Rae-Edzo (June 23/03) - Stephanie Behrens has dropped in and out of high school, had two children in the interim and still managed to graduate at the top of her class.

The 19-year-old is one of 27 Grade 12 graduates from Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Edzo. She spent a hot Tuesday afternoon hopping between her chair and the stage at the school's annual awards day, abashedly accepting award after award.

At age 15, Behrens was pregnant with son Julian, now age three, and stuck at home. She tried going back to school, but second child Elijah temporarily quelled that hope.

Now, a little older than her fellow grads, she has dropped back in to grab the highest honours of the year.

Principal Rita Mueller was quick to pick Behrens out of the graduating class, citing her as a role model for herself and the teachers at the school. Mueller said "its remarkable what she's achieved."

The grad herself is demure about her accomplishments as her son sits in her lap, holding her medals. After dropping out, she said she realized she "needed school, so I could give my kids a better life and myself a better education."

She urges young girls to take control of their loves by using birth control. According to Behrens, its too much of a struggle to go to school and raise babies as well.

Behrens is enroled in the Natural Resource Technology program at Aurora College in Fort Smith in the fall. Bursaries from Diavik Mines and BHP Billiton will help the young mother with the costs of schooling.

The entire school, plus parents and family, sat happily in the sweltering gym for the ceremony for the 340 students. Academic, athletic, prestige, and special awards were handed out, while teacher Michael Botermans fed the crowd with jokes in between presentations.