Convocation at Albert College celebrates the Class of 2024 (2024)

Albert College recognized 40 graduates at its 167th Convocation celebration on June 17. Grade 12 graduates were recognized with top awards and celebrated their many accomplishments this year, in addition to receiving their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

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The students hail from Canada as well as Nigeria, Barbados, China, Spain, England, the United States and Saudi Arabia. Local students are from Belleville, Prince Edward County, Kingston and Napanee.

The top awards at Convocation were presented to Olivia Mundle of Napanee and Mingbei Yu from Beijing, China. Both graduated as Ontario and Albert College Scholars achieving an average of 90 percent or higher in six Grade 12 courses; they also graduated “with distinction,” meaning that they excelled in the 5 ‘A’s of Albert College – Academics, Athletics, Arts, Active Citizenship and Adventure.

Olivia Mundle received the Howard Award for character, scholarship, leadership and recreation. Olivia is an Albert College “lifer,” having attended for 14 years, and was the school’s Athletics and House League Prefect this year. In addition to serving on the school’s Climate Action Team, she was also the recipient of the most valuable player awards for both senior girls soccer and basketball, and the recipient of the coach’s award for senior girls volleyball. She was a member of the Albert College band and choir, attending the Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF) at Roy Thomson Hall for four consecutive years. This year, Olivia achieved the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. In the fall she will attend Huron University at the University of Western for management and organizational studies, majoring in accounting, along with the Ivey honours business administration program.

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Mingbei Yu received the Marsh Award for character, scholarship, leadership and recreation. Mingbei attended Albert College for three years and served as this year’s Graham Hall Prefect. He was a camp committee member and will be remembered for his performance in this year’s senior drama production and his commitment to the Mock Trial club. In athletics, he played on the badminton, senior boys soccer and recreational rugby teams. In the fall, he will attend the University of Toronto, St. George, to pursue a bachelor of commerce.

Top athletes were recognized for their outstanding contribution to athletics at Albert College.

Emeline Williams of Belleville received the Class of ’66 Trophy for most outstanding athlete in female athletics. Guanlin Feng of Nanjing City, China was the recipient of the McIntyre Award for outstanding contribution to male athletics.

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Emeline Williams is an Albert College “lifer,” having attended Albert College for 14 years. She served as the Enrolment Prefect this year, and was a member of the senior girls basketball, volleyball and soccer teams. She won the most valuable player award, along with two gold medals in swimming at the CISAA (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association) finals. Emeline achieved her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. She is an Ontario Scholar, an Albert College Scholar and is graduating “with distinction.” In the fall, she will attend the University of Ottawa to pursue a bachelor of health science.

Guanlin Feng attended Albert College for four years, and was a member of the computer science club. He was a member of the senior boys soccer team, winning the outstanding defensive player award this year. He was also the recipient of the most valuable player and most dedicated player awards for badminton. Guanlin is an Ontario Scholar and Albert College Scholar, and he plans to attend the University of Toronto, St. George, pursuing a bachelor of physical and mathematical sciences.

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The Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Valerie Chan, shared her thoughts about graduating: “At prom this year, our guidance counsellor Ms. Weldon told us the sun was setting on our high school days. I think there was a collective groan at that moment, just because of the cheesiness of the metaphor. In hindsight, though, she was completely right. It feels like I’m in a bad coming-of-age movie to say that the sun’s setting, but the good thing about it becoming dark is that the stars come out. As convocation comes to an end today, there will be 40 new stars in the sky tonight…

So, graduates, as you leave campus today, take a second and notice something, a small detail of the school, and remember it…And whenever you remember it, let it remind you of not only your time here, but of your friends, your teachers, and everything they’ve taught you. Let it be a reminder to find love and find purpose and find enjoyment in everything you do—because it sets off that spark in your heart that keeps you going.”

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