Caps, gowns and loads of promise. That’s what I witnessed today, as I have at more than 20 convocations of Springfield Collegiate Institute, my old high school.

I’m there every June, not to relive my teenage years (they were hard enough the first time) but to present an annual award that is very dear to my family’s heart – The Grace Edie Memorial Scholarship. The award honours my sister, who was killed in car accident at the hands of a drunk driver in 1988. That year, my family not only lost someone beautiful but, as a friend said to me, my sister’s death was a loss to the whole community.

So to heal both a family and a community, we created a gift that continues to gives back, a $1000-scholarship to young graduates, who like my sister, achieve academic success but also give their energy, enthusiasm and encouragement to make a palpable difference in the lives of their friends, peers and fellow students.

This year’s recipient is a young woman who received the highest marks in accounting and marketing, was a peer tutor, and plans to pursue a career in medicine. And her mom went to school with my older brother.

There are many things I love about this day: the opportunity to remember my sister as the light in others’ lives that she was; the delight on the face of the award winner and his or her parents; and the promise of possibility that exists when we choose to look for the gifts that can arise even in tragedy.

I also love the example of generosity it sets for future generations. This year, my nephew Chad Edie (who was 6 months old when Grace died) flew in from Edmonton to present the 22nd Grace Edie Memorial Scholarship.