The strong winds and rain were no match for friends and families who gathered on April 3 to celebrate this year’s winners of the Dean’s Student Leadership Awards. Established in 2004, the awards celebrate the outstanding leadership and significant contributions provided by students of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) and other divisions at the University of Toronto (U of T) to advance the Faculty’s mission of advancing and disseminating knowledge about the interactions of physical activity and health.
Winners of the 2024 Dean's Student Leadership Awards
Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, congratulated the students on all their accomplishments and said she was continually impressed by the commitment and passion student leaders demonstrate in their academic and leadership pursuits.
“The opportunities for leadership within our Faculty are wide and varied - from our academic programs to intercollegiate and intramural sports teams, our camp programs and community outreach, students have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on others,” said Kerr. “We are proud of the many students in this room who seize these opportunities daily.
“They make a difference to the lives of others and to our programs and services here in the Faculty.”
Professor Dwayne Benjamin, vice provost, strategic enrolment management at U of T, said the event was an opportunity to highlight the students’ hard-earned efforts, and to thank them all for their engagement and contributions to university life.
“I am always inspired by the dedication and resilience of our students, who on top of their academic studies, step up to voluntarily head student groups and associations,” said Benjamin. “Your involvement spans everything from athletics and recreation, to academics, social and cultural interests – and it also helps to shape important policies and practices at the university.
“I hope that you will stay involved and encourage your peers to get involved.”
Terry Gardiner, director of equity, diversity and inclusion at KPE, read the names of the 17 student recipients of the Dean’s Student Leadership Awards. They are:
Andrew Alvarez, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Jadyn Brooks, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Vian Chan, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
Hannah Chown, Faculty of Arts & Science
Megan Christoforidis, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Mahaylia Datars, Faculty of Arts & Science
Alexa Govette, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Emma Karamanlian, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Dveeta Lal, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Gabrielle Martin, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Amin Mostofinejad, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Jessica Muha, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Janice Pang, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Francesca Principe, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Owen Taylor, Rotman Commerce
Lauren Wilcox, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
Taylor Wilcox, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education
In addition, three more awards were handed out.
The McCutcheon Award and the Hill-Powell Award are presented annually to two students of different genders who provide the most valuable contribution to the administration of athletics and recreation programs in KPE during the current year.
Vian (John) Chan was presented with the McCutcheon Award, on top of his DSLA
Vian (John) Chan was presented with the McCutcheon Award. A second-year student from the Faculty of Nursing, with a bachelor’s degree from KPE, Chan is the Intramural Sports Committee representative and co-chair, and also works as a Sport & Rec fitness and performance coach at U of T. During the lockdown, Vian worked tirelessly through his positions in KINections and the KPEUA to have remote options available for physical activity and community building among students.
“When I found out I was nominated for two awards, I was so happy and proud,” said Chan. “I am grateful to the Faculty for dedicating resources to celebrate the students who give their time to help the university community – through coaching, administration, intramurals … There are so many opportunities to get involved."
Mahaylia Datars, left, won the Hill-Powell Award, in addition to the Dean's Student Leadership Award
Mahaylia Datars was the winner of the Hill-Powell Award this year. Datars is a fourth-year Arts & Science student from New College. As the Varsity board co-president, Datars worked with the Academic Leadership Committee to support the second annual First Year Athlete Connect, and collaborated with the Athlete Engagement Committee to create Blues supporting Blues events. Datars also developed a student-athlete survey to demonstrate the need for improved nutrition services for them. She is the winner of the 2024 OUA Swimming Community Service Award, gold medal and Award of Distinction.
“It’s an honour to receive two awards this evening,” said Datars. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with such incredible people on the Varsity board and elsewhere.
“Some of them are also being honoured tonight and I’m so grateful to have met and worked with them. Everyone in this room is what makes the KPE community so great.”
Amin Mostofinejad and Jessica Muha were recognized with the Kirkwood Award, presented to student members of the U of T Council of Athletics and Recreation, or one of its sub-committees or task forces, in recognition of a substantial contribution to the work of the council and its committee(s).
Amin Mostofinejad won the Kirkwood Award, along with the Dean's Student Leadership Award
Mostofinejad, a second-year MSc student at KPE, has been involved with the administration of KPE programs in a variety of roles, from serving as co-chair on U of T’s Council of Athletics and Recreation to being the graduate student representative on the Graduate Student Committee. As equity, diversity and inclusion representative, Mostofinejad has been active in making the Faculty more inclusive for visible minorities. He is the founder of ThinkL’Out, the first virtual-reality-related student organization at U of T.
Muha is a second-year graduate student in the Institute of Medical Science at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, with an interest in mental health, nutrition and cardiovascular disease risk in youth. A former basketball player and team captain on the Varsity Blues women’s team, Muha has been a member of U of T’s Council of Athletics and Recreation for the past four years through her roles as Varsity co-president and, presently, as co-chair. She is also the vice-president of the IMS student association and previously served as their sporting director.
“It feels really good to be recognized this way,” said Mostofinejad. “These awards are a recognition from the leadership of the Faculty of all the hard work and effort we invest on top of our academic studies - and that makes them that much more meaningful.”
Congratulating all the award winners - and their supportive families - Dean Kerr wrapped up the evening wishing them every success in their future endeavors.
“Your accomplishments, experiences and skills will serve you well wherever your ambitions may lead you,” said Kerr.