LCI valedictorian Nycea took the fast track to graduation
By Lethbridge Herald on May 22, 2025.
Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Class of 2025 Valedictorian Nycea Hazelwood is also the recipient of the Governor General's Academic medal.Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge Collegiate Institute students will be crossing the stage this weekend to receive their high school diplomas, and one student will be receiving something extra.
Nycea Hazelwood will be a busy girl during graduation, as she is not only this year’s valedictorian and has to provide a speech, but she will be receiving her high school diploma and the Governor General’s Academic Medal once she crosses the stage.
Hazelwood is graduating earlier than most of those crossing the stage along with her, as she finished all her graduation requirements in Grade 11. She says she designed her course load that way, because her post-secondary education in veterinary medicine will take another six to eight years to complete and she wanted to have an early start.
“I was very excited and honoured, but also a bit nervous especially about the speech. I was to have it, but I wasn’t sure how that worked graduating in Grade 11, but I was happy to find out I was still eligible,” says Hazelwood about her valedictorian title.
When talking about how she managed to graduate early, Hazelwood explains how she arranged her courses to be able to do it.
“In Grade 10 I was looking at my course selection for Grade 11, and I realized that I hadn’t taken any spares yet,” says Hazelwood. “So I realized that if I did a full course in Grade 11, I would only have one or two classes in Grade 12 and I didn’t think it was worth it to stay for another whole year.”
In terms of her post secondary education, she says she loves animals and because she enjoys academic fields she decided to take the veterinary path.
“I thought that instead of being a doctor, I prefer working with animals and I thought it would be an interesting way to do something I am passionate about,” says Hazelwood.
That love stems from her passion for anything involving animals, as evidenced by the fact that she already works part-time at a vet clinic and teaches riding lessons.
She’s also a part of Earth club, STEM club, Math club and NHS, and took part in both band and choir.
Hazelwood says she managed her time efficiently mostly because she doesn’t like being bored and likes to keep busy.
“I don’t waste a lot of time sitting around on my phone, I try to be productive,” says Hazelwood.
And she adds that there is an important message she hopes to share with her classmates during her valedictorian speech.
“The main message of my speech is focusing on the moment instead of getting caught up in either thinking about your past too much or obsessing about what you’re trying to gain in the future instead of enjoying the process as you go,” says Hazelwood.
Annette Fox Bruisedhead, principal of LCI shares that Hazelwood is not the only Grade 11 student graduating this year, but she is graduating with the highest marks amongst everyone else crossing the stage and that is why she is receiving the Governor General’s Academic Medal.
“Because Nycea has received the highest marks for the Grade 12 courses and looked at Grade 11 and Grade 10 courses she completed, she qualified and is receiving the Governor General’s Academic Medal for her accomplishments,” says Fox Bruisedhead.
This year the graduation theme for LCI is Old Hollywood and 340 students will be crossing the stage at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on May 23 and will be taking part of the Grand March and dance on May 24 at the arena as well.
19-18
an enlightened outlook, so much heart, and still a teen? amazing.