The undergraduate and graduate classes of 2009 celebrated a new phase of their lives on June 5th when they convened at New College’s Wetmore Hall to celebrate their time in the Faculty and acknowledge some standout students.
Graduates Jaymie Sampa and Jake Gallo emceed the afternoon events. Top students were acknowledged during the ceremony while many “what’s next?” conversations took place over refreshments with friends, family, staff and faculty.
Marko Balan had a lot to celebrate as winner of the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology Award, the Governor General’s Silver Medal, the Alumni Scholarship and the Social Sciences and Humanities Awards.
Other awards handed out during the ceremony were:
The J. Harry Ebbs Achievement Awards, presented to students who improved their averages by eight percent or more. The 2009 award winners were Dina Dryden and Eliza Anne-Marie Durward.
The Alumni Shield, presented annually to the most outstanding male and female graduating students on the basis of character, leadership, participation and scholarship. The 2009 winners were Jaymie Sampa and Marko Balan.
The Mavis E. Berridge Scholarship, given to the graduating student with the highest cumulative academic average who has been admitted to the graduate program in the Department of Exercise Sciences at the Faculty. Sarah Charles was awarded with the 2009 scholarship.
The Barbara Drinkwater Award, which acknowledges the student who is most committed to the advancement of girls and women in physical activity here at the University of Toronto. Venus Shyu was honoured with this award for 2009.
Students who achieve a 3.5 GPA in a recognizable full course load are welcomed into the prestigious R. Tait Mackenzie society. This year’s inductees were Olympian Sarah Charles, Rosanna Dalimonte, Raymond Dang, Marc Andrew Gaudett, Julie Hoang, Alessandra Macri, Desmond Alexander Miller, Shannon Elizabeth Orszulik and Davida Reingold.
Graduate students Simon Darnell, Yuka Nakamura, Fergal O’Hagan and Cassandra Wells were also acknowledged for their outstanding scholarship.