More than 15,500 students from 105 different countries received their University of Toronto degrees in absentia at a virtual ceremony, which aired on the university's convocation hub on June 23. Among them were 247 students from U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, who were all treated to a KPE virtual graduation reception later in the day.
Dressed in his ceremonial convocation robe, Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of KPE, congratulated the newly minted graduates on their tremendous achievements.
“During my time as dean, I have enjoyed many proud moments, but none more gratifying than attending convocation ceremonies and seeing the faces of our graduating students - and their families - beaming with pride,” said Jacobs, who shared that this was the last time he would be welcoming the Faculty’s most recent graduates as dean seeing that his term was also coming to an end.
Assistant Professor Janelle Joseph, who leads the Faculty’s Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity and Antiracism research lab, congratulated all the students on graduating in an unprecedented time that not only presented the world with a global health challenge, but also shook up the societal status quo.
“Congratulations on keeping your focus on your studies, while also being active and engaged citizens of the world,” said Joseph, who acknowledged the land upon which U of T operates.
Jacobs then reflected back on the U of T convocation ceremony held earlier in the day.
“That ceremony and the graduation parchment that is being sent to you today are symbolic rituals that reflect how well you performed in meeting the demands of a rigorous curriculum at one of the world’s greatest universities, with programs in kinesiology, physical education, sport and exercise sciences that were ranked this past year as among the top five in the world - again,” he said.
Commending the students on their leadership skills and accomplishments, Jacobs said they repeatedly brought distinction to themselves, the Faculty and the field of kinesiology by learning and generating knowledge about the evolving discipline of kinesiology and how it relates to health care, education and community.
“In everything you did, you made us proud,” he said, adding that through their studies, research, advocacy and outreach they have shown that physical activity and sport are vital not only to personal health, but also to social, political, cultural and collective development.
“So, whether as educators, policy makers, scientists, health professionals, coaches or entrepreneurs, we expect this year’s graduates to be agents of change,” he said.
Next, Jacobs offered some words of personal advice. He started by sharing his path to academia, which saw him transition from an undergraduate student of psychology and linguistics to a physical education teacher, who then moved on to graduate studies in human exercise physiology and worked as a federal government scientist over the next 25 years, before transitioning into the world of academia full time.
“You may be thinking this guy can’t keep a job,” said Jacobs with a chuckle, “but the opposite is true.”
He explained that some of them may think that by virtue of the program of studies that they have completed and the degree that they will receive, they have entered “a long-term marriage” to their future careers.
“But my experience is that you will find that this large, amazing, complex institution that is U of T and your exposure to many academic disciplines, have been the framework for you to develop and acquire skills and attributes, views and experiences, that will serve as a wonderful platform for you to jump into your next set of experiences, and the one after that, and the one after that … should you wish to jump,” said Jacobs.
Next, KPE professors took turns in reading the names of all the students graduating from the Faculty’s graduate and undergraduate programs, with a student from each program offering a personal message of congratulations. This was followed by Jacobs reading the names of this year’s undergraduate award recipients. In the end, a video was played made up of pictures and videos the students submitted highlighting some of their special moments at KPE.
"I wish there were two-way cameras on all the graduates, friends and family to see the smiles, the chuckles and maybe a few tears shed in memory of great times," said Jacobs after the video was aired.
He concluded the ceremony with another heartfelt congratulations, on behalf of the whole Faculty, to all the graduates on this milestone event in their lives and their resilience in making it to the finish line during a challenging year.
“You have been an inspiration to us all,” he said. “We can’t wait to learn what you accomplish next.”
Read more about the KPE students who graduated from the Faculty's undergraduate and graduate programs this spring.