Two GNS Students Win Oak Bay’s Young Exceptional Star Award

Every year, the District Oak Bay celebrates students in Grade 6 to 12 with the Young Exceptional Star (YES) Awards, recognizing positive achievements and accomplishments. GNS students who live in Oak Bay were eligible to be nominated, and two GNS students Finn Adamson ’27 and Lewis Weir ’26 won and were honoured on February 26, 2025. 

The awards aim to recognize outstanding students who “distinguished themselves in areas such as volunteerism, arts, citizenship, academics, athletics and/or who have overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. The YES awards are a great way to recognize youth in Oak Bay and encourage them to continue to make a positive contribution to the community. These youth send a message of hope to the community that the next generation is full of promise and inspire us all to do our part to make a difference.”

Congratulations Finn and Lewis, the GNS community is very proud of you!

Finn Adamson ’27

Finn was nominated by Senior School Principal Ms. Carolyn Green, who shared the following:

Finn Adamson is a ‘yes’ young person; willing to make a positive difference in both his school and Oak Bay community. He is a role model and leader for younger students and his peers in his active participation in co-curricular activities, both athletically and in school-related clubs.

Finn is an accomplished track athlete, last year earning the BC Champion and BC Summer Games Champion awards in Track for the 800m and 1200m events. In addition, for Team BC Finn won a National Silver and Bronze with the Medley Relay and 1200m race. Finn was also a valuable member of Team Canada for Debate in 2024; placing 3rd in Novice, 23rd in Junior, and 2nd as a Team. In Model United Nations (MUN), Finn was the Secretary General of Committees at the annual event held at GNS and according to his teachers is one of the more engaged and diligent students.

Academically, Finn is a top academic achiever in the rigorous International Baccalaureate Programme. In Science, Finn won a bronze medal at the National Science Fair with his project, which was titled: Pain Science and the Peak-end Rule. His research delved into the realm of psychology, exploring the utilization of cognitive biases in the medical system to alter the patient’s perception of pain.

In addition to all of these significant accomplishments, the best of all is that Finn is a genuinely wonderful young person who demonstrates the type of traits that we need in our world: he is kind and compassionate, thoughtful and reflective, respectful and authentic—a true shining star, who gives me such hope for the future.

Lewis Weir ’26 

Lewis was nominated by his homeform and Spanish teacher Sr. Dylan Reeves, who shared the following:

“Since I began teaching Lewis in Grade 8, I have found him to be a caring, dedicated and passionate individual who always does his best through truth and courage. When reviewing the YES award criteria, I immediately thought of Lewis because he has in the past, and continues to excel in all four areas of achievement outlined. What I enjoy most about Lewis is that he never ‘toots his own horn’, he is a soft-spoken individual with a love of learning, his community, the arts and athletics.

As a pupil he recently earned our school’s Heisterman Cup for the most dedicated student, consistently engaging meaningfully in his learning resulting in excellence across his subject areas. As an athlete Lewis is a committed rower and badminton player, participating at a very high level in both sports. 

Within his community he is a long-standing member and leader of the C-Scot Cadet Corps, volunteering for a number of causes including the Annual Veterans Poppy Fundraiser, the Victoria Highland Games and in our school community’s Remembrance Day ceremonies. Along the way Lewis has had to overcome the obstacle of time management, demonstrating that he is able to successfully balance his school, community and co-curricular activities.”

Congratulations to Finn and Lewis!