College in BC next step for SRSS valedictorian

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This article was published 26/06/2020 (1730 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Valedictorian Tyson Koop said in his speech one of his early concerns about graduation before the pandemic was being mixed up with the other Tyson Koop in his graduating class.

The former Koop is SRSS’ 2020 valedictorian in the class of 388 graduates. Koop called the designation an honour and said everyone in his class had done something outstanding.

Grad 2020 was a bit of a family matter for Koop. Koop’s father Chris was valedictorian in 1988, and Koop has a twin brother, Paxton. Both are volleyball players.

“It’s a little crazy when your twin brother, who’s two minutes older than you, is six inches taller,” Koop said. “He stole some of the height and I stole some of the smarts.”

The pandemic was rough, Koop said, since it cost him the ability to play volleyball for university scouts.

Koop nonetheless maintained message of inspiration.

“We need to keep our eyes on the prize and prove to the world we’re not just a class that had no graduation, but that will change the world,” Koop said.

On grad night, Paxton Koop told The Carillon he didn’t know how to feel about graduating.

“It’s a surreal feeling,” Koop said. “It’s crazy how it’s finally coming to an end, you know what I mean?”

In the valedictorian speech, Koop encouraged students live up to the best versions of themselves.

Douglas College in B.C. is next for Tyson Koop, where he is to study science and medicine. And play volleyball.