We had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Melvin M. Kieschnick back to Hong Kong on 13 October 2011 as part of The Charles W. Dull Visiting Scholar Series, supported by the HKIS Annual Fund.

One of the founders of HKIS, Dr. Kieschnick – or Mel, as he introduces himself – was happy to share the story of the challenges he faced when HKIS was just a thought and a vision of only a few. He planted the seeds in the 1950s to create the school we have today and those seeds have grown to exceed his initial dream by some way.

Today, HKIS wants to continue the dream of our founding fathers and provide another gift to the future of education in Hong Kong. Despite all his hard work in creating HKIS, Mel never had the chance to send his children the school. And, we understand how he feels.

For us, the work being done today to create a new Lower Primary school may never benefit us immediately. But for the children of the world we are yet to welcome as students, the development of HKIS will provide them with the best possible start in life. Building a new Lower Primary that gives children the tools they need for later life is a rewarding feeling that the entire HKIS community can share.