The 2023-2024 academic year has now come to a close, and we at Keystone are starting to feel nostalgic toward all of the wonderful international students we have had a chance to welcome to our school in Toronto over the years.
We are so proud of all of our alumni, who have each gone on to successfully navigate the postsecondary world, and we are eager to see what this year’s cohort will achieve.
With that in mind, we’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate some of our international students who thrived in Toronto and are now taking the rest of the world by storm.
Manolya Yatman
Manolya graduated from Keystone as an international student back in 2022. In her time with us, she achieved a full scholarship to one of the top colleges in the USA, Brynn Mawr. She chose to study astrophysics there, and we have no doubt that she is shooting for the stars!
“The experiences I’ve had at Keystone have all shaped who I am today, and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. I am really grateful for all of my experiences at Keystone, as well as the life-long friends that I made. Being a senior, I have bittersweet feelings about leaving this community behind, yet, I know that the ideals and values of Keystone will stay with me wherever I go.”
Natalia Mizonova
Natalia was one of our international students who studied with us in Toronto until 2023, when she graduated. She chose to pursue studies in international relations in Europe and is currently attending the EU Business School.
“If I had a chance to go back in time, I definitely would choose to study at Keystone again! I am thankful for all the encouragement, support, assistance, valuable feedback and kindness. The knowledge that I was awarded with at Keystone is extremely helpful for me now, as a university student.”
Tazirwa Kaunda
Tazi is one of this year’s international student graduates and was selected by his peers as our 2024 valedictorian. His commitment to the Keystone Toronto community has been unparalleled, and we are so proud of the fact that he achieved multiple offers to universities to study Life Sciences.
“After two years of studying at Keystone, I can confidently say that in this relatively short period, I’ve managed to forge a strong relationship and connection with the school. Beyond that, I’ve also laid the groundwork for my education, acquired valuable knowledge, and gained practical experience that will undoubtedly serve me well in university and beyond. For this privilege, I feel both honoured and deeply grateful.”
Veronika Kozlova
Veronika is another of our international students who joined us in Toronto a few years ago and hit the ground running as she navigated life in Canada for the first time. She has achieved some truly remarkable accomplishments in her time with us, and was selected as a Merit Award recipient this year by the University of Toronto which included a $50,000CAD scholarship. She will start studying Life Sciences there in the Fall.
“At Keystone School, I found a welcoming environment that balanced challenge with support. The initial adjustment was made easier by the friendly atmosphere fostered by both students and teachers. Throughout my time there, the academic program pushed me to excel, and the guidance of the faculty prepared me well for university. Reflecting on my experience, I appreciate the friendships made and the lessons learned, which have contributed to my personal and academic development. While leaving Keystone behind brings mixed feelings, I am grateful for the foundation it provided as I move forward.”
We cannot wait to add more international students to our group of alumnus and welcome them to school in Toronto in the coming academic year and beyond!
