Teddy Shih has been described by his nominator as a dedicated individual who volunteers “from his heart and with a natural ability and passion that comes through so strong and radiates positivity.”

Teddy does indeed exemplify dedication as he has accumulated over 100 hours of his time as a tutor for the Richmond Youth Service Agency’s Generations Homework Club. This program offers free, after school tutoring for elementary school students who would not normally be able to afford tutoring services. 

Teddy is unique in his incredible ability to inspire students to be more involved in their studies. In the program, there were three children who were failing elementary school and had a lack of interest in the Homework Club. Although other staff found these pupils challenging to communicate with, Teddy was able to capture the students’ interest in their schooling by making them laugh and yet able to focus on completing their homework at the same time. He has the talent of being able to bring out the best qualities of every student, helping others gain confidence, and knowing both how to have fun and get work done.

His involvement in the Richmond community expands beyond the Homework Club as well, as he participated in a Free the Children development project in Kenya, worked as a youth reporter for the Richmond Review, and acted as a Math and French tutor for the West Richmond Community Centre.