KPE has shaped many students into leaders over the years and this year was no exception. On April 20, U of T recognized five of these leaders with the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award – one of U of T’s most prestigious undergraduate awards.
Established in 1994 by the University of Toronto Alumni Association, this award is presented to students who have made outstanding extra-curricular contributions to their college, faculty or to the university as a whole. The award is named after Gordon Cressy, former vice-president of development and university relations, and reflects his leadership in and dedication to fundraising and community service.
See what the recipients have to say about their contributions to the Faculty and U of T, and what they plan to do in the future.
Nominated by the university-wide committee
Victoria Bekiaris
As the President of the Greek Students’ Association for two consecutive years, I worked to unite students of both Hellenic and non-Hellenic decent through social and academic initiatives like mentorship nights and networking events. I also helped support the permanent implementation of the Modern Greek Studies Program at the Munk School of Global Affairs and continue to raise social awareness for issues that have impacted the Greek community. I plan to continue to advocate for health and physical education as I pursue a career in education in the near future.
Nominated by the Faculty
Angeline Bellehumeur
As the lead of Athlete Ally for three years, I worked to create an LGBTQ-positive and inclusive space in varsity and intramural sports through awareness campaigns and educational opportunities. Over the years, I was impressed by the number of people who increasingly identified as allies through this program. I was also co-chair of the Varsity Board, where I worked to engage varsity student athletes in community activities. I plan to continue to follow my passion for creating safe spaces, whether at a smaller community level or on a larger scale. I hope to do so by challenging underdeveloped and unjust policies and legislations. I believe pursuing a law degree will help me achieve the skills and knowledge needed to reach my potential to create significant change.
Victor Chan
Transitioning to university can be hard and I feel it is important to make fellow students feel accepted, allowing them to be their amazing selves. I was able to do so as a frosh leader and frosh executive. I was a member of the Equity Movement, organizing events and facilitating workshops. In the Summer Mentorship Program, I was honoured to teach students about biomechanics. My most cherished contribution was being an Outdoor Projects counsellor for first-year students. Witnessing changes in students’ perception of the university was rewarding. I hope to carry forward this welcoming attitude through leadership roles in future endeavours.
Stephanie Ho
I have been involved in the KPEUA as the commuter co-chair and the vice-president academics, as well as being a member of MoveU and Equity Movement. My role as the commuter co-chair is memorable because it was my first big leadership role in a newly created position. We set the standards high because we knew our work would set the precedent for years to come. I’m not quite sure what I’ll be doing in the future, but it will be something related to physical education and health promotion. My time at KPE has taught me to be confident in event planning and promotion, so I'll definitely be using those skills wherever I go.
Eric Schwenger
I noticed some governmental structures within KPE where I thought I could apply policy skills I had acquired from other experiences in student government. This year I chaired a number of operational boards and budget committees, and provided oversight to KPE's inner processes as a student representative. Over the past winter, my brother and I overhauled the intramural handbook, the core policy manual of the intramural program, to make this area more equitable and accessible to all U of T students. I hope to pursue a Master's degree in Higher Education and eventually work in student life.
Darrin Wijeyaratnam
I feel I have enhanced the KPE community by inspiring and encouraging students to participate, challenge and explore a variety of extra-curricular opportunities. My most memorable experience was revising the KPEUA constitution and bylaws, and creating supporting policies that would help govern the KPEUA for years to come. I’ve also created and implemented new positions and partnerships within and outside the Faculty to enforce the idea of an unforgettable student experience. In the future, I hope to use my skills towards developing the research community. I aspire to further question the unknown and inspire others to share in my pursuit of knowledge.