Inhwa Kim Receives Walter Leslie Shield
Inhwa Kim was the recipient of the Walter Leslie Shield at the 2014 Halifax Grammar School graduation. One of Grammar’s oldest awards and its most prestigious, it is awarded to a student who faculty choose for all round excellence in academics, athletics and leadership. Inhwa had already been chosen by her fellow students to receive the Antonius Pius Award in April, was selected as the HGS nominee for the Schulich Leader Scholarship, and at graduation also won the English Prize, the Language Prize-German, the Award of Merit, and the Headmaster’s Exemplary Community Service Award.
“Inhwa was a leader without a formal leadership position. Her leadership is understated, but she provided leadership in the classroom, as a member of two sports teams and through her initiation of HGS Volunteer, to name just a few of her contributions. She has a strong moral compass and was a positive role model for all HGS students,” said Laura Brock recently, explaining the senior school faculty’s choice of Inhwa Kim as this year’s recipient of the Walter Leslie Shield. One of Grammar’s oldest awards and its most prestigious, it is awarded to a student who faculty choose for all round excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.
“Inhwa was a leader without a formal leadership position. Her leadership is understated, but she provided leadership in the classroom, as a member of two sports teams and through her initiation of HGS Volunteer, to name just a few of her contributions. She has a strong moral compass and was a positive role model for all HGS students,” said Laura Brock recently, explaining the senior school faculty’s choice of Inhwa Kim as this year’s recipient of the Walter Leslie Shield. One of Grammar’s oldest awards and its most prestigious, it is awarded to a student who faculty choose for all round excellence in academics, athletics and leadership.
Inhwa had already been chosen by her fellow students to receive the Antonius Pius Award in April, was selected as the HGS nominee for the Schulich Leader Scholarship, and at graduation also won the English Prize, the Language Prize-German, the Award of Merit, and the Headmaster’s Exemplary Community Service Award.
Asked about her time at Grammar and her plans for the future, Inhwa shared some reflections which would not surprise those students and faculty who have recognized her exceptional contribution.
“I started here in grade seven. I was at Park West, and I asked my parents if I could go to the Halifax Grammar School. I had some catching up to do at first, but everyone helped me. I don’t think I’ll ever ever meet any other teachers like the ones here. Classical music has always been a big part of my life, and through the math exploration we did at HGS I learned what made me love music so much. Grammar has shaped me into who I am today: a more comfortable public speaker, a more open person. I know now that I want to work with kids, I know that I love science and I love helping people.”
Inhwa earned one of only 100 seats offered in Dalhousie University’s new Medical Sciences program, a degree option that is unique in Canada.
Halifax Grammar School is the leading independent, co-educational day school in Atlantic Canada. From Junior Primary through Grade 12, the Halifax Grammar School is an environment where passionate teachers challenge students to develop confidence through independence, where coaches and advisors encourage students to pursue excellence through effort, and where a community fosters in students a lasting commitment to helping others.