Havergal College Grad Profile 2020

Erin Sade University of Central Lancashire DIRECT ENTRY MEDICINE

Jilly Menikefs Queen’s University  ENGINEERING

Sabrina Wong University of Guelph  SCIENCE

Jilly discovered her love for learning and leading at Havergal, where she immersed herself in science, math, technology, engineering (STEM) and social sciences courses and volunteered for various leadership positions. The recipient of the Queen’s University Chancellor Scholarship—where she is pursuing a degree in engineering—she hopes to find ways to share her love of STEM and inspire girls into the field. “I’m lucky that Havergal has excellent facilities and encouraging teachers, but I know it’s not the same for everyone,” she says. Her interest in giving back started when she was nine years old and she volunteered for her neighbourhood’s Karma Club, in which members would reach out to local people in need with random acts of kindness. “One major concept that I have accepted is that—in any community—you can find people at different stages of their lives who have varying motivations and worries. And within any community, you find vulnerability; its manifestation is what varies.” Jilly has seen first-hand how small gestures of kindness can inspire others to do the same and it has helped her become a benevolent leader with a passion for lifelong learning.

Starting at Havergal at the age of four, Erin describes the school as her second home. She developed an enduring interest in activism in Grade 6 when her teacher assigned the class to participate in Project Give Back. She chose the Yad Vashem Twinning Program in which Jewish youth learn about and dedicate their Bar/Bat Mitzvah to children who died in the Holocaust. Her work on this project inspired her to engage young people in anti-bullying and anti-racism causes through Holocaust awareness. She has spoken and performed the violin at events such as the National Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa. For her work, she received the Cantor Kraus Catalyst for Change Award from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Project Give Back’s Joey Award honouring notable alumni/ ae; and, most recently, the highest accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work: The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award. Erin is an avid figure skater medalling at the 2019 National Synchronized Skating Championships with the Meraki Intermediate Synchronized Skating Team. Her love for giving back led her to study medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.

Starting at Havergal in Junior Kindergarten, Sabrina graduated with the confidence that she could explore different fields of study at university before deciding on a career-focus. She left Havergal ready to take on a variety of courses at the University of Guelph, where she received the Board of Governors’ Scholarship. “I want to keep my options open so I end up in a career doing something that I love,” she explains. “I’m open to changing directions with my education, depending on what I connect with.” In addition to learning, Sabrina also discovered a love of science and community involvement at Havergal. She was active in athletics (badminton, tennis and rowing), played the violin with the orchestra and volunteered for leadership opportunities. In her graduating year, she was excited to return to the Junior School as Junior School Prefect. “I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to lead our youngest students and give back to the place where I grew up.” In her spare time, she volunteered with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s wheelchair basketball program. Sabrina was the recipient of Havergal’s Governor General’s Academic Medal for achieving the highest academic average in all Grade 11 and 12 courses.