As part of commemorating its 50th anniversary this fall, Aldershot High School marked the occasion with a series of speakers to inspire students and encourage their success similar to individuals who walked the same hallways during the past five decades.   

The school hosted five Aldershot High School alumni who addressed a gymnasium full of students on October 2. While enjoying various successful careers, the alumni share a common denominator – they all graduated from Aldershot High School and credit much of their success due to the time spent at the school.

The speakers list included:
· Rob MacIsaac - President of Mohawk College and former mayor of Burlington 
· Chris Bacon - renowned wildlife artist
· Mark Summers - Illustrator for Time magazine and other high-profile publications 
· Charmaine Hammond - author and motivational speaker
· Brandon Wagner - member of the Canadian National Wheelchair Basketball Team

The list of speakers talked about the four pathways – university, college, apprenticeship and workspace – students can consider as post-secondary choices.

While all of the speakers made a mark on the Grade 7-12 students, the lesson provided by Wagner, the last of the five to talk, moved the students to a standing ovation. In his wheelchair, the young man talked about his time at Aldershot and the series of events that brought him to the stage to talk about his life as a form of inspiration.

Wagner explains he was a passenger in a car crash in June of 2000. He broke his back, causing him to become paralyzed from the waist down. However, despite that severe injury, Wagner used the word “lucky” when speaking to students in describing how his life has turned out. That luck, he says, included him making the Canadian National Wheel Chair Basketball Team.

“Aldershot High School is a stepping stone to where I am today,” he says, thanking the school for its help following the car accident. “Maybe you can take what I’ve learned and done and use that as you make important decisions. To this day, I still consider myself lucky. I’ve been able to see the world and meet great people along the way.”

Coordinator of Office Services and Communications for Canadian Sport Centre Ontario, Wagner is preparing for the Summer Olympics in London, England, he says. This hard work ethic is something he learned at the University of Illinois, where he met many great, hard-working players

“If you work hard and are diligent, anything is possible,” says Wagner.

The 2009 Student Athlete of the Year at Illinois ended his talk by telling students they will face adversity in life but it will make you stronger.

Aldershot High School students were inspired by what they heard that morning.

“I thought it really showed how important it is to do what you love; it was really inspiring,” says Grade 10 student Laurier Montel. “It shows no matter where you are coming from, it’s about where you are going in life.”

Grade 10 student Jasmin Lang says she learned you should pursue what you really love to do.

“I liked seeing all the different perspectives about how the speakers got where they are. Even though Aldershort High School is a small school, so many people have gone so far in their career going to Aldershot.”

Aldershot High School Principal Gerard Herlihey was thoroughly impressed with the list of speakers. He was confident their words of wisdom and message about hard work would resonate with his students for some time to come.

“The pathway to success is varied for an individual. Some of the speakers indicated as young as 10 they knew what their career would be, and others have had a variety of careers, or a traumatic experience has happened, like with Brandon, and changed everything.”