As many as 4,300 graduands from 86 countries will receive their degrees from the University of Toronto this fall.
Among them are graduating students from U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology, who were among the first to cross the stage at Convocation Hall on the St. George campus on October 27, and later stopped by the Faculty Club for a more intimate graduation reception hosted by KPE.
(Graduates mixed and mingled with family and friends at the KPE graduation reception hosted at the university's Faculty Club.)
Surrounded by friends, family and supportive faculty and staff, the graduating students were greeted by Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, who shared a heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Faculty.
“Today is a happy day,” she said. “Not only did you earn degrees from an academically rigorous program at Canada’s most prestigious university, but you gained expertise in a field whose relevance and importance are increasingly recognized and appreciated around the world.
“The core mission of our Faculty – to develop, advance and disseminate knowledge about the interactions of physical activity and health – remains as important today as it ever was – if not more.
“I can’t think of better ambassadors than our graduates to carry that mission forward.”
(Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, congratulated the Class of 2025 on behalf of the Faculty.)
Professor Michael Atkinson, acting associate dean of graduate education at KPE, joined Kerr in congratulating the graduating students on earning their degrees from a demanding academic program at Canada’s top university.
“As a professor at KPE, I am well acquainted with the depth and breadth of the research undertaken by our faculty and their talented students,” he said, before introducing Daniel Sibley, who earned his doctoral degree from KPE for his research into ways to help patients improve their health before surgery in order to recover faster and with fewer complications.
This process, known as prehabilitation, uses several health-promoting strategies, including exercise, to promote safer surgeries. Sibley's dissertation, which was supervised by Associate Professor Daniel Santa Mina, is the first-ever study of prehabilitation in living liver donors and the first study to explore if improving sleep preoperatively can promote safer surgeries.
(Daniel Sibley delivered remarks on behalf of graduates, who earned their masters and doctoral degrees from KPE.)
“U of T and KPE in particular are special,” Sibley said. “This is a safe and intellectually stimulating environment and I am so happy I called it home for the past five years.
“If there is one lesson I can share with you that I will carry forward, it’s to embrace discomfort and welcome challenges.
“Every exam, every presentation was hard, but we all became stronger and better for it.”
Sibley reflected on the lifelong friendships he developed at the Faculty and thanked his mother, partner and supervisor for their support, guidance and mentorship along the way.
(Jade Djemba spoke on behalf of the students who earned their Bachelor of Kinesiology degrees.)
“We made it through the late-night study sessions at Robarts [library], endless papers and maybe an unhealthy amount of coffee,” said Djemba. “But looking back, it wasn’t just the hard work and the dedication that I remember, it was all the shared moments of joy and laughter - from the Outdoor Project weekend our second year to becoming back-to-back PHE4ALL champs, and many others.”
Djemba said that studying at KPE taught her not just about the human body and movement, but also how to overcome setbacks and keep pushing. She also thanked her family for their unwavering support and recognized KPE faculty and staff for guiding, challenging and inspiring her and her classmates all the way to the finish line.
“Up until recently, I felt apprehensive whenever I thought about finishing school and starting a new chapter,” she said. “But standing here today, I am filled with excitement and gratitude, ready to venture into the world and offer all I have.”
(Winnette Sampson, an alumna of the Faculty, delivered remarks on behalf of the KPE Alumni Association, now counting over 6,600 graduates.)
Sampson graduated from the Bachelor of Physical Health and Education in 2013 and since then went on to build a successful career as a fundraising executive.
“The University of Toronto — and this Faculty in particular — have shaped my professional and personal journey in ways I never imagined,” said Sampson. “Beyond the classroom, it was through intramural sports, student councils, teamwork and mentorship that I learned leadership, collaboration and resilience — qualities that continue to guide me every single day.
“This Faculty also gave me a deeper understanding of the link between movement and mental well-being, and the social determinants that shape inequity in our world.”
Currently serving as the vice president of community giving & advancement operations at Kids Help Phone, Sampson has continued to be involved with the Faculty, sharing her career trajectory with current KPE students in Career Cafes and supporting the Faculty’s Black History Month working group with her input and advice.
“The energy and optimism of today’s students remind me of the power of purpose,” she said, encouraging the graduating class of 2025 to stay connected and give back when they can.
“The most important thing you can do is to own your story - not the one others write about you, but the one you choose to live,” she said, quoting John Amaechi, a psychologist and former NBA player.
“Today, you begin writing your next chapter.”
(Darryl McSherry, a retiring KPE student advisor, got a round of applause for his years of dedication to student development.)
Rounding off the event, Dean Kerr reflected on how much the graduating students have grown over the years – from nervous, first-years figuring out the location of their classrooms and the true meaning of mid-terms to confident, self-assured graduates, who will “no doubt make a significant impact on the world.”
“It’s been a joy seeing you discover your passions and pursue them with determination and grit,” she said, before leading everyone present into a round of applause for Darryl McSherry, a long-standing student advisor in KPE’s Registrar’s Office, who recently announced his retirement.
Not used to having the spotlight on him, McSherry smiled broadly from where he was standing, cheering on the students from the sidelines, as always.