Some students wait until they graduate to begin the next phase of their lives, and then there’s all of you, said Lucy Fromowitz in her address to the winners of the KPE Dean’s Student Leadership Awards. Fromowitz, who is the assistant vice president and oversees the vast division of Student Life on the St. George campus, praised the awardees for not only performing exceptionally well academically, but also excelling in sport and seizing a dizzying array of leadership opportunities while still in school.
“The University of Toronto is what it is because of your contributions. You set an example for all students who come here,” she said.
And, the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education made sure they have an award to show for it. The Dean’s Student Leadership Awards were established in 2004 to celebrate the outstanding leadership and significant contributions provided by KPE students and students from other divisions to advance the KPE mission within and outside U of T.
“This awards ceremony provides an opportunity for our Faculty to acknowledge the students who have been taking their lessons about health, wellness and civic engagement beyond the classroom to improve the quality of programs, services and student life across U of T,” said Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of KPE.
“The opportunities for leadership within our Faculty are wide and varied. From our intercollegiate and intramural sports teams, to our camp programs and community outreach, KPE students have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on others. We are proud of the many students in this room who seize these opportunities daily.”
Cheered on by their friends and proud family members, 21 students were called to the podium to accept their awards and pose for pictures with Dean Jacobs and Executive Director of Athletics and Physical Activity Beth Ali.
“This award means a lot to me. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to be involved in these experiences, and to be recognized is just icing on top of the cake,” said Marko Bjelica, a fourth-year KPE student.
“It’s nice to be recognized for things that you don’t always think should be rewarded, they come so naturally,” said Breanna Bitondo, also a fourth-year KPE student. Bitondo’s aunt was quick to point out that although her niece doesn’t brag about her successes, she makes the whole family very proud.
In addition to the Dean’s Student Leadership Awards, four students received special awards for going above and beyond.
Katherine Lonergan and Ryan Schwenger shared the Kirkwood Award, presented to a student member 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 Committees.
“I am so humbled to have received these awards,” said Lonergan, who was awarded with the Dean’s Student Leadership Award for the third time. "Participating in the Faculty’s activities has really helped shape my university career, and it’s given me a leadership opportunity I could really dig into and invest all my energy and love.”
Lonergan, who is in her final year of mechanical engineering is currently working as a Capstone Project Mechanical Engineering Student for NASA. A former Varsity athlete on the women’s volleyball team, she is the founder of the Blues Engineering student group and volunteers as co-chair of the Council of Athletics and Recreation.
Schwenger is a fifth-year KPE student, concurrently pursuing a Bachelor of Education. He has been the captain of KPE’s men's intramural basketball since 2014 and participated in numerous other intramural sports. He has been volunteering as the co-chair of the Governance Board for Athletics and Recreation since 2015, and was elected president of the KPE Undergraduate Association in 2016. This was his third Dean’s Student Leadership Award.
“That means the world to me,” said Schwenger. “It means that people are thankful for the work that we do. I do it not only to better myself, but to better the lives of the people around me and contribute in any way that I can with the skills that I have.”
Fourth-year KPE student Jane Wheeler was awarded the Hill-Powell Award, presented to the female student who provides the most valuable contribution to the administration of athletics and recreation programs in the Faculty during the current year. Wheeler currently serves as chair of the Women’s Intramural Sports Council and co-president of the KPE Athletic Association. She has participated in numerous intramural sports and tournaments, in addition to playing Tri-Campus (Development League) soccer and volleyball. In 2016, she won the Intramural ‘T’ Award and the Zerada Slack Award for her contributions to U of T’s intramural program and demonstrated qualities of leadership and sportsmanship.
“I’ve really worked hard over the past four years to get more involved and contribute to the intramural program and the Faculty. This award means a lot,” she said, while her beaming parents looked on.
Second year student in the KPE Master of Exercise Sciences Program Peter Nash was awarded the McCutcheon Award, which goes to the male student who provides the most valuable contribution to the administration of athletics and recreation programs in the Faculty. A Bachelor of Music and Education, Nash has been on the Varsity Blues baseball team since 2010, and also plays intramural volleyball. He is the School of Graduate Studies’ intramural coordinator, and serves as the graduate student rep on the Council of Athletics and Recreation and the Graduate Student Union.
“The students gathered here today don’t lack the inspiration and drive to improve the student experience and benefit those around them. These awards bring us together and recognize the efforts we put in,” said Nash.
“I am very happy that we could recognize you in this way,” said Dean Jacobs in his closing remarks. “I hope that those of you who are leaving U of T will take this experience with you and apply it to the success I know you’re going to have. And those of you who are coming back, come back for more!”
Judging from the repeat winners, there’s no doubt that they will.
Below is the full list of the Dean’s Student Leadership Award recipients.
LAMIA AGANAGIC, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
MADELEINE BARNES, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
NATALIE BIANCOLIN, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
BREANNA BITONDO, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
MARKO BJELICA, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
KYLA CROCKER, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
CAMERON DAKIN, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
BOGDAN DUBROVSKIY, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
JAIMI FOSTER, Faculty of Arts & Science
AIDAN HASLETT, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
SARAH HOLMAN, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
KATHERINE LONERGAN, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
JULIA MALOWANY, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
JUSTIN MASSA, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
AALAYA MILNE, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
SANDHYA MYLABATHULA, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
PETER NASH, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
SINGYAN NG, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
RYAN SCHWENGER, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
JANE WHEELER, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
RICHARD YU, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education