Leading Seaman Chad Derrick Clarke of Victoria was one of 52 naval combat cadets honoured during a graduation ceremony at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland earlier this month.
The Royal Canadian Navy cadets graduated from the Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan, specializing in electronics engineering.
Chad, 21, also received the top athlete award, and was parade chief during the ceremony, which took place at Canadian Forces Station St. John's. He is the son of Melvin and Kate Clarke, and has one older brother, Kyle.
His grandmothers, Joyce Clarke and Kitty Penney, are especially proud of the young sailor, who has since moved to Halifax, where he will continue his training and later be assigned to a navy vessel.
Chad's mother described her son as a "go-getter" and indicated he may pursue officer training in the near future.
The Carbonear Collegiate graduate was one of 16 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in the group, which began their studies in January 2011.
