian. Shukla says La Liberty is a perfect example of a Red River College graduate because she is hard working, dedicated and came back to school to achieve her goals.

La Liberty says she was excited, honoured and proud to be selected as the Valedictorian for the graduating class of 2016. “It was really hard, and I did feel like quitting but my kids kept me going.”

As well as going back to school, La Liberty says she is a wife, mother of three, and has a part time job. “Going back to school was a little scary, but my plan was to get my grade 12 and then go to school to get my early childhood educator diploma because I want to open up a daycare.”

To anyone considering going back to school, La Liberty says, “It's never too late, and you will feel so proud once you have your grade 12 and move on, it opens a lot of doors.”

Shukla says, “All of our graduates are special and every class is unique. But inside our office we discussed that this group of students worked really hard and have really taken their studies seriously. So I have a lot of respect for our students. It's not easy coming back, certainly to complete your grade 12 after life interferes, so they have my utmost respect.”

Shukla adds, “You can achieve your goals, it's a very accessible program and it's never too late. I would like to thank our community for being so supportive of our graduates. Many of our students are currently working either full time or part time, which means it takes a community to assist our students to achieve their goals.”

Kimberley La Liberty is the Valedictorian for the Red River College adult learning class of 2016.