Balancing studies, a social life, and part-time job, while maintaining top marks? Those types of students are recognized by the University of Toronto through the annual Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards each spring.
This year, the University of Toronto awarded graduating Master of Information student Kate Langrell, and graduating Master of Museum Studies student, Jaime Clifton-Ross for achieving this balance. Each received a plaque during a ceremony at Convocation Hall, on the St. George campus.
Kate Langrell
Already a star academic, Kate had won multiple scholarships and was on the Dean’s Honour List before arriving at the iSchool.
Armed with a BA (Hons.) from University of Manitoba, she served as Secretary on the Executive Council for the Special Libraries Association Toronto Student Chapter throughout 2014-15; volunteered to be our Student Ambassador for the Annual Fund; served as Class Representative for “Advocacy and Library Issues” and “Digital Preservation and Curation” Master’s degree courses; and mentored three first-year
iSchool students through the Mentoring@iSchool Program. Lastly, Kate also found time to raise funds for the student chapter of Librarians Without Borders.
Indeed, Kate is recognized by her peers, with one award nominator saying: “Kate is a wonderful, dedicated and involved student who has volunteered her time and efforts to the immense benefit of the Faculty of Information and the library community, while still simultaneously maintaining a 3.9 GPA in a very competitive Masters of Information program!”
Kate says the award means a lot to her as she obtained a well rounded education over the past two years in the program.
“Since beginning my Master’s degree at the Faculty of Information, I have been devoted to promoting the iSchool and its students. Through volunteering, I have represented current students, endorsed the school to prospective students, assisted with iSchool events, and participated in student groups. I have been particularly proud to act as the 2014-2015 Faculty of Information Annual Fund volunteer. In this role, I have advocated and helped fundraise for student scholarships, research support, and advancement of the iSchool program.”
Jaime Clifton-Ross (pictured holding framed certificate with Professor Irina D. Mihalache)
Jaime, who came to the iSchool from the University of Victoria’s History in Art, Honours program, is a dedicated student who worked tirelessly on Musings, the Master of Museum Studies Student Blog.
She was also Editor-in-Chief, for which she maintained and designed the website, did project management, team leadership, strategic planning, and editorial content. Jaime also did much of the editorial writing, editing, marketing and communications, as well as social media for the site. Additionally, Jaime did public speaking at iSchool promotional events, represented MUSSA on student council, and worked on the collaborative development of the promotional Musings video.
For her Research Assistantship (Sept. 2013 – April 2014) with Museum Studies Professor Irina D. Mihalache, Jaime developed Musings, and established it to be a vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative student community.
“With a collective passion for the discovery and sharing of knowledge, Musings explores a variety of topics-including museums and technology, conservation practices, and African Canadian history,” Jaime says.
“Throughout the blog’s rapid growth and continued success, I have guided the editorial team in exercising best blogging and social media practices that ensure meaningful digital encounters with museums, both locally and globally. As I conclude my Masters degree, I feel confident with the foundation I set up for Musings as it now operates as an extension of the MMSt program.”
Prof. Mihalache couldn’t agree more: “I cannot think of a more deserving, engaged, passionate, creative and diligent candidate for this award than Jaime.”
The Research Assistantship’s main project for Jaime was the development of an MMSt student blog that would bring the community together and make the program visible external to the iSchool and U ofT.
As her supervisor, Prof. Mihalache says it is rare in an academic’s life to witness community in the making in such a short period time.
“I could have never imagine, at the beginning of the project, that Jaime would create from scratch a professional blog that is now followed by museums all over the world (ex: Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Rijksmuseum, National Gallery of Canada, etc.) and is an integral part of the MMSt community.”
About the Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award
The Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award was established in 1994 by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) and the Division of University Advancement. Gordon Cressy, for whom this award is named, demonstrated a commitment to higher education and leadership in fundraising and community service during his time as vice-president of development and university relations at the University of Toronto. This award sets out to honour students who have made outstanding extra-curricular contributions to their college, faculty, or to the university as a whole and who demonstrate the same dedication and commitment as Gordon Cressy.
Congratulations Kate and Jaime!
