Yellowknife (May 13/05) - Among the ranks of this year's Sir John Franklin high school grad class are athletes, volunteers, actors, dancers and exchange students.

The biggest class in several years at 123 students, the first thing that comes to principal Anne-Mieke Cameron's mind is their community-mindedness.

Grad executive members Ariel Lau and Adam Hassan are excited about the weekend celebrations.

The quality shows up in volunteering for sports teams, as mentors and for festivals like Folk on the Rocks, she says.

"They are excellent role models to the younger students, making thoughtful choices for themselves and others," says Cameron.

This year's throng of cap and gown wearers are a culturally diverse lot as well, with 20 aboriginal and 10 exchange students.

Adam Hassan is valedictorian, an honour he won by a vote from his adoring class.

He admitted to a bit of stress in the days leading up to the weekend during a practise ceremony on Wednesday, but shrugged it off. "It only happens once and you get to wear a tux," says the 17-year-old with a 97 per cent grade average.

His friend and fellow grad council member Ariel Lau voted for Hassan because he's a good speaker and a well-liked guy. The class of 2005 are resting up for a full weekend in the spotlight, starting Friday night with a formal at the school.

The convocation ceremony is Saturday night, with the infamous dry-grad at the Yellowknife Community Arena afterwards. In a twist on the alcohol-free games, dance and party night, this year's grad council bought everyone a cowboy hat and shirt and declared the evening theme a hoe-down.

So if you spot more than a hundred 10-gallon hats walking by this weekend, tip your own hat to the Sir John class of 2005.