CEREMONY
MULGRAVE SCHOOL
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
PROCESSIONAL O CANADA & SCHOOL ANTHEM OPENING REMARKS Nicholas Belluk & Daisy Harris STUDENT PERFORMANCE Matthew Cho, Lucky Kim, Liam Gray, Hank Liu, Judson Stanton, Alex Brun VOCAL JAZZ CHOIR ADDRESS TO GRADUATES Special Guest Broadcast to the Graduates by Douglas Coupland WORDS OF APPRECIATION Siri Coupland AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS Mr. John Wray, Head of School & Advising Teachers STUDENT PERFORMANCE Daisy Harris VALEDICTORIAN Matthew Cho RESPONSE Mr. Craig Davis, Principal of the Senior School STUDENT PERFORMANCE Nicholas Belluk REFLECTIONS Slideshow CLOSING REMARKS Mr. John Wray, Head of School RECESSIONAL
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD
Dear Students in the Class of 2017, I’ve been told that it is unlikely that you’ll remember much of what is shared by the keynote speaker at your convocation. Considering that Douglas Coupland is one of the most well-known artists and writers to have hailed from Vancouver, I hope this is not the case. His dry wit and irreverence are likely to strike a chord with you, as your cohort is wellknown for your developed sense of healthy cynicism and appreciation for all things ironic. However, I want to make sure that you do leave with a few pieces of advice that will hopefully provide a springboard into what is sure to be a phenomenal post-secondary journey. I have asked myself what I would have preferred to learn from someone else’s experience rather than my own and perhaps save you the agony of first-hand, hardearned wisdom, and I came up with two lessons worth sharing that I believe are highly relevant to you. The first is that I want you to absolutely embrace the importance of failure and the benefits that come from efforts that don’t work out as planned. You might counter this with the argument that you have had plenty of teachers tell you that you have not fully met the criteria, but this is not true failure. The fact that you are graduating from Mulgrave and going on to universities that are so highly regarded suggests that you are not very well acquainted with failure. In fact, I might even venture to say that your measure of success may be fueled by a fear of failure as much as by your ambition. But here is the thing: You will never know yourself and the extent of your potential until you are tested by adversity. Try to keep that learner profile attribute front and centre and take risks when you can, knowing that it is through misfortune (and sometimes
even misery) that you can discover your mettle, refine your perspective, and develop deeper empathy. The second is that I hope you will never let go of the transformative power of creativity. So many of you are artists - whether on the stage, on a page, or in the way you think. Enhancing that gift is the deep and broad educational foundation you have built over the past several years from where you can also draw inspiration. Remember that answers won’t always come easy, and if you find yourself at a dead end, you certainly have the resourcefulness to find another way through. Most importantly, I believe that creativity and imagination combined with your intelligence will allow you to go beyond your own troubles and challenges to understand the injustices and suffering of the world. You have the power to effect change and inspire (r)evolution. I am certain that you will be the authors of many tales that will galvanise and enchant. And so I send you off into the big world, but not without tools and not without magic. You have what you need to take your next steps and your imagination can conjure up whatever you find is missing. Most importantly - look left and right - you have a tribe, a group of kindred souls with whom you have shared a period of time that can never come again. I hope that you’ll remain connected by affection for each other and by the memories that you have made at Mulgrave. We will miss you. My warmest regards,
John Wray Head of School
MARTIN ABRARY Martin Abrary is one of a lucky few who have earned the status of a Mulgrave ‘lifer’, having joined the school in Kindergarten. Martin has always been an active member of the Mulgrave community (literally!), playing several seasons with the Senior Boys Soccer Team and running with the Cross Country Team throughout his years here. In true IB fashion, Martin has demonstrated his well-roundedness by also being heavily involved in the Mulgrave theatre productions of Slayer and Peter Pan. Martin performed on stage and worked backstage doing the flying on the set of Peter Pan. Martin’s favourite memories of his years at Mulgrave include his work in the theatre, as well as a sugar-laced adventure to a traditional Quebecois ‘Sugar Shack’ on the Grade 9 Eastern Canada trip - one that he hopes to replicate this summer with several Mulgrave friends on a final road trip together before they depart for university. After much deliberation, Martin plans to attend the University of Calgary to study business in order to enter the field of accounting.
MASON ANDREWS Mason joined the Mulgrave community in Grade 8. It was clear from the beginning that Mason had found a place where he could explore both his academic pursuits and his extracurricular passions. Mason quickly became comfortable as a Mulgravian and could often be found where some boisterous activity was taking place. Mason has immersed himself in a wide variety of activities, including acting as a Prefect and Student Ambassador and participating in Action for Esther and WE Day. He has been an enthusiastic and committed member of the Rugby Team and also played hockey outside of school. In addition, Mason explored the local area and learnt survival skills whilst on an adventurous Outdoor Education trip. Furthermore, he has built houses for families in need in Mexico. Mason indicated that his most memorable moment was when he finally finished his Extended Essay, which explored the economic viability of replacing the use of fossil fuels with renewable energy in Canada. Next year, Mason plans to study business at the University of Alberta.
NICHOLAS BELLUK Nicholas has been at Mulgrave since Grade 10. His favourite memory was earning the prestigious Theory of Knowledge 11 award! Whilst at Mulgrave, Nicholas has been involved in a plethora of activities, including the school play, memorably as Captain Hook. He has been a dedicated member of the Concert and Jazz Choirs, in addition to his role as editor of that cornerstone of the Mulgrave community - the Munion. He could also be counted on to swoop to the rescue as a member of the Mulgrave Emergency Response Team. Nicholas would also pick up the violin on both formal and informal occasions to perform for the school. He was recognised for his positive impact on the school and was elected as a Senior Prefect and then as Head Boy for Grade 12. Nicholas has been accepted to Queen’s University, McGill University, and Carleton University with scholarship offers at all three. He has chosen to attend McGill University to study political science and economics. Best of luck next year, Nicholas; we wish you every success!
ALEXANDER BRUN A Mulgrave lifer, Alex, with his unruly mop of blond hair and ready smile, has graced our school with his cheerful, friendly presence. He is known for his big heart and the warmth and compassion that he shows to staff and students alike. Throughout the years, he has contributed in many ways to our school and the wider community. Alex was a member of the Mulgrave Boys’ Basketball and Soccer Teams, and for several years, he has participated in the West Coast Cycle for Sight fundraiser to raise money for eyesight research. His true passion, however, is found in musical expression. Whether it be in his Grade 10 Personal Project, or his long years of involvement in both the Jazz and Concert Bands, or his extensive study of piano and guitar, his love of music shines through. In his words, he feels that playing music, especially within a group, allows a platform not only for collaboration and teamwork, but also for a level of creative expression that simply is not present within the rest of academic life at school. Alex hopes to study communications at either Simon Fraser University or Carleton University, where he was awarded an entrance scholarship. All the best, Alex!
MICHAEL CALDER Michael joined the Mulgrave community in Grade 3 and has been a shining example of what it means to be a Mulgravian. Michael was a Senior Prefect and a great role model for the younger students. Whilst maintaining a high level of achievement academically, Michael has also been an integral member of our Jazz Band. Additionally, he was heavily involved in team sports. From Grade 3, he played on a variety of teams - volleyball, basketball, and rugby - and this continued throughout the DP. One of his proudest and most rewarding sporting moments was making it to the Basketball Provincial tournament last year and winning the game by four points. Outside of school, Michael has volunteered as a stream keeper for the Pacific Salmon Foundation for two years. However, his biggest commitment has been volunteering as a swim coach for the Hollyburn Swim Team for the past couple of years, for which he has finally been rewarded with a paying job. Michael has yet to decide on which top university, Colorado School of Mines or McGill University, he will attend in the fall.
JIA LIN CHEN Jia Lin joined the Mulgrave community in Grade 8. She quickly became part of Mulgrave, and could often be found where many joyful activities were taking place. Jia Lin has immersed herself in a wide variety of activities, including participation in the Animal Welfare Club, Tea Club, Green Team Club, and many more. She also volunteered her time in the school library and acted as a Mandarin tutor helping other Middle School students who were learning Mandarin. Jia Lin has enjoyed her life at Mulgrave and indicated there are so many occasions that she will never forget. However, her most memorable time was the moments that she spent with her kindie-buddy, a truly special relationship that was nurtured throughout the year. Next year, Jia Lin plans to study fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York City.
CHENG (DAVID) CHI Cheng (David) has been a part of the Mulgrave community since his arrival in Grade 9. A skilled mathematician and purveyor of social change, he has spent much of his time actively engaging with Creativity, Arts and Service (CAS) initiatives. During his time at Mulgrave, he has been an active member of the community serving as the Sports Coordinator of Curie in Grade 11. He has also enjoyed participating in the Chinese Calligraphy Club. One of David’s favourite memories of Mulgrave was the Grade 10 Winter Camp when, after a frozen night in the great outdoors, the tent collapsed around him. He has also loved his time playing both rugby and badminton, in particular, he has enjoyed the team spirit of both sports. David has been accepted into McGill University and the University of California, Berkeley campus where he intends to pursue his studies in sociology.
CHAN HWI (MATTHEW) CHO For Chan Hwi (Matthew), who joined Mulgrave in Grade 3, it is the friendships that he has made at Mulgrave that he is going to miss after graduation. His love of music has led to participation in choir every single year, demonstrating dedication by being able to commit to one activity continuously for such a long period. Unsurprisingly, his best memory is music combo in Grade 9, practicing with friends and sharing a love for music whilst having fun. Beating Jacob McKenzie in the Grade 7 Spelling Bee is Matthew’s proudest moment; his least favourite was losing to Jack DeCooman in the Grade 7 Science Fair. Matthew’s hallmark is his calm, organised, and charming manner. Through excellent time-management, he has maintained superb academic achievement all whilst demonstrating commitment to the school community through a huge range of leadership roles. He has been deeply involved in every strand of school life and has displayed thorough engagement in service beyond the school. Matthew will be studying biology and economics at Northwestern University and is looking forward to being the first in his family to attend university in North America.
SIRI COUPLAND Siri is fortunate enough to call herself a ‘lifer’ having joined Mulgrave in Kindergarten. Over the years, she has fully immersed herself as a member of the Prefect Committee, as a Student Ambassador, on the Grad Committee, on the Cypress Service Club, and as a member of the Senior Service Action Council. Athletically, she has been a longstanding passionate member of the North Shore Girls Soccer team and the more recent inaugural Mulgrave Girls Soccer Team. In the arts, Siri has participated in ZOOM Film Festival, and one of her most memorable and enjoyable experiences was taking part in Shawnigan Lake School’s Model United Nations. As a ‘lifer’, her favourite Mulgrave memory is growing up with all of her friends through the good times and the bad. Siri was awarded the ‘Youth Award’ for the Last Chance Animal Rescue donation project she ran. Siri has been accepted to both of her top Canadian business schools including: UBC’s Sauder School of Business and Western’s Ivey School of Business. Next year, Siri is planning to move to Ontario to study at Ivey.
AURORA CUMMINGS Aurora has been at Mulgrave since Kindergarten, making her one of our ‘lifers’. She has participated in several service commitments, such as helping with Open Houses as a Student Ambassador since Junior School and attending WE Day throughout Middle School. During her last year at Mulgrave, Aurora has been a part of the Prefect and Grad Committees. She has been involved in the Human Rights Club and has learnt about many important social issues, helped organise various fundraising events, and developed many new friendships. Some of her favourite and most memorable Mulgrave moments are from her Kindergarten days where they had a VIP of the week. The ‘very important person’ of the week got to sit in a special red chair during story time and bring in something special for Show and Tell; it brought unparalleled excitement to everyone in the class. Of course, she will never forget the simpler, fun times she had playing ‘family’ with the plastic kitchen playset or the countless days spent playing on the hill during a sunny day. Aurora has been admitted into UBC, Western University, and McGill University, and will probably choose to attend the latter next year.
EMMANUELLE (EMMA) DEAN Emma joined Mulgrave in Kindergarten, and in her time here, she has developed as a student, an artist, and an athlete. She has played soccer, volleyball, and most recently, on the Senior Girls’ Basketball team. Emma is a quiet leader, serving as a Prefect on the Grad Committee and on the House Leadership Team. She is a distinguished young artist; Emma has been featured in the North Shore News as their Artist of the Week. Her best memories of her time at Mulgrave are from the camaraderie that developed from some of the many trips in which she has taken part: sleeping next to Nicole and Jordan in the snow caves built for the Summit 2 expedition and drinking hot chocolate and maple syrup on the Grade 9 Eastern Canada trip. Another of her fonder memories is the Grade 5 Exhibition; she chose to study art as she felt that she did not know enough about it. She has certainly learnt much since then and will continue to do so. After receiving offers from Ryerson University and University of Waterloo, Emma has chosen to attend Parsons School of Design. We hope that her many fond memories of her time at Mulgrave help to ease her transition to living in New York.
WILLIAM (JACK) DECOOMAN III Jack has been at Mulgrave since Grade 5. As an outstanding athlete, sport and physical education has been a big part of his school and out-of-school life. Jack has not only learnt to balance his high athletic demands with his academic programme, he has actively used the key skills that he has learnt in sport to manage other areas of his life. In addition to being a national-level baseball player outside of school, Jack played a leading role on the Mulgrave Basketball Team that reached Provincials. He has also represented the school at soccer, rugby, and swimming, showing high level skills in each. Jack has demonstrated his commitment to service and to his school also through sport - as a volleyball scorekeeper in school and a baseball coach to younger players outside of school. Jack’s favourite school memory is the Grade 10 Winter Camp in the cabin ‘with the boys’. Next year, Jack will attend the University of Washington where he has earned an athletic scholarship and will study business.
EMILIE DESABRAIS Emilie came to Mulgrave in Grade 3, which makes her a ‘lifer’, though I’m sure she would say it sometimes feels like two or three lifetimes. That is understandable as Emilie has invested the energy of two or three mere mortals in Mulgrave. She has played a key role in house leadership, captained both the basketball and volleyball teams, and sat on the Prefect Committee. All the whilst she has built a deep commitment to her church community where she has spent the past four summers as a leading camp counsellor. She is a natural in these roles because she has a spiritual gravitas, an unflappable groundedness. And yet, as the British writer, G.K. Chesterton, said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly”. Emilie’s greatest strength is to laugh easily and most easily at herself. There is no doubt she will fly high at the University of Alberta where she will study to enter one of the noblest callings, obstetric nursing. Her leadership, levity, and let’s-call-this-what-itis manner will be a gift to the profession. Congratulations, Emilie!
ISABELLA EDMONDS Isabella, affectionately known as ‘Isa’ by her peers, has been at Mulgrave since Grade 10. In the short span of three years, Isa has become the President of the Human Rights Club, a leader of the Model United Nations Club, the Co-chair of ‘Youth Adults Helping U’ - a philanthropic group serving the Vancouver community, and a Senior Prefect. To add to her list of accomplishments, she was the recipient of the West Vancouver Youth Appreciation Award and the Mulgrave Global Awareness Award. A truly compassionate spirit, Isa has also lent comfort and reassurance to others in her role on the MERT team. Tufts University, Duke University, and Boston College are just some of the post-secondary institutions she has been accepted to. Isa has chosen to study in the Huntsman Programme in International Studies and Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
TIANLE (HARRY) FAN Tianle (Harry) has been at Mulgrave since Grade 10, and is a principled, thoughtful student. This past year, Harry helped with the Christmas Tree Sale and has, over the years, been a member of the Cross Country team. Harry has also volunteered at the West Vancouver Library in the role of a ‘bookbuddy’. Whilst initially nervous, he soon found the experience very rewarding, especially when he made connections with the more shy children in the programme. Harry’s proudest achievement during his time at Mulgrave was the successful fundraising he helped organise for Envision Vancouver. Harry has been awarded a $7000 scholarship from Simon Fraser University and is considering attending either Simon Fraser University or the University of British Columbia in the fall with a desire to enter into business school.
RAFAEL GONZALEZ Rafael came to Mulgrave in 2004 as a Kindergartener. In 2004, Paul Martin was Prime Minister and Facebook had under a million users. 1.8 billion users and two Prime Ministers later, Rafael is graduating. In his thirteen years at Mulgrave, Rafael has enjoyed playing soccer and rugby. The culmination of which was playing every minute of every game in his Senior soccer season. Academically, Rafael has always enjoyed learning about the past in history and writing in English. The latter of which connects to Rafael’s creative interest: novel writing. So far, Rafael has completed two novels, which he is in the process of editing. Other commitments at school include participating in Balding for Dollars, coaching soccer and rugby, the Slam Poetry Team, Book Drive organisation, ZOOM Film Festival, and the school play. Some of Rafael’s unofficial extracurricular pursuits have included founding an apocalypse survival club and trying to undermine the house system by creating a whole new house called Marx. As much as Rafael may downplay his fondness for school, there will always be a part of him that is out there on the soccer field, in the pouring rain, covered in grass, and smiling as he returns to class. Rafael has been accepted to several liberal arts colleges across the US, and has chosen to attend Amherst College in Massachusetts.
LIAM GRAY Liam entered Mulgrave School in Grade 1 and has been an all-around student who has learnt to appreciate and excel in many aspects of learning ever since that day. This is evidenced by his accomplishments in a vast array of activities, including as a member of the Senior Boys Rugby, Soccer and Basketball Teams, Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir and Jazz Band, MSAC, and as House Captain, as well as through his participation in WE Day and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Programme. From all of this (and more), Liam identifies the completion of his Extended Essay on the topic To What Extent Has the 2011 Rugby World Cup Geographically and Economically Benefited Auckland, New Zealand? as a notable memory of his years at Mulgrave. This is because of the fact that he was able to combine his passions and develop his research and writing skills to create a tangible product, which he is incredibly proud of. Liam has received acceptances and entrance scholarships from a number of universities, including UBC, the University of Toronto, Western University, Queen’s University, and the University of Waterloo. Liam will have his pick of top universities to choose from when he makes a final decision about where to study business next year.
ARIA GULD Aria has been at Mulgrave since Kindergarten, and has enjoyed the many sports and clubs that the school has to offer whilst establishing long lasting friendships. Throughout her time at Mulgrave, Aria has been an integral part of the student body. Her active role in leadership, service and athletics were highlighted through her involvement with Senior School Advisory Council, Grad Committee, and Senior Prefect Team. Aria has been involved in many of the athletics opportunities offered here at Mulgrave, including the Volleyball, Basketball, and Tennis programmes. She is a dedicated and supportive team member who encourages every athlete, no matter what their ability. Her greatest memory of this year was finishing her Extended Essay, an exploration of the implications that arise when we mimic human behaviour with artificial intelligence. Aria has been accepted to several universities across Canada and will be attending Western University in the fall.
WILLIAM GUREVYCH William has been a part of the Mulgrave community since Grade 11. He is a kind and thoughtful individual who has had the opportunity to represent Mulgrave in the Senior Choir and as a member of the Volleyball Team. One of Will’s favourite moments at Mulgrave occurred during the mock exams. Whilst writing an English paper, his chair broke! This was heard throughout the examination room. However, as a determined DP student, Will knelt behind his desk and continued writing. Will demonstrated the same persistence when installing his DP Art exhibition, where he explored drawing, found materials, and sculpture. Whilst at the opening reception, Will was interviewed by the North Shore News. Will has an adorable younger brother with whom he is very close, and he will continue to be a role model for him, especially as next year, as he plans to remain nearby while studying Management at the University of British Columbia.
NAZSHIRIN (SHIRINE) HAGHJOU Nazhirin (Shirine) glided through the doors of Mulgrave at the beginning of Grade 11 and has not looked back since. She has been an active member of the Grad Committee, lending her style and grace to the many events they organised this past year. In addition to this, she has also been an active member of the Prefect Committee, and she has acted as a CIS student representative. Her passion for law has led her to join the Human Rights Club, and her creative self was realized through her acting debut in the school’s production of Peter Pan. She has noted that her favourite memory of Mulgrave has been joining Math Studies and both the 2016 and 2017 Semi Formal Dances. Shirine has been accepted to Durham University, the University of Glasgow, and McGill University and has received scholarship offers, but she intends to continue her studies at the University of British Columbia in order to continue her pursuit of the study of law.
DAISY HARRIS Daisy has been at Mulgrave since Grade 6 and has taken full advantage of the rich array of experiences that the school has offered her. Throughout her many years at Mulgrave, Daisy has been an integral part of the student body; her steady presence and empathy for others offering a safe place for anyone who spent time with her. Her active role in both leadership and athletics were exemplified through her involvement with the Senior Prefect Team, Senior Service Action Council, and many other initiatives at Mulgrave. Daisy also has been involved in the school Jazz Choir and Chamber Choir, giving outstanding performances at many shows and school assemblies. As well, she was an integral member of the Senior Prefect Team and was nominated as Head Girl in her final year at the school. Throughout Daisy’s time at Mulgrave, she has received awards for her outstanding commitment to service, leadership, and athletics. Daisy has many great memories from her Mulgrave experience, but the fondest is the closing night of Rogue of the Railway, her very first Mulgrave play. In the fall, Daisy will be attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.
JORDAN HENDERSON As a Mulgrave ‘lifer’, Jordan knows what being a Mulgravian means all too well. From Kindergarten onward, Jordan has brought her constant enthusiasm and infectious smile into nearly every aspect of the school. Often taking the role of a leader, she has served on the Athletics Council, Student Voice Committee, House Leadership Team, Mulgrave Emergency Response Team, Service Action Council, and most recently, as Senior Arts Prefect. Whilst her favourite memories were spent on the basketball and volleyball courts with her teammates, she will never forget the times spent on school trips to River’s Inlet and Eastern USA. Jordan is an exceptional basketball player who shows tremendous discipline and passion for the game. She has been the recipient of the North Shore All Star Award and the BC ‘A’ Provincial 2nd Team All Star Award for that sport. Jordan has decided to study kinesiology and health sciences in the fall at Queen’s University. We wish you every success, Jordan!
GRACE HEPPELL Grace has been at Mulgrave since Grade 8. She has been a key and active member of the graduating class community, and this has been fully demonstrated through her involvement as a member of the Grad Committee and the Semi Formal Committee, and as the student lead for the grad gift to the school and grad dress up days. Grace has shown her athleticism through being a member of the Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis and Cross Country Teams at various points over the last few years. She has also been a keen participant in outdoor education trips. Indeed, her favourite Mulgrave memory is the night kayak during Grade 9 Camp. In the arts, Grace has been a regular member of the Senior Choir and been an active filmmaker winning recognition at the ZOOM Film Festival. Next year, after considering many university offers, Grace has decided to study biochemistry at McGill University where she has received a $3,000 scholarship.
JACOB HIOM During his first Latin class, Jacob – another of Mulgrave’s lifers - told Ms. McIntyre that he found Greek and other ancient history much more interesting than Roman history. Her prophetic reply was that after taking Latin for a year, he would enjoy Roman history more. Ever since completing Latin in Grade 7, Roman history has been what Jacob has wanted to study in the future, and his plan is to do so at Durham University next year. For his Personal Project, Jacob ran across England following the Roman-built Hadrian’s Wall, and in his Extended Essay, rather topically, he analysed the impact of building walls on the long-term survival of countries. Jacob is an accomplished trail runner, representing the school at Cross Country Provincials this year, and he is an equally skilled soccer player and passionate Everton supporter. Jacob has a love for the outdoors, and for the past nine years, he has either attended or been a leader at Camp Summit in Squamish. He diligently served the school by volunteering in the library throughout his MYP years and more recently as a MERT responder. We wish Jacob every success in the future.
HUI JIE (EDITH) HU Hui Jie (Edith) joined Mulgrave in her Grade 9 year and has been a leader in the Design Club for all of her time here. Her passion for expressing herself through Visual Arts and Design has been evident to all of us at Mulgrave, but perhaps her earliest demonstration of this was the Celebration of Learning for her Personal Project in Grade 10. She made a small architectural model entirely out of chopsticks; this project and the Celebration would become one of Edith’s fondest memories from her years here. Edith’s passion for Visual Arts and her prolific work and focus has gained her acceptances to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Art Center College of Design, Maryland Institute College of Art and California College of the Arts. Of these prestigious schools, it seems that Edith will likely select Art Center College of Design to further her studies.
KEVIN HU Kevin has made numerous positive contributions to Mulgrave School since joining us back in Grade 6. He has been a member of MSAC, the Athletics Council, the HeadsUp Peer Advising, and our Prefect Team, where he most recently served as Deputy Head Boy. Kevin has played in the school’s Concert and Jazz Bands whilst also singing in the Chamber and Jazz Choirs. He has also played on numerous sports teams, from soccer to badminton to basketball, in addition to participating in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh programmes, all whilst achieving Principal’s List standing in his classes. In fact, it is his Grade 9 Summit snow caving expedition that serves as his favourite school memory. Kevin has also won numerous awards in Math and Athletics ranging from Middle School Athlete of the Year to Canadian Math Olympiad Honourable Mention. It goes without saying that Kevin has been accepted to many of the universities to which he has applied, including Oxford, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, UCLA and UC Berkeley. It is Stanford University, however, where Kevin will spend his university education studying mathematics and computer science. Well done, Kevin!
ZAKIR JAMAL Zakir joined Mulgrave in Grade 5 and has contributed a great deal to this community. This year, he served on Grad Committee and the Human Rights Club. Zakir, an eloquent and passionate writer and speaker, has honed his ability to get a response from an audience. He has consistently demonstrated this through his long-term involvement in and acting as co-captain of MUN, Debate and Slam Poetry, as well as his contributions to a satirical blog. Furthermore, he has enjoyed participating in theatre productions. His interest in and knowledge about world affairs are remarkable and conversations with Zakir are unfailingly interesting and often stimulating. Zakir has been accepted to McGill University and the University of Chicago and plans to attend the latter; he commented that he will study one or a combination of economics, politics, international relations, or possibly even engineering. As his favourite Mulgrave memory is of the recent US trade embargo against Mulgrave, which many of us failed to notice, one can see that he should thrive in the intellectually challenging university setting. Zakir’s sincerity, wit, and passion for ‘the real world’ have been appreciated and will be missed.
JOHN JANG John has been a Mulgravian since Grade 7 and has embraced the joy, laughter, and tears that come with being an IB student. An avid sportsman, John has been part of the Mulgrave Soccer Team, as well as the Golf Team. In the last two years, John has spent countless hours playing badminton as both a social and athletic pursuit. A few of his many highlights over the past six years have been the Indian Arm kayaking camping trip, participating in Duke of Edinburgh programme (achieving both Bronze and Silver status), taking first place in Maths Challengers, as well as creating his riveting art piece about the tragic Sewol Ferry Disaster in Korea. In addition to this, John has stated that one of his favourite memories this year has been grad camping trips, the Semi Formal, and his role in organising Memory Lane. Next year, he intends to study at the University of Toronto with a focus in science leading to dentistry.
ZHIHAN (JIMMY) JIANG Zhihan (Jimmy) joined Mulgrave School in Grade 10. The IB programme presents us with the so-called Learner Profile, a list of attributes that make a great scholar. Perhaps the most elusive one, in this very busy school, is the quality of balance. Over the past three years, Jimmy has shown us just what that looks like: in athletics and outdoor pursuits, he has played on the Senior Boys Soccer Team, been an Athletics Council volunteer and taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh programme, which sees students planning and leading a five-day expedition in BC’s backcountry. In the sciences, Jimmy became the school’s champion in the 2016 Fermat Math Contest, and he is especially proud of achieving a perfect ‘7’ in his Chemistry Internal Assessment. To round that out, Jimmy found an avenue for his artistic sensibilities by becoming one of the co-founders of the Calligraphy Club. Through all this, however, it is mathematics and business that drive Jimmy and he plans to pursue Mathematics at the University of British Columbia. Congratulations, Jimmy!
LOUIS KELEHER Louis has been a member of the Mulgrave community since Grade 6 and has made a lasting impression on his peers and many teachers. This year, Louis was awarded the responsibility of a Prefect, a role he performed with grace. During his time at Mulgrave, Louis has been a member of the Human Rights Club and has volunteered with many outside organisations and cultural centres. Louis has also been involved in many extracurricular activities; he was a member of the Cross Country, Badminton, and Rugby Teams. In addition to his athletic contributions, Louis is a true performer; being a member of our choir for three years and taking opportunities during Open Mic, talent shows, and Memory Lane to entertain his peers, teachers, and our larger community. His energy will be remembered. One of his most memorable moments was the Eastern Canada trip in Grade 9. Next year, as a fluent Japanese speaker, Louis plans to move to Japan and study at Yokohama National University.
KYU BUM (LUCKY) KIM Kyu Bum (Lucky) has been a member of the Mulgrave community since Grade 3. During this time, Lucky has eagerly participated in initiatives across the four strands of school life. He has been a member of Grad Committee, Athletics Council, MSAC, SSAC, Student Ambassadors and the Prefect Team. He sings proudly in the school’s Concert and Chamber Choirs whilst also playing in the school’s Jazz Band. Athletically, Lucky has participated in our rugby, basketball and volleyball programmes where he helped guide our Basketball Team to three straight Howe Sound Zone Championship titles and Provincial Championship berths. In rugby, he was pivotal in helping his team win the gold medal at the 2016 MIT Rugby 7s championship and the silver medal at this year’s tournament. His favourite memory, however, is the Grade 9 Eastern Canada trip where he made strong friendships and had many adventures. Next year, Lucky will attend the University of Toronto, where he plans to study sciences. All the best, Lucky!
MADELEINE KIRKWOOD Madeleine is a lifer having been at Mulgrave since Kindergarten! Her favourite memory was having a Grade 12 buddy whilst in Kindergarten and in turn being a Grade 12 buddy this year. During her time at Mulgrave, Madeleine has been involved in a whole host of activities in all four of the strands. She has demonstrated her service to the community and beyond by being a member of the Mulgrave Emergency Response Team, by playing a key role on the Grad Committee, and by going on a number of Global Outreach service trips. In terms of the arts, Madeleine has participated in the drama productions and won a number of ZOOM Film Festival awards over the five years that she has participated. With reference to athletics, she has played several sports for the school, including swimming, volleyball, track and field and basketball. Madeleine has also been involved in Mulgrave’s unofficial fifth strand - Outdoor Education - as she has completed the Bronze and Silver Awards for the Duke of Edinburgh programme. Madeleine is taking a gap year in order to travel through Europe, but she ultimately intends to study criminology or social psychology in the UK. Best of luck next year, Madeleine; we wish you every success!
SOPHIE LESJAK Despite Sophie joining our school only last year, she has made many outstanding contributions to the community in a short time. In addition to her stellar academic achievement, Sophie maintained a balanced lifestyle, incorporating service, music, sports, and internationalism in her life. She was a member of Mulgrave’s first Girls Soccer Team and has played competitive soccer in the community for many years. She plays the piano at a high level and has volunteered to play at recitals for seniors in their residences. She has also been tutoring a Grade 7 student in core academic subjects for the last two years. A Prefect, Sophie was involved in both the Grad and Semi Formal Committees and the Human Rights Club, as well as being a member of the CIS International Certification group, working to foster global citizenship in Mulgrave students. Sophie also had an incredible experience travelling to Ethiopia last summer, where she supported a family friend who was taking her adopted daughter to meet her birth family. Sophie is thrilled to be going to Wesleyan College next year, where she will study either social science or sciences within a liberal arts programme. Whatever she chooses to pursue, however, it is certain that she will excel, as she has at Mulgrave.
JIAZHOU (MAX) LI Jiazhou (Max) Li began his Mulgrave experience in Grade 10 and, with characteristic intensity, wasted no time getting into school life. He was a Prefect and member of the Grad Committee, and he joined the Basketball Team and the Badminton team, the Target Alpha Club, the Multicultural Club and the Science Club and, just to make sure he ‘maxed out’ on numbers, he also joined the Math Club for good measure. One of his favourite numbers? The perfect score he achieved on a Chemistry Internal Assessment, which was especially satisfying because he struggled at the start. That same determination saw him win awards in math, physics, and chemistry contests, as well as the Youth Recognition Award, Outstanding Youth Team, and Math and Physics subject awards. In the fall, Max plans to study Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Congratulations, Max!
LINGSHAN (RITA) LI Lingshan (Rita) has been a member of the Mulgrave community since Grade 10, and has enjoyed many aspects of school life during her time here. One of her favourite memories is from Grade 10 camp when she felt part of the Mulgrave family. Rita was part of the ‘Envision Vancouver’ volunteer group where she fundraised to support underprivileged youth in Vancouver. This year, Rita helped make homemade jam for their Holiday Jam Sale fundraiser. This experience, and Rita’s daily actions, demonstrate her empathy towards others in her community and her willingness to help and give back to others. Next year she plans on studying film at the University of Toronto. Congratulations, Rita; we wish you every success!
FANGHAN (HANK) LIU A Mulgrave lifer, Fanghan (Hank) has been a member of our school community since Kindergarten. He has certainly taken advantage of every opportunity that the Mulgrave experience provides; Hank was in SSAC and MSAC and consistently score kept at games, in addition to being a productive Prefect Team member and House Captain for Luther King. He is an avid sportsman and has been on the Basketball, Volleyball and Rugby Teams. Hank has also been a keen chorister since Grade 2; his involvement includes membership in Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. One of Hank’s favourite Mulgrave memories was his first day at Mulgrave, the day he was first introduced to the family with whom he is so close to today. It feels like just yesterday he was still playing handball and toilet tag in the Junior School parking lot. Due to Hank’s portfolio and his sheer determination, he has been given a great opportunity to study Film at Emerson College in the coming year.
ANDREW LO Andrew joined Mulgrave in Grade 10 and has been a dedicated member of the Volleyball Team each year. Resilience is an attribute Andrew developed by overcoming the challenges of having to restart both his Extended Essay and ESS IA. Consequently, the moment he completed his Extended Essay stands out as Andrew’s best memory of the last two years. Whilst making his subject choices for the Diploma Programme, Andrew discovered his passion for acting. During the summer of 2015, he stumbled into a summer acting programme at Vancouver Young Actors School, became immersed in the crafts of improvisation, auditioning and voice over, and has since booked a role in both a commercial and a TV show. In addition to acting, Andrew is deeply interested in psychology, exploring the behavioural patterns of individuals in our society. As an actor, he strives to develop the psychological characteristics of a character in order to bring them to life. Andrew will be attending the University of Southern California next year to earn a Bachelor’s in Acting.
ZHEN WEI (ERIC) LOU Zhen Wei (Eric) has been an key member of the Mulgrave community since Grade 10, and in that time has developed strong connections with his peers and teachers. Eric is a principled and thoughtful student. His participation in Advisory over the years has been positive as he has always been keen to share his experiences in the Senior School with our Grade 10s and 11s. Over the years, Eric has tutored his peers in Mandarin and has been a member of our Rugby Team and Choir. Eric’s Grade 10 Personal Project was a highlight, where he built a skateboard ramp and then had the pleasure of using it. One of Eric’s favourite memories of Mulgrave was our Semi Formal, and he is very much looking forward to Grad Ball. Eric hopes to attend either the University of Victoria or the University of British Columbia with a focus in music. We wish you all the best in the future, Eric!
KIYAANA MANJI Kiyaana came to Mulgrave in Grade 3. Harnessing her limitless amounts of enthusiasm and energy, she has completed the Gold Level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and over the past ten years, has been committed to basketball, volleyball, and strength and fitness training. She has also been heavily involved in the House Leadership Team and Mulgrave Student Voice. As service to others is a very high priority for Kiyaana, she has been able to assist the elderly, run events such as ‘chai nights’, and help lead religious ceremonies within the Ismaili community. Kiyaana has also contributed to a singing ensemble where, with six other girls and the help of her teacher, she was able to create her own versions of popular songs such as ‘Kiss from a Rose’ by Seal. By moving beyond her comfort zone, Kiyaana has become a more confident singer. These days, she can be heard leading hymns at her mosque. Next year, she will study at the Ted Rogers School of Business Management at Ryerson University. Kiyaana’s consideration for others, positive attitude, and fun sense of humour will be missed.
NICOLAS MARIN Nicolas came to Mulgrave in Grade 9, and since that time has contributed in many ways to the school community. He has organised the Battle of the Houses, the Stream Keepers Club, been an editor and instructor for the Young Movie Makers after-school programme, and filmed an interview video for the ZOOM Film Festival awards evening. His film-making talents have been featured throughout many of our Mulgrave community videos. In addition, Nicolas participated in the Ecuador Me-to-We trip and was active in rock climbing, cross country, the Chess Club, and ZOOM Film Festival as a participant. His dry, satirical wit has enlivened many a class, especially when politics and ethics are under discussion. As Nic’s passion is clearly in the area of film, next year he hopes to study digital film production at Capilano University. Well done, Nic, and best wishes for the future!
THOMAS MCINTYRE Thomas, who has been a member of the Mulgrave community since Grade 1, began his involvement with the Green Team in his Middle School years and, in Grade 11, took on the challenge of leading the team. His work was both appreciated and publicly recognised as he was the recipient of the Moller Sustainability Award in both Grades 9 and 11. He has also participated in MUN and the Human Rights Club and served as a Prefect: this year, he co-chaired the Grad Christmas Tree Sale. During his time at Mulgrave, he also demonstrated his sincere interest in academics in all classes and consistently achieved Honour Roll standing. Thomas received offers from six universities and is deciding between New York University where he would study the liberal arts core or the University of Toronto where he would study business. He will, no doubt, be an excellent addition to whichever university community he joins. Thomas’ favourite Mulgrave memory is ‘Every Grade 12 English class’—likely because of the contributions that he made to the ethos of his class. Thomas’ quiet determination, humility and subtle sense of humour have been appreciated and will be missed.
JACOB MCKENZIE Jacob has been at Mulgrave since Grade 3. His favourite memory was doing a full rebuild of a dirt bike for his Grade 10 Personal Project. During his time at Mulgrave, Jacob has been involved in a wide variety of activities from rugby to Model United Nations and basketball. Moreover, he was on the Athletics Council and the House Leadership Team. He has been recognised for his positive role at the school and was elected a Senior Prefect for his Grade 12 year. Jacob has received acceptances at a number of universities including Queen’s University, Bishop’s University, Carleton University, the University of Toronto, and Australian National University. He has also received scholarships at Carleton University and Queen’s University but ultimately has chosen to attend Australian National University to pursue International Security Studies. Best of luck next year, Jacob; we wish you every success!
FARIS MECKLAI Faris has been a valued member of the Mulgrave Community since he joined us in his Grade 10 year. In his time here, Faris has founded various initiatives such as the Streamkeepers Club and the Gender Sexuality Alliance. He is also a member of the Model United Nations Club and Co-chair of the Human Rights Club. He is known not only for his unique sense of humour, but also for his ability to lend support and advice to his peers. Faris’ academic accomplishments are notable as he has been chosen as one of 33 out of 3,500 applicants to receive the Loran Scholar Award in recognition of his character, service and leadership. In addition, he has also won multiple scholarships from the University of Waterloo, and he has been chosen as winner of the UBC Tuum Est Experiential Award. With a world of opportunity waiting for him, he has chosen to study Arts and Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
RANNA MEHR Ranna has been at Mulgrave since Grade 6 and in that time has participated in myriad activities, both in and outside of school. Over the years, Ranna has been a member of MERT, SSAC and Student Voice. She has also been involved in Model UN, Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir, and has achieved both Bronze and Silver in the Duke of Edinburgh programme. When asked to pick a favourite Mulgrave memory, Ranna stated she loved the Grade 10 Winter Camp, especially dinner with her cabin group. Ranna’s enthusiasm and empathic demeanor led her to receive a West Vancouver Youth Appreciation Award and recognition as an Outstanding Youth Team in 2015 for organising Spirit Week, whose theme was ‘Erase the Stigma’ surrounding mental health. Ranna received acceptance to a number of universities, including Queen’s University, Western University, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, King’s College London, Durham University, and University of Aberdeen, where she has been offered an International Undergraduate Scholarship in the amount of £14,300. Ranna intends to attend the University of St. Andrews with a focus in international relations.
SUNITA MIRZADA Sunita joined us in Grade 11 as one of three students from Afghanistan. She has been an instrumental part of the Sparks Club, sharing her experiences of Afghanistan and the Sparks School. A talented artist, Sunita received the Visual Art 11 subject award last year. When asked to choose a favourite memory, Sunita stated that she loved Semi Formal, as well as stating that she has made many memories here in British Columbia. Sunita is considering a number of schools, including the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Ontario College of Art and Design; however, she would like to stay in Vancouver and so is also considering BCIT and Simon Fraser University with a focus in architecture. We wish Sunita great success in all her future endeavours and thank her for sharing her culture and her kindness with us.
EHSANULLAH (EHSAN) MUSAFIR Ehsanullah (Ehsan) has been a part of the Mulgrave community since Grade 11. He is a resilient and hard-working young man who has been a valued member of our community. Ehsan has been an active member of Sparks Club where he worked to write and illustrate a storybook for the Early Childhood programmes in Kabul and here at Mulgrave. Ehsan is a true friend to many of his peers, consistently supporting others in any way he can. Although not officially on the Cross Country Team this year, Ehsan continued running with his close friends on the weekends. Ehsan is most proud of writing 4,000 words for his Extended Essay about the Cuban Missile Crisis through historical investigation, which he was very passionate about. Ehsan is interested in studying electrical engineering at university and will begin his post-secondary studies at Simon Fraser University.
HAROON NAWROZ Haroon describes his first day at Mulgrave as the ‘best and loveliest’ memory he has. Arriving at the start of Grade 11, he recalls being warmly welcomed by all in the community and is deeply thankful for the opportunity to strive for excellence in education by embracing the opportunities Mulgrave offers. Whilst at Mulgrave, Haroon has learnt that school “isn’t just about getting good grades; it’s about gaining the tools like empathy, resilience, commitment, and determination to change the world”. Haroon deeply appreciates the international ethos of the school, where he feels that wisdom is developed through sharing knowledge and promoting common values. His passion for Afghanistan has been shared with us through the visual display he helped develop and through his contributions in class. In addition to his work with the Sparks Club developing an illustrated short story for children at Sparks Academy in Kabul, Haroon taught Persian and Pashto to a Mulgrave parent. Next year, Haroon plans to study health sciences at a Canadian university in order to be able to return to Afghanistan and help its suffering people obtain better health and education.
KATHERINE O’BRIEN Katherine has grown with Mulgrave, having been here since Kindergarten. A natural organiser, she loves to plan social events for her advisee group and for her friends. This talent has also extended into her involvement with the theatre group at Mulgrave. She has worked on multiple school productions in various roles, including Stage Manager, Production Manager, Producer and Co-Director. She has also been a valued member of the Girl’s Basketball and Volleyball Teams and as a Mulgrave Student Ambassador. Katherine’s fondest memory is of the bond that was created among her crew during the Mulgrave production of Peter Pan. She also enjoyed her experience on the school service trip to Costa Rica where she helped to rehabilitate turtles. Katherine will be continuing to strengthen her love of adventure next year by taking a gap year to work and travel across Southeast Asia.
JACKSON PIKE Jackson has been a student at Mulgrave since Kindergarten and has thoroughly enjoyed his time here. Jackson is appreciated by peers and faculty alike for his good humour and quirky wit. Jackson has immersed himself in a wide variety of activities, including Human Rights Club, Prefect Committee, WE Day, the Costa Rica Outreach Trip, and Action 4 Ester. Furthermore, Jackson played basketball and volleyball and participated in cross country, the Peter Pan production, and several adventurous Duke of Edinburgh trips. He is especially valued as a member of the Vocal Jazz and Chamber Choirs. It is clear that Jackson’s interests span a tremendous number of disciplines, and we know that he can do whatever he sets his mind to. Jackson indicated that his most memorable moment was writing his Mathematics IA. He has been accepted to Western University, University of Guelph, University of Victoria, University of Toronto, University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. Next year, Jackson has decided to take a year off to study trades at BCIT before continuing to pursue his studies at Western University.
SEBASTIAAN PRINS Sebastiaan has been a proud member of the Mulgrave community since entering in Grade 8. He is quietly overjoyed he had the opportunity to represent Mulgrave as a Student Ambassador, as well as the occasions when he played on the Football (Soccer) and Basketball Teams. When Sebastiaan saw the Tommy Hunt-designed totem pole for the first time, it was a pivotal moment in his experience as a Mulgravian. Another yet impactful memory was winning the Thinker Award in Grade 9. As a model IB student, he is deeply invested in the intercultural affairs of this country and others. He has a strong understanding of the importance of politics and its relation with the culture of Canada and America, which is why he followed the American election so closely and led discussions among his classmates. Next year, Sebastiaan will be studying international business at Maastricht University. Sebastiaan will thus be going back to his roots as he was born in Amsterdam and speaks Dutch. He is looking forward to being in Europe.
MARTHA SHAW If all the world’s a stage, Martha is no mere player on it. She joined Mulgrave in Grade 8 and made it clear that she would play the role of student her way. If this were a Broadway Playbill in your hand, her bio would read that she sat on the Prefect Committee, HeadsUp Peer Advising, Arts Council, and took part in the Cypress Student Summit and Global Week; that she sang in the Chamber and Jazz Choirs and performed in numerous school plays: Slayer, Peter Pan (in the role of Tinkerbell, this was her favourite), and Against Progress. But the Playbill cannot tell you the phenomenal dedication she brings to her passion - the theatre. It may be cliché to say one must suffer for one’s art, but it’s true, at least where really good art is concerned. Martha showed again and again that she was willing to push herself, really extraordinarily hard, to ensure that the show went on. For her effort, she has been accepted at and been offered (nearly $100,000) substantial scholarships at top acting schools in the US, including Chapman University where she plans to study screen acting. Congratulations, Martha!
POPPY SHAW Poppy burst onto the Mulgrave scene in Grade 8 and quickly became known for being involved in everything! School Action Council, Global Week, Spirit Week, House Leadership, Choir, Basketball, Cross Country, Grad Committee, Prefect, Global Outreach trips, ZOOM Film Festival, and more! If it was happening, Poppy was probably there. Her creativity led to DP Double Arts (which she is overjoyed to have survived), making a poppy-shaped guitar for her Personal Project, and developing a fashion store app. Who can forget the amazingly scary movies she has made? Poppy won Best Editing in the Reel to Reel Film Festival, made a documentary in Africa, and has been nominated for an award at the BC Schools Film Festival to add to her many ZOOM Film Festival awards. Having lived in four countries already, next year, Poppy plans to add a fifth to that list by studying at Chapman University in California, and it is not surprising that Poppy will be pursuing her passion for film production. We’ll see you at the Oscars, Poppy!
SOPHIA SINCLAIR Sophia (Sophie) has made a considerable impact across the four strands of school life since joining the Mulgrave community in Grade 10. She has been a member of HeadsUp Peer Advising and our Prefect Team whilst also participating in the school play and in our basketball programme. She played prominent roles in Slayer, Peter Pan, and most recently, in Against Progress. Sophie also sang in the school’s Jazz and Chamber Choirs whilst participating in many Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and trips. In the community, she volunteered as an art class supervisor for children and as a cafeteria aid at a local senior centre. Her favourite school memory, however, is her Grade 10 Personal Project: Sophie composed, funded, recorded, and professionally produced an original composition. Recognition of her efforts include the Grade 11 Music Award and Honour Roll standing in every term of her time here at Mulgrave. Sophie has been accepted to many universities but would like to keep this information private until she makes her final decision. Sophie plans on pursuing musical theatre with a minor in Mandarin in the fall. Well done, Sophie!
NATASHA SOMANI Natasha joined us at Mulgrave in her Grade 4 year. During her time at Mulgrave, she has forged many close bonds with friends across the grades. For several years, she has volunteered her free time at 4Cats Art Studio serving the community of children there and developing her passion for creative arts. Her creativity was, perhaps, most evident to the Mulgrave community during the Celebration of Learning for her Personal Project in Grade 10, when she shared with us the cookbook she developed. Or perhaps her creativity was most evident to us when she was avoiding encounters with Ms. Clark whilst wearing non-Mulgrave hoodies and jackets. Natasha aims for social good and has been part of the Human Rights Club since Grade 10. This year, Natasha has served on the Prefect Committee and the Grad Committee. Natasha has received offers from UBC, Ryerson University, and Western University, but has yet to make her final decision as to where she will attend in the fall.
SARA SOMANI Sara joined Mulgrave in Grade 4. During her time here, she has impressed others with her energy and her great sense of humour. She has immersed herself in a wide variety of activities both in and outside of school. Over the years, this has included Sara’s involvement as a member of the Prefect Committee, the Human Rights Club, as well as the Grad Committee where she helped organise many grad events. Sara is a dedicated yoga trainer and a volunteer and staff member of the 4Cats Art Studio. Her musical interests include playing the piano and guitar. One of Sara’s favourite memories was going on the Grade 9 Eastern Canada trip where she made friendships that will last for a very long time. Sara has been accepted to McGill University, Western University, the University of Toronto and Ryerson University. She has decided to study Creative Industries at Ryerson University. This should be a perfect fit for Sara as the programme - unique to Ryerson - studies the creative fields from the perspective of enterprise development and entrepreneurship, and blends artistic, media, communication, cultural, and business studies. Good luck, Sara!
JUDSON STANTON Judson joined Mulgrave in the Middle School in Grade 8. Since joining, Judson has become an integral member of the Mulgrave community. His enthusiasm and passion helped him become a Curie House Captain, a Prefect, a part of the Student Voice programme, and a Student Ambassador. In athletics, where Judson really shines, he has been a member of the Senior Boys Soccer Team, and the Senior Boys Rugby Team. In the arts, Judson has been a member of the Senior Jazz Band and has been a member of the West Vancouver Youth Band. His favourite Mulgrave memory is winning the MIT Rugby 7s Cup in front of the home fans last year and following that up with his MVP performance this year. Judson has been accepted to Western University’s Ivey School of Business, Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business, and University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce. Judson is planning to join his brother, and Mulgrave alum, Connor, at Western next year.
NICOLE STANTON Since joining the Mulgrave community in Grade 8, Nicole has made many positive contributions across the four strands of school life. She has been a member of MERT, Athletics Council, Curie’s House Leadership Team, Student Ambassadors, and most recently, the Senior Prefect Team. Nicole has also played a significant leadership role on all the teams in which she has been involved, ranging from soccer and cross country to basketball and swimming. She has represented Mulgrave at Provincial Championships in both basketball and cross country. She was awarded Mulgrave’s Spirit Award, the All-Heart Award for Cross Country, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, in addition to achieving Honour Roll status every term whilst enrolled at Mulgrave. Nicole’s favourite school memory is the Duke of Edinburgh rock climbing trip she participated in with her classmates in Grade 10. Nicole has been accepted to Western University, Dalhousie University, Carleton University and McMaster University, but it is at Queen’s University in Kingston where Nicole will find herself studying global development, environmental sciences, and business next year. Well done, Nicole!
JENISSA SUNDERJI Jenissa came to Mulgrave in Grade 4. Over the past nine years, she has made a strong contribution to this community. In this, her graduation year, she has served on the Grad Committee, the Human Rights Club, and the Student Voice Council. She is proud of several accomplishments, including helping to realise the uniform option of pants for girls, gender-neutral bathrooms, and microwave ovens for student use. She helped organise the Christmas Cabaret, which was a mixture of a talent show, a gingerbread house-making contest, and karaoke. She has fond memories of making a teacher calendar, which had funny pictures of different teachers for each month of the year. In the process, she helped raise money for Amnesty International. Another significant involvement was her contribution to our school’s Volleyball Team every year since joining in Grade 4. Jenissa has also helped coach the Grade 5 Volleyball Team, and she was awarded the Most Improved Player award in Grade 7. Her plan is to study science at the University of Calgary and then hopefully health sciences. Jenissa’s good humour, fabulous smile, and kindness will be missed.
MOHAMMAD AMIN TAJI Amin joined Mulgrave’s Senior School in his Grade 11 year and started his time here with a trip to Camp Latona, which remains one of his most vivid memories of the last two years. In that same time, Amin has become a highly engaged member of the Mulgrave community. He stepped up as a leader to join the Mulgrave Prefect Team, where he helped with the organisation and implementation of events such as the annual Grad Christmas Tree Sale, and made new friends in joining the Volleyball and Basketball Teams. One thing that stands out about Amin is his quiet demeanor, which hides a well-rounded and delightful young man. Outside of the walls of Mulgrave, Amin has dedicated himself to piano and to volunteering to help new immigrants and refugees to Canada as they settle here; all this without expectation of any return or asking for recognition of his continual hard work. In the coming years, Amin wishes to pursue a degree in science, ideally at his top choice of schools, the University of British Columbia.
KATHARINE TURNER Katharine has been at Mulgrave since Grade 7 and in that time has shown outstanding leadership as a key member of the Random Acts of Kindness and Animal Welfare Clubs. She was also in both MSAC and SSAC, was a member of the Spirit Week Logistics Crew, and the HeadsUp Peer Advising group that advocates support for student well-being. Katharine’s enthusiastic demeanor has been on full display this past year as one half of the voice of our Monday morning announcements. Katharine’s flair for the dramatic has been evident through playing integral parts in our school productions over the years, most memorably in Rogue of the Railway, Slayer, and Peter Pan. Katharine has also participated in the ZOOM Film Festival these past four years and achieved Bronze in the Duke of Edinburgh programme. Last year, Katharine was the recipient of the Caroline Stevenson Brown Memorial Award for Excellence in Creative Writing, and she is a queen of the slam poem, as evidenced by her recurring participation in Hullabaloo. Earlier this year, Katharine received acceptance to Queen’s University with a scholarship of $6000. At this time, Katharine intends to attend Dalhousie University in Halifax, focussing on a double major or combined honours of Environmental Sustainability and Society with either International Development or English.
SHANIL VERJEE Shanil, a Mulgravian since Grade 2, has made an outstanding contribution to this community. In Middle School she was involved in MSAC and Mulgrave Public Square and served as a Student Ambassador. She carried on to serve on SSAC and Grad Committee in her Senior years. As well, Shanil is currently the co-captain of the Debate Team, which she has been involved in since Grade 7 and a choir member. Furthermore, she participated in the school plays from Grades 9 to 11. During her time at Mulgrave, Shanil has been the recipient of many awards, including Honour Roll, Principal’s List and Head of School List as well as the Theatre Award in Grades 10 and 11. In the wider community, she is the Co-Chair of the Youth Philanthropy Council of West Vancouver. Shanil applied for early admission and was accepted to Claremont McKenna College where she plans to study one or a combination of philosophy, politics, and economics. Her favourite, and hopefully humorous, memory of Mulgrave, is “the various moments of insanity that Ms. Morgan somehow categorises as ‘teaching IB English’”. Shanil’s dedication to her commitments, passion, creativity, and honesty will be missed.
QIU TONG (FIONA) WANG Qiu Tong (Fiona), who joined the Mulgrave community in Grade 9, has enjoyed the challenges of the Diploma Programme. She has been notable for her devotion to academics, her love of learning, inquisitive nature, and stellar work ethic. Fiona has very fond memories of her Grade 10 Personal Project in which she wrote a short book on the Beijing Opera. Other highlights were playing Chinese traditional music, singing in the school choir, participating in Walk So Kids Can Talk to raise awareness about bullying, and completing the requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award by kayaking around the Gulf Islands. In the process, she had to rely on every other member of the group to survive the experience, and acquired essential life skills whilst developing stronger friendships. Fiona describes the adventure as being unlike anything she has ever been a part of before. Her plans for the future are to study science and business at a Canadian university. Fiona’s quiet determination and thoughtful comments will be missed.
ZIYAN (JERRY) WANG Ziyan (Jerry) has been at Mulgrave since Grade 10, and has demonstrated all the qualities of a Mulgrave IB Diploma student through his participation in the four strands. In academics, Jerry has reached very high levels of achievement in several subject areas, most notably mathematics. This is an area of great interest for Jerry, and he has achieved much success over many years in a wide range of math competitions. In the arts, Jerry has been a key member of the Senior School Jazz and Concert Bands and in athletics, he has been a member of the Senior Cross Country Team. Jerry has shown commitment to community service both at school, where he helped lead the Grad Christmas Tree Sale and in the community, where he was a leader on the West Vancouver Youth Advisory Council - something for which he received an ‘Outstanding Student Award’ from the mayor. Jerry’s favourite school memory is the Grade 10 Winter Camp experience. Jerry is still deciding between the University of Washington and the University of Toronto, where he will pursue his studies in mathematics.
JOSHUA WHITE Joshua has been a Mulgravian since he was in Grade 5. His enthusiasm in the Lego Robotics co-curricular activity marked him as a competitor, and he has competed nearly every year since. This year, he and his team competed at the BC Provincial Competition for VEX Robotics, making their way to the World Championship in Kentucky and earning 5th place. His classmates in his advisory group appreciate his engineering skills most keenly during the holiday season for the annual gingerbread competition. Joshua is also service-oriented and has been a member of MERT, which is something he credits for his developed teamwork skills and the sense of community at Mulgrave. In addition to all of these commitments and his academic life, Joshua enjoys the outdoors; accomplishing the five-day kayaking trip to Desolation Sound for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition earned Joshua the Chief Outdoor Education award. Joshua is a unique individual in many ways, but perhaps the most exceptional of his features is the enjoyment he derived from the Extended Essay process, fuelling his genuine passion for learning. Joshua received offers from Queen’s University and the University of Waterloo, but has decided to study mechanical or mechatronics engineering at the University of British Columbia.
HAN FENG (PERCY) XIE Han Feng (Percy) has been a member of the Mulgrave community since Grade 10. During his three years at Mulgrave, Percy has participated eagerly in House competitions, athletics, and many service-based leadership initiatives. He was Deputy House Captain of Curie in our House system whilst also participating on the Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, and Rugby Teams. His many positive contributions on these teams helped our Badminton Team win the NSSSAA Jr. Division championship, our Basketball Team win the Howe Sound Zone championship, and our Rugby Team win the silver medal at this year’s MIT Rugby 7s tournament. Percy’s favourite school memory, however, is the service-based trip he took to Costa Rica in Grade 10 where he got to work with people who are truly passionate about helping others. Percy has been accepted to Emory University, University College London, and the University of Edinburgh, but he hasn’t yet decided where he will study engineering next year whilst away at university. All the best, Percy!
DINA YAGHOUBI Dina belongs to that elite group, the Mulgrave lifers, having been a part of our community since Kindergarten. She has contributed to the school in many ways, as a Student Ambassador, member of the Prefect Committee, WE Day participant, a leader of the Mulgrave Arts Council, a member of the choir, and in the theatrical production of Peter Pan. Her service has extended into the wider community, as well, through her volunteer work at the Skilled Kids Occupational Therapy Autism Clinic and the Bowen Island Family Practice Medical Clinic. In addition, Dina has played on the school Volleyball Team and badminton outside the school. A highlight for Dina was the Duke of Edinburgh Gold kayaking trip last year. Dina received offers from several universities and has decided to attend the University of British Columbia next year, where she will pursue her studies in sciences. Her sweet manner and lovely smile will certainly be missed at Mulgrave. Well done, Dina!
JISOO YOU Jisoo has been at Mulgrave since Kindergarten and has enjoyed the many sports and clubs that the school had to offer whilst establishing long-lasting friendships. Throughout her time at Mulgrave, Jisoo has been an integral part of the student body. Her active role in leadership, service, and athletics were highlighted through her involvement with Arts Council, HeadsUp Peer Advising, and being part of Invisible Children. Jisoo has been involved in many of the Arts strand opportunities offered at Mulgrave, as shown through her involvement with Jazz Band, Chamber Choir, and Senior Choir. She also showed great balance with her involvement in athletics through her participation with the school’s Titans Basketball and Volleyball programmes. Her greatest memories over her years at Mulgrave came from her Duke of Edinburgh sailing trip and the DP Art Show. Jisoo has been accepted to several universities around the world to study fine arts and will be attending the School of Visual Arts in New York City with a $50,000 scholarship. Congratulations, Jisoo!
FANG HAN (ELLEN) ZHANG Fang Han (Ellen) joined Mulgrave in Grade 7 and has contributed significantly to building the school’s sense of community. During her time at Mulgrave, she has immersed herself in some of the many opportunities the school has to offer: she won first place in the Grade 8 Public Speaking Competition and also earned the Arts Award in Grade 9. Her leadership roles include her participation leading HeadsUp Peer Advising, as well as the Arts Council. In addition to her work within the school, Ellen has been an avid participant in the Duke of Edinburgh programme, earning a Bronze Award. Ellen has indicated that her most memorable moments at Mulgrave were spent slaving over her Extended Essay in the bowels of the UBC Library. Ellen has been accepted to Queen’s University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Waterloo, but she intends to pursue her studies in neuroscience at the University of Toronto. Ellen’s wry sense of humour, as well as her sincerity, will be missed.
SHUANG DI (CLAUDIA) ZHANG Claudia joined Mulgrave in Grade 8 and quickly became an integral part of the Mulgrave community. She has often contributed her special talent on the Guzheng (Chinese zither), performing at various formal and informal school-wide events. Claudia has also immersed herself in a wide variety of activities, including consistent participation on the Badminton Team since Grade 10, organising and running the Graphic Design Club since Grade 11, and also volunteering at the school library. Claudia indicated that her most memorable moment was when she finally finished her Extended Essay, an analysis of the function and symbolic meaning of dreams in ‘Yin Shui Ci’ by Nalan Xingde. Claudia has been accepted by UCLA, Emory University, the University of Southern California, New York University, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, UBC, McGill University, and the University of Waterloo. She is going to pursue biochemistry next year, but has not yet decided which university she will attend. Best of luck, Claudia!
CO N G R AT U L AT I O N S
Class of 201 7 A special thanks to our advisors for their support and the kind words shared in each grad’s write-up: • Martin Anevich
• Alina Ianovskaia
• Brad Ovenell-Carter
• Rebecca Brunswick-Werner
• Katherine Kohler
• Kyle Prior
• Hazel Chee
• Claude Leduc
• Mark Pulfer
• Louise Chen
• Sarah Lee
• Libby Soper
• Kathryn Clark
• Alexandra McIntyre
• Ferdinand van Zyl
• Diana Ferreira
• Michael Moore
• John Wray
• Marc Foley
• Marlena Morgan
• Alison Wall
• Michael Frewin
• Mike Olynyk