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Alumni from Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) in Gretna are taking the time to remember how their lives were changed after attending the high school that has since been closed.
MCI offered Christian education for grades 9-12, along with room and board for students who didn't live nearby, since 1889.
In June, the board of directors announced it was pausing operations of the private school. In July, the board announced the high school would be officially closing its doors after being a part of the community for 136 years.
Shania Ginter
Alumni Shania Ginter graduated from MCI in 2018.
"Every year the entire student body got to go to Red Rock Camp at the beginning of every school year," says Ginter. "We spent a lot of time getting to know each other and had daily chapel sessions. We played a lot of games in the dark."
Ginter says the thing she anticipated the most during her time at MCI was the grad trip.
"My class, we got to go to Saskatchewan, Alberta, and B.C. That was super impactful because my mom had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. My entire class got together and they ended up paying for my trip, which was so special."
When Ginter recently got a text from her father about the school closing, she was in disbelief.
"At the end of it all, what took the whole MCI experience home was, at our grad, our choir director was asked to do the prayer for us. That was impactful. Each staff member valued us, they stayed after school to help us with home work, they checked in on us when they knew we were struggling, and they showed up to our baptisms."
Karen Fehr
Karen Fehr attended MCI from 1973 to 1977, when she graduated.
"I lived right in Gretna, so I didn't have the experience of living in the dormitory," says Fehr. "My parents basically told me I was going to MCI in grade 9. At first, I was really bucking the system. But within my first week of being there, I fell in love with the school. I was eternally grateful for my parents doing that to me."
Fehr shares how the experience helped her grow, spiritually, as well as in her talents.
"Through the help of amazing teachers and Christian friends, I really grew in my faith. I've always been a lover of music, and I had so many incredible opportunities to do this there, like choral and ensemble singing. We would go to a variety of churches throughout the year. We then had to give the Sunday morning service, through song, through story and devotionals. This was a huge highlight for me."
Meeting new friends and people each year was also a good experience for Fehr.
"Every year at the start of the new year, there were kids that would come from all across Canada. There were even international students who came. We got to know a lot of new people. Because it was always a small enrollment of 100-150 students, I got to know every person by name. I gained a lot of beautiful friendships which to this day I still hold."
Fehr was also grieved to hear the news that the school was closing its doors and all the programs for good.
"It really saddened my heart when I heard of MCI closing its doors but we knew they had been stuggling. I would say the majority of people I've known and met through that school they have amazing, beautiful memories of it."
Drew Gerbrandt Voth
Drew Gerbrandt Voth's life was changed forever by attending MCI. She graduated in 2016.
"I have good memories of MCI," says Gerbrandt Voth. "The biggest one is I met my husband at MCI. We've been married for six years now. I went to MCI with people I grew up with and all of our parents went to MCI. I was really into musical theatre and that's where I found my people."
Gerbrandt Voth shares that it felt incredible to be a part of a musical that won Rainbow Stage awards.
"It's something I won't ever forget. The people there fully accepted me for who I am and not make me feel weird for being a Christian in school. Without MCI, I probably wouldn't have most of the people in my life today. One of them being my husband. But also all of the friends we've had there. We go August-long camping with them now."
The Gerbrandt Voths now live on a dairy farm in the Interlake. Hearing the news about the school closing wasn't surprising to Gerbrandt Voth, as her brother-in-law was a resident dean at the school.
"I wasn't surprised but I'm still heartbroken by it. It's hard to fathom. I wanted to go there since I was in grade 8. I thought, this is the place that's going to make me feel like who I am, and it did. The idea of it being closed and that other kids won't be able to get that, it's really hard to understand."
The board chair of MCI, Cody Falk, did say he hopes to have a farewell event in the future for all the alumni. No date has been set.