On December 5, the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education hosted the annual Reception for Scholars in Goldring Centre’s Kimel Family Field House, which was transformed for the evening from a volleyball and basketball court into a reception area fit for the Oscars, as one of the student onlookers observed. Instead of the paparazzi, however, the parents were snapping pictures of their offspring posing happily with their scholarships and awards, while mingling with friends, donors and faculty members who came out to support them.
“We are so proud of our daughter’s accomplishments,” said Cedric Coutinho, whose daughter Adelaide Joanna Coutinho won the Jane Forster Entrance Award for outstanding achievement in secondary school. “She worked very hard in the last few years of high school and this is a culmination of it. My wife Michelle and I are both alumni of the University of Toronto, so coming back and seeing our daughter recognized in this way is just wonderful.”
Just steps away, Denise O’Rourke was chatting with her husband and the parents of Sing Yan Ng, a fourth year KPE student. Both Sing Yan and Denise’s daughter Roxy O’Rourke won the KPE Alumni Leadership Award.
“This feels very, very special,” said O’Rourke. “It makes us very proud. Roxy has worked really hard in the three years that she’s been at the Faculty, participating in so many extracurricular activities, while maintaining her academics. It’s a huge accomplishment and it’s really nice to see that rewarded.”
Exuberant parents snapping pictures (photo by Arnold Lan)
Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of KPE, said the Reception for Scholars was an occasion to honour the academic achievements of undergraduate and graduate students and to give public thanks to the donors for their profound impact on the students’ lives and the Faculty as a whole.
Recognizing that many of the donors live across North America, Dean Jacobs welcomed those who could come to the event: Sharon and Jim Bradley, Juri Daniel, Glenn Carter, Brian, Jan, and Jeff White, Gail Forster, Peter Klavora, Sheryn Posen, John Wildman, Wenda Kwong, Sharon Guinness, Colin Fitzsimmons, Judith Logan and Ed Bean.
An R. Tait McKenzie Society member, and a basketball and field hockey T-Holder, Sharon Bradley and her husband Jim established the Bradley Award in 2006 to recognize a female student enrolled in the KPE program.
Bradley’s father passed away when she was in her second year of a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education and if it hadn’t been for a scholarship she was awarded that covered her tuition, she would not have been able to complete her degree.
“The Bradley Award is Jim and my way of paying it forward. All donors have a belief in youth and the power of an education, especially at a Faculty like ours where the excellent professors equip young people with the tools of curiosity, reasoning, research techniques and ingenuity, enabling them to provide the leadership required both today and in the future.
“Our generation and those before us are leaving a very tumultuous world with many new challenges. As we throw you the torch we hope that these awards provide some ‘oven mitt’ protection. We urge you to grab the flame, hold it high and enjoy the journey with confidence,” Bradley advised the students.
Third year kinesiology student, Katrina Innanen, was the beneficiary of the Bradley Award and the Juri-V. Daniel In-Course Scholarship. A member of the Varsity Blues Track and Field Team, Katrina claimed a USPORTS gold medal in the 400m relay and was named a USPORTS first team all-Canadian and an OUA All-Star during the 2016-17 season.
“As KPE students, we are very fortunate to have access to some of the best research, training and teaching facilities in the country and the world. And these awards allow us to utilize these facilities and programs to their greatest extent, allowing us to have the best experiences possible,” she said.
“Being a member of the Track and Field team, I know the time is precious. I have very few moments that aren’t taken up with training, recovering from training or studying. And by removing financial strain, these awards have allowed me to enjoy the experience as a student athlete to the fullest extent. Being a member of the track team is something that I love very much, and I will be forever thankful for having the opportunity to do this.”
Second year PhD candidate Joseph Gurgis was the recipient of the Graduate Student Award. Working in the Sport Psychology and Performance Lab under the supervision of Professor Gretchen Kerr, Gurgis’ is researching coach education and maltreatment in sport. A former Varsity Blues baseball player, he is currently a part of the Sport Psychology consulting group that provides basic mental skills training to varsity teams on campus.
“The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education is dedicated to fostering an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of every member may flourish, which is why we continue to be globally recognized as one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Canada.”
Gurgis spoke about how donations have contributed to his professional development as a scholar by funding opportunities for him to present at conferences, learn from renowned scholars in his field, and conduct novel research on coach education and the effects of punishment use in sport.
“More importantly, your donations reflect an investment into my future, the futures of the rest of the recipients, and the world of kinesiology and physical education. They enable us to continue to advocate, develop and advance knowledge about sport, physical activity and health so that we may foster growth and inspire positive change in the lives of others, like you have inspired in our own.”
Gurgis parents, Medhat and Rosa Gurgis, were pleased to be able to meet with Professor Gretchen Kerr to thank her for pushing their son to these heights.
“This is a beautiful function,” said Rosa Gurgis, a U of T alum and former staffer. “Joseph has worked really hard and the Faculty has supported him all the way. As his parents, we’re very happy and proud to see him come so far.”