BIS Hanoi student nominated for Outstanding Young Faces of Vietnam Award 2024

This national award is widely recognised as one of the most prestigious honours for Vietnamese youths, celebrating individuals under the age of 35 who have achieved remarkable accomplishments across 10 fields: Learning, Scientific Research - Creativity, Production Labor, Business - Startup, National Defense, Security and Order, Physical Education and Sports, Social Activities, Culture and Arts, and State Administration Management. 

Over the past 28 years, the award has recognised 280 "Outstanding Young Faces of Vietnam" and 277 "Promising Young Faces of Vietnam," highlighting the diverse talents and accomplishments of the nation’s youth. Being nominated is a significant achievement, as the selection process is highly competitive.  

This year, the Organising Committee received 159 nomination documents from 55 units nationwide. The nominees include some of the brightest young minds and talents in the country, representing various academic backgrounds, ethnic groups, and professional fields. Gia Khanh was shortlisted in the top 34/159 candidates across 10 categories, being one of the two youngest nominees under the age of 18. 

Nguyen Minh Triet, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union and President of the Vietnam Student Association emphasised the prestige of the award. He noted that the organising board and jury council were deeply impressed by the nominees, many of whom have received the Labour Order (second class), gold medals in international Olympic competitions. "This demonstrates that young Vietnamese talents are passionately and enthusiastically contributing to national construction and development," he said. 

Gia Khanh’s nomination in the Social Activities category reflects her outstanding achievements and dedication to creating a positive social impact. Her accomplishments include:

• Being the first Vietnamese student nominated by UNESCO to attend the UN General Assembly Summit of the Future Action Days in New York in September 2024.
• Founding and leading the social impact project "Chalk Road" (Con Đường Phấn), which successfully raised USD 9,000 (225 million VND) from Nord Anglia's Social Impact Grant. The project aims to promote holistic and sustainable education through activities that inspire self-confidence and potential in students, focusing on supporting students in Vietnam’s mountainous provinces and contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 
• Founding "Camp Lumina 2024," a Literature, Philosophy, and Culture camp for students aged 13 to 20 across Vietnam. 
• Advancing to the finals of the Youth Design Challenge organized by the Learning Planet Institute, under UNESCO’s patronage, with the Chalk Road initiative. 
• Receiving a Certificate of Excellence from the Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training in 2020. 
• Receiving a Certificate of Excellence from the Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee 2020. 
• Being recognised as an "Outstanding Student of the Capital" in 2020. 

Congratulations to Gia Khanh on this well-deserved recognition! 

Mr Richard Vaughan, Principal at BIS Hanoi, said, "Gia Khanh's nomination and her exceptional achievements in both social impact initiatives and academics are a true testament to her dedication, resilience, and leadership. She embodies the spirit of BIS Hanoi, striving for excellence and making a positive difference in the world. It is inspiring to see how she balances her academic success with her passion for creating meaningful change." 

In addition to her impressive accomplishments in social activities, she excelled in her IGCSE exams in 2024, achieving straight A* grades in all of her subjects, being top scorer of the entire Cohort. In October, she earned a Gold Medal in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, which led to her invitation to compete in the British Mathematical Olympiad (BMO) Round 1, placing her among the top 1-3% of participants worldwide. Gia Khanh then scored in the top 18% of all competitors globally and received a Distinction Award, along with a direct invitation to BMO Round 2. 

As the newly appointed Head Student, Gia Khanh has worked closely with her fellow Head and Deputy Head Students, Beatriz, Viet Thang, and Suyeon, to launch their new strapline: "BISProud." This initiative reflects the collective pride of our students in being part of an exceptional school community. It celebrates the many achievements and contributions that make BIS Hanoi a vibrant and inspiring place to learn and grow.