Inspiring others put two students in line for recognition by the University of Toronto through the annual Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards.
This spring, the University of Toronto awarded graduating Master of Information students Julia King (right) and Dawn Walker (left) with a framed certificate during a ceremony at Convocation Hall, on the St. George campus.
Julia King
Already a star academic, Julia did quadruple duty this year as Treasurer and Professional Development Co-Chair for the Master of Information Student Council, taking the initiative to organize two new events: a poster workshop and professionalization workshops, including a conference attendance tip session before a major conference.
Because she has a concentration in Library and Information Science, in the Collaborative Program in the Book History and Print Culture (BHPC), Julia also volunteered for the Massey College Bibliography Room, where she helped lead the BHPC collaborative program’s teaching and outreach initiatives.
“These volunteer apprenticeships at Massey College are granted to very few students, and only to those with an exceptional work ethic and a talent for inspiring other students to explore the highly technical arts of hand-press bookmaking,” says Professor Alan Galey, Director of the iSchool’s Master of Information program.
Indeed, Julia is recognized by her peers as a student mentor through Mentoring@iSchool program, and is proud to have “facilitated their transitions from academia to the job market.”
Dawn Walker
Dawn is a dedicated student who chaired the student-run TechFund, which supports the information, communication, and technology needs of the students. She ensured workshops and equipment were what students required to excel. She also coordinated strategy discussions for a student levy referendum, and ensured students’ needs and opinions were heard as the student representative for the renovation project at the iSchool.
With a concentration in Information Systems and Design at the iSchool, Dawn also played a leading role in the UofT student chapter of the Association of Information Systems (AIS), which recently won the outstanding student chapter award of AIS. She planned and executed events for students interested in professional and technical skill development.
One of her professors, Christoph Becker, says students like Dawn show that university life does not end at the classroom door.
“With her tireless engagement in those community venues that strive to enrich the learning experience and growth potential of current and future students, she demonstrates precisely the outstanding community leadership beyond the curriculum that rightly recognizes the praises,” he says.
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 Julia and Dawn!
