U of T’s most dedicated volunteers were honoured on January 16 with The Arbor Awards, the university’s highest honour for volunteers who have made sustained contributions to the university’s faculties, colleges and institutes, or the university at large.
Addressing the award winners at the first in-person celebration since 2019, U of T President Meric Gertler said, “Our success is due in no small measure to the excellence of our alumni and friends, whose dedication is exemplified by our Arbor Award winners, past and present.”
Among this year’s 92 recipients were five names with strong ties to the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education and the Varsity Blues program:
Thomas L. Babits is a devoted alumni ambassador for KPE. A longstanding member of the Alumni Advisory Board and current President of the KPE Alumni Association, he has mentored students during their studies and beyond. Most recently, he has been actively involved in the Alumni Office's community-based engagement and outreach initiatives.
David Lloyd Drew is a 1968 graduate of KPE, who has contributed his time and expertise to many important initiatives, projects and activities over the decades. He has mentored students interested in pursuing a career in education, served as a member of the KPE Alumni Association and, along with his peers, has been integral to the success of his class reunions—including their 55th anniversary reunion in the spring of 2023.
Jennifer M. Jones has served as a volunteer mentor with KPE since 2014. Over the years, she has provided BKin and MPK students with rich learning opportunities and access to a wide variety of resources within her hospital. Together with her team, she also developed a "passport" approach to encourage students to explore and strengthen their competencies in a professional setting by empowering them with diverse learning opportunities and experiences.
Allon Bross is a leader in Toronto's basketball community, who has contributed extensively to U of T's Varsity Blues Basketball Program. He has co-chaired the Varsity Blues Basketball Excellence Committee; designed and led the implementation of a mentorship program and hosted a number of team-related events. Most recently, Allon co-chaired a special event featuring Nick Nurse, former coach of the Toronto Raptors, just after their NBA Championship win.
Patrick Okens has been actively involved with the Varsity Blues rowing team alumni community since graduating from the Faculty of Arts & Science. He has spearheaded several key engagement and outreach initiatives for the team over the years, including authoring an extensive history of rowing at U of T. The launch of his book, Blues Before Sunrise, coincided with the 125th anniversary of rowing at the University.
Congratulations to all!