Kingswood Oxford seniors Austin and Andrew Lemkuil received the award from the WALKS Foundation.

Kingswood Oxford Head of School Dennis Bisgaard (right) congratulates Austin Lemkuil (center) and Andrew Lemkuil for winning the Barnes Service Award from the WALKS Foundation. Submitted photo

Submitted by Michelle Murphy, Director of Communications and Marketing, Kingswood Oxford

Kingswood Oxford seniors Austin Lemkuil and Andrew Lemkuil, the sons of David and Susan Lemkuil of West Hartford, have been awarded the prestigious Barnes Service Award from the WALKS Foundation for the “outstanding and exemplary” volunteer service they’ve performed on and off the KO campus.

Founded in 1956 to recognize talented, motivated, and community-minded students, the WALKS Foundation is a consortium of five private schools: Westminster, Avon Old Farms, Loomis Chaffee, Kingswood Oxford, and Suffield Academy. Over the past 59 years, it has presented awards and scholarships to more than 300 students.

Along with other students from WALKS schools, the Lemkuils were recognized at an Oct. 22 luncheon at Tumblebrook Country Club.

According to the foundation, Austin and Andrew were selected for the Barnes Service Award because of their extensive community service, such as hosting six-school teen trivia nights that have raised more than $4,000 for brain tumor research.

“From the time we were very young, our mom taught us the importance of helping others,” Austin and Andrew said. “When we were in third grade, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and, from then on, we have been dedicated to helping families going through what she and our family have experienced.”

The twins have also volunteered for events sponsored by the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance, including an adult trivia night; golf tournament; comedy night and 5K run. And, they have helped out as volunteers for Camp KO’s summer football and baseball camps; as tutors at Fox School in Hartford; and with charity events at Holy Trinity and St. Peter Claver churches, including fund-raising bingos and “Santa and Me” breakfasts.

In 2015, the two also traveled to Tobatí, Paraguay, as part of KO’s signature service-learning trip called Team Tobati. Along with about 100 other KO students, the Lemkuils worked in sugar cane fields, brick factories, and The Macchi School garden.

“Seeing the appreciation of the people we’ve helped has motivated us to continue our community service work,” said the Lemkuils. “Now, we’re looking forward to extending our community service into college and beyond. We feel that over the span of our high school career at KO, our volunteer projects have helped us mature. We also enjoy giving back.”

Families interested in learning more about KO are invited to visit campus on Sunday, Nov. 8, for the Middle School Open House (from 1-3 p.m.) or the Upper School Open House (from 2-4 p.m.). To register, call 860-727-5000 or email [email protected].

Kingswood Oxford School, the preeminent independent day school in the Greater Hartford region, is located at 170 Kingswood Road in West Hartford, just steps from Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center. The 507 students come from 62 towns in CT and western MA, as well as China and South Korea. Head of School Dennis Bisgaard is celebrating his tenth year as Head.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!