Jinhwi Kim receives 2022 Chris Vais Community Award
Knox College is pleased to announce that Jinhwi Kim is this year’s Chris Vais Community Award recipient. Jinhwi, who is completing the Master of Divinity degree at Knox, also served on the Mission & Theology (M&T) Executive Committee for 2020-21 (as the Communications representative) and 2021-22 (as Vice President).
Stuart Macdonald, Knox College’s Vice Principal, Academic Dean, and Professor of Church and Society, announced this year’s Chris Vais Award recipient on April 5 at the College’s final online Community Worship service of the 2021-2022 academic year.
The Chris Vais Community Award is presented to a theological student in his/her graduating year who has contributed to the Knox Community in an exceptional way by having a pastoral and community-building influence on the College. Knox’s faculty, staff, and students elect each year’s recipient.
Jinhwi (centre) sings in the Knox Chapel with classmates Byron Kappes and Edward Yoo.
“During the pandemic, I’ve really appreciated Jinhwi’s contribution to our virtual choir,” said Macdonald. “This has been something which has helped connect us, and Jinhwi has been such a crucial part of this.” The virtual choir is led by Claire Lemiski, MTS student at Knox.
“Jinhwi has also been involved in the virtual skits created by the Mission & Theology Society at Knox,” said Macdonald. “His humour shines through, and he had me smiling in his performances.”
Jinwhi plays the role of Pontius Pilate in a recent online M&T comedy skit.
The Chris Vais Community Award was established in 2002, in memory of the Rev. Dr. Chris Vais, by classmates who graduated with him from Knox in 1987. Each year Vais’s classmates and friends honour his memory by making a financial donation to this award.
Vais served on the Mission & Theology Society Executive Committee, sang in the Knox College Choir, and participated fully in both resident and academic life. He was known to be generous in spirit, with a deep reservoir of compassion and great gifts of hospitality and welcome.
Ten years after graduating from Knox, in January 1997, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); he died just five years later, at age 39. Before Vais’s death, Knox conferred on him an honourary Doctor of Divinity degree, in recognition of his outstanding leadership even at such a young age.
Knox is grateful to the donors who faithfully give each year to make this award possible.