LCI valedictorian’ s immediate future will include politics
DEVON LAMONT TO BE A PARLIAMENTARY PAGE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
Next stop, Ottawa! As graduation nears, high school students don’t always know what’s next. A job, or university?
Devon Lamont, this year’s valedictorian at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, isn’t facing that question. He’s one of 40 young Canadians selected to serve as a parliamentary page in House of Commons over the next year.
He’ll also be attending the University of Ottawa, taking his first courses toward a political science degree.
Lamont, born and raised in the Lethbridge area, will be addressing the school’s Class of 2019 during graduation ceremonies Saturday at the Enmax Centre. LCI holds the city’s first Grade 12 graduations events among the city’s public secondary schools, followed by four more in late June.
But his voice has also been heard as president of the school’s student council — and as a member of a youthful band that’s played in a number of local venues.
He’s also been heard often as a member of two LCI bands in recent years, playing trumpet previously under the baton of longtime music educator Ken Rogers and this year with Sam Yamamoto. While the Gold Band includes recent works in its broad repertoire, he explains, the Jazz Band focuses on jazz hits from as far back as the 1930s.
“I like ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’,” he says — one of the classic Benny Goodman arrangements — but he also enjoys more recent “standards” like “Beyond the Sea.”
Outside of school hours, Lamont says he’s been playing guitar in a band — currently known as “Artists Unknown” — in such places as the Owl, the demolition derby in Coaldale, even a baby shower!
But music isn’t Lamont’s only passion. He’s excelled in English and social studies, and enjoys writing assignments where he’s able to discuss an issue and make a case to defend his conclusion. He expects to be applying those skills to his freshman courses at the University of Ottawa this fall.
But that won’t be the only challenge, he realizes.
“I’ll have to learn all the MPs’ names,” before Parliament reconvenes in September.
And then there will be an election — and more new names to memorize.
Looking further ahead, Lamont can’t say whether he’ll be continuing his studies in Ottawa or transferring to another university. But he’s fairly certain about his destination.
“I plan to do a major in political science.”
Then he may decide between a career in politics or law.
With some packing to do this summer, however, Lamont knows his priorities. “I’ll be taking my guitar.” Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter