WATCH: Grads turn heads at lakeside

• Hundreds gathered for the event
• Rain didn't dampen spirits
• Friends and family cheered on the students

The rain couldn’t dampen the spirts of hundreds of graduates in downtown Kelowna.

Dressed in their best, Okanagan Mission Secondary (OKM) students were able to celebrate their achievement together with a walk along the lake Thursday.

Friends and family lined the pathway from Waterfront Park to the Kelowna Yacht Club to show support.

Among them, Taylor Bay, who was co-president of grad council. She also did lots of theatre at OKM, was captain of the women’s senior soccer team, and was on student council.

“I think all of us have been waiting for this, waiting until we get out of high school and move onto new things,” she told Kelowna10. “But now that it’s actually over, it’s a bit sad to leave everyone, all of our friends, and this place we’ve spent so much time in.”

Bay’s mom organized most of the grad and she said she’s excited to be able to finally celebrate in-person with all her friends.

“Over the past two years, all we’ve really wanted is to be able to have an opportunity to celebrate as a group and it’s really nice to be able to see everyone,” Bay said. “There’s some people here I haven’t seen in a couple years, so it’s really nice to be able to reconnect.”

Bay has been accepted into Western University in London, Ontario, in its Medical Sciences program, and will also be doing a minor in Music Performance Studies.

“I’m hoping to go into surgery, so hopefully medical school in the future and continuing to record and write music,” she explained.

Fellow grad council co-president, Nathan Loo, was also thankful to be celebrating this milestone with his friends and other grads.

“It’s great to finally be back, everyone is super motivated and enthusiastic about everything, and I really couldn’t be happier to be here,” he said. “As much as I like high school, it’s always good to move on and see what else life has to offer.”

Loo is the valedictorian for the 2022 graduating class. He also played on various sports teams throughout high school such as basketball, volleyball, and track and field.

In September, he will be attending UBCO’s sciences program, where he hopes to focus heavily on his academics, and hopefully make it to medical school to study radiology in the future.

“Really hunker down, study, and focus on being the best student I can be,” he said.