We’ve not yet reached the end of February, but for Glenlyon Norfolk School’s Class of 2016, the light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter by the day. In less than four months, they’ll receive their graduation certificates and celebrate their successes as a group one final time before heading their separate ways. Exactly where the next steps in their paths lead is still being determined, but university acceptances have begun accruing for many of the class, and for some students, offers of admission been accompanied by some very impressive academic accolades.
GNS has played a prominent role in the lives of both Eirin Caters and Nathan Kuehne. Each has been a member of our community since early childhood, with formative years spent on the idyllic Beach Drive Campus before making successful transitions to Pemberton Woods. Ask any of their teachers and you’ll quickly learn that these two gifted students share many similarities, including a positive attitude, a willingness to work hard, a commitment to personal excellence and the desire to contribute positively to the world around them.
There is no question that these shared characteristics contributed to both Eirin and Nathan’s selection as recipients of $36,000 Chancellor’s Scholarships from Queen’s University. These prestigious awards are among the most selective in Canada, with only fifty students nationwide chosen as recipients annually. Candidates must be nominated by their school on the basis of “superior academic ability, original and creative thinking, and proven leadership qualities,” and the number of nominations is limited based on the size of a school’s graduating class. In GNS’ case, only one nomination was available for each of two streams, making the fact that both Eirin (Humanities) and Nathan (Sciences) were selected even more remarkable.
That is, of course, until you consider their achievements.
Both have featured prominently in GNS News in the past, and their exploits as “Ukrainian dancing, Science Fair Gold Medal-winning TedX speaker” and “Duke of Edinburgh Gold medallist, student/athlete/artist/volunteer extraordinaire” are well-documented. Each has taken advantage of every opportunity that GNS and the IB curricula have offered them, and each has benefited from the inclusive and supportive environment that makes our school unique.
“GNS has been great for me because I’ve learned to push myself,” Nathan says. “I know that the teachers are here to support me and motivate me, and that they’ve always got my best interests in mind.”
So what does the future have in store?
Eirin, whose first choice for post-secondary studies was Queen’s, will arrive in Kingston in September to begin pursuing a Commerce degree at the Smith School of Business. In a perfect world, she would find an opportunity to complement her interests in business and entrepreneurship with her true passion—helping others.
“Service has always been a big part of my life,” she says. “Pursuing the gold standard for the Duke of Edinburgh was an 18 month process, but during that time I really learned a lot about myself and how much I enjoy helping others. I want to continue that in my future, for sure.”
Nathan, meanwhile, will weigh his options once all of his acceptances have been received before making his choice. Regardless of the destination he chooses, however, he also wants to continue finding ways to help others in need.
“I’d like to be a doctor at this point, for sure,” he says. “But it would be nice to be able to do a combination MD/PhD program, where I can pursue a medical degree and still continue my research. It will be a lot of work, but finding something new, discovering something that can help change people’s lives for the better is both really exciting and personally rewarding.”
Congratulations to these two Gryphons for embodying everything that the GNS Experience offers students. They are but two examples of what is shaping up to be a truly exceptional graduating class, and we look forward to sharing news of the exploits of their talented classmates in the weeks and months ahead!
