By Nick Yates, ISB Communications
Published on Monday, April 25, 2022
Last Friday was a day for celebrating achievement at the International School of Beijing (ISB) as the annual High School Awards recognized graduating students who are empowered with purpose and compassion.
From Early Years to Grade 12, ISB offers challenging and joyful learning and is focused on ensuring every student can explore and identify co-curricular pursuits they are passionate about and can excel in. ISB students have chance to provide service to others and make a positive social impact. With High School students also given opportunities to build up real-world professional experience, the approach develops well-rounded, healthy, global citizens ready to succeed in many fields upon graduation.
Seniors Parade
Friday’s awards recognized the best students in various academic disciplines, performing and visual arts. An awards ceremony followed the annual Seniors Parade. These are fun traditions through which graduating students get to bask a little in the glory of their success while the community gets to celebrate with them.
Five “ISB Awards” were given to students who exemplify the school’s Mission and Vision. Matthew C, Karen H, Lei H, Evan L, and Mayah S and were honored because they have built strong relationships, explored their interests, and shown commitment to ISB.
Every year, this ISB Award is a top honor for students who have been involved in a range of activities, positively contributed to the school and wider community, and demonstrated social-emotional and cultural competencies. Matthew, Karen, Lei, Evan, and Mayah have shown admirable balance in their academics and co-curricular activities.
“I’ve grown so much at ISB, and I’ve had a lot of choice in how I navigate my way through my studies,” said Lei, who is planning to double-major in sociology and politics or history at college in the U.S. “Throughout my 13 years here, I’ve been blessed to be around people who are very socially and culturally aware. Ever since I was young, it’s been instilled in me to give back to the community and to the world. Now I’m older, that still holds true, and I’ve been very actively involved in service over the past few years.
“The IB Diploma is a very intense program, and it’s strongly emphasized at ISB, where people are very academic. Taking on the IB challenge has really helped me, not only intellectually, but in developing my social-emotional skills.”
Matthew said, “I’ve lived the Mission at ISB mainly through involvement with co-curricular activities – clubs and sports. I’m participating in track and field right now, and I’ve captained the volleyball and basketball teams. In academics, I’ve liked that there is such a focus on collaboration and communication, trying to be inclusive of all members of the community. The diversity of cultures stands out at ISB and that has been a great experience in preparing me for university.”
Community Service Leadership Awards were given to Sabrina L and Anna S, while Ava N won the Outstanding Community Service Award as a volunteer who has contributed significant time, energy, and effort to the ISB community and service projects.
Global Citizenship Award
ISB is committed to helping students both achieve in the exam hall and be well-rounded individuals with integrity and character. As these Seniors are poised to sit their exams and become ISB alumni, the High School is also preparing to honor one Grade 11 student with an EARCOS Global Citizenship Award. The winner for 2021-2022 will be a young person who fulfills both the criteria of the East Asia Regional Council of Schools’ (EARCOS) award and ISB’s Core Values.
ISB students are brainy mathematicians, worldly linguists, and confident thespians. Whether a captain on the sports field, a volunteer who has brought sunshine to a local orphanage, or a learner who has wowed their teachers with their attitude and improvement, they’re all empowered and celebrated here.