The school's Class of 2002 featured the brother and sister tandem of Rachel and Jonathan Siusangnark and Linda Milortok.

Milortok left for Greenland on a cultural scholarship, while Rachel Siusangnark is attending the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program in Ottawa.

This was the second graduation in the history of Tusarvik school.

Donna Crawford (Milortok's sister) was the school's first graduate two years ago.

The graduation ceremony was held at the school Jan. 5.

Teacher Leonie Aissaoui says the graduates weren't about to let their relatively low numbers deprive them of any of the pomp and ceremony that accompanies high school graduations. "In addition to the ceremony, they wanted a graduation meal and dance, so we did it all," says Aissaoui.

"We had everything decorated and the three graduates really seemed to enjoy their special time."

The dinner was attended by the families of the graduates, former and present local District Education Authority (DEA) members, the hamlet mayor and school staff.

A number of students also donated their services to help make the event a success.

In total, more than 80 people attended the graduation dinner, which featured caribou stew, Arctic char, turkey and stuffing, macaroni salad, rice, and cake and Jell-O for desert.

"We had a lot of youth from the community attend the dance.

"We also held games and a square dance for the older people."

In addition to gifts from their parents, each of the students received a graduation ring from the school, and DEA members presented each with a commemorative pin featuring the school's logo.

The gathering was also treated to a slide show, which showed the graduates' lives from infancy through their high school years.

Milortok says the graduation was one of the happiest days of her life.

"Finishing Grade 12 was a lot of hard work, but it was worth every bit of it," says Milortok.

"I hope having my diploma and the experience I get in Greenland will open some doors for me when I return in May."