Close to 230 University of Toronto students gathered in Convocation Hall on April 17 to receive their Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards from U of T President Meric Gertler and Gordon Cressy, the former vice-president of development and university relations, recognized for his commitment to higher education and leadership in fundraising and community service.
The awards recognize students who have made outstanding extra-curricular contributions to their college, faculty or school, or to the university as a whole. This year, six students from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education won the award. They are Roxy Helliker O’Rourke, Justin Massa, Sing-Yan Ng, Natalie Biancolin, Aalaya Milne and Debra Kriger.
Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of KPE, said he was proud to represent a university that gives so many opportunities for personal growth to its students.
“At U of T we take pride in the challenging academic, social and leadership experiences our students can access, and I want to congratulate each and every one of our students who won the Cressy Awards for taking the initiative and engaging in so many leadership opportunities,” said Jacobs.
Roxy Helliker O’Rourke joined the Equity Movement in her first year at U of T. Working with a group of undergraduate and graduate students from across campus, she planned positive student-led initiatives that promote equity, diversity, inclusivity and physical/mental health. Through this engagment she got involved with Play the Game, an event designed to help students learn more about adapted sport and inclusivity, and worked with a number of Paralympic and Invictus Games athletes along the way.
Last winter, she traveled to the Dominican Republic with a group of U of T students to assist in providing medical care to a community in need and she is currently a member of the KPE Task Force on Race and Indigeneity.
“To me, this award symbolizes the growth that all of us have experienced over the past four years. I knew from the first year that I wanted to get involved, and for selfish reasons. I was a transfer student who didn't have a very positive university experience prior to starting at U of T, and I was determined to make a change through getting involved right away and making the most of my second chance,” says O’Rourke, who is in her fourth year of undergraduate studies now.
“Over time, my desire to become a better leader became less self-oriented and more dedicated to the student body. This award really validates the time and energy that we invested in various leadership positions and I know the efforts of this group won't stop here.”
Justin Massa, also in his fourth year of kinesiology, volunteered as coordinator for the Outdoor Project 100, a first year mandatory KPE course that introduces students to the many forms of outdoor physical activity, while giving them a chance to meet and bond with their classmates through team-building activities. He was also volunteer coordinator for the Kinesiology Games, the largest undergraduate interscholastic kinesiology conference, which hosts approximately 750 students from kinesiology and physical science schools from across Canada. And, he was coordinator of KPE orientations.
“Being a true leader means having the passion to make the world a better place. There is no greater feeling than seeing others develop and creating relationships through extracurricular activities. As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child and this child is proud to be raised by KPE.”
Sing-Yan Ng wore many hats during her four years at KPE. She was co-president of the Kinesiology and Physical Education Athletic Association, co-chair of the Intramural Sports Council, camp counsellor for the Outdoor Project 100 and executive for the Faculty’s orientation week.
“This award is a representation of the ample opportunities that I have been blessed with over the past four years at U of T,” she says. “I am humbled to be receiving it.”
Natalie Biancolin, another KPE recipient of the Cressy Award said she put a lot of effort into her extracurricular involvement because she wanted to contribute to the Faculty’s reputation and sense of community.
“In the end, I hope I've made it a better place for the next generation of students coming through. This award reminds me that it was no small task,” says Biancolin, who is graduating this year after serving as the president of the KPE undergraduate association, social commissioner and coordinator of the Outdoor Projects, along with Massa.
Aalaya Milne is currently the graduates’ commissioner on the KPE undergraduates association and was previously a KPE orientation coordinator and Outdoor Project 100 counselor.
“When I read the email informing me that I would be a recipient of the award, I immediately thought of all the hardworking individuals who were a part of the orientation week team, the Outdoor Projects and the General Council who have supported me and helped bring many initiatives to life,” she says. “I hope to one day inspire others to volunteer and make a difference the same way I have been inspired by my peers.”
Debra Kriger was the only graduate student among the KPE honourees. She is currently working on her PhD degree in exercise sciences, using innovative, arts-based research methods to understand how people make sense of body-size stigma and risk.