'I found a family': UTM grads reflect on favourite campus memories
It’s convocation season, and for students saying goodbye to campus after years of study, this is a bittersweet moment.
This month, University of Toronto Mississauga saw graduating students, having completed their undergraduate and grad programs, cross the Convocation Hall stage in six ceremonies.
In all, 15,800 students will receive their degrees this spring and become alumni.
Some of those newest UTM alumni have shared what they’ll miss most about the campus, and what experiences or lessons they will take with them.
Arianne Joyce Padillo
Arianne Joyce Padillo pursued majors in political science and French studies for an honours bachelor of arts. She was active in multiple aspects of the campus, including taking on roles as a political science research assistant and as a peer leadership coach at the Centre for Student Engagement.
A highlight of her time on campus was the UTM Filipino Student Association, which helped her stay in touch with the university’s growing Filipino community. “I found a family,” Padillo said. “Contributing to the growth of the Filipino community on campus has been a privilege, and to have been part of the team for four years is a core memory I will never forget.”
More: Watch a TikTok showing Padillo's convocation experience
Yutong Zhang
“I think the memory that I would carry on with me after I graduate from UTM is probably the friends that I met over at this campus as well as the class experience,” said Yutong Zhang, who has received a degree from the Institute for Communication, Culture, Information and Technology with a double major: technology, coding and society as well as communication, culture, information and technology.
Zhang worked at the Outer Circle Recording Studio in the UTM LIbrary. “I learned a lot of practical skills that are compatible with my class experience,” she said.
Alexandra van der Vleugel
This spring, Alexandra van der Vleugel received a bachelor of business administration with a management specialization through UTM Management.
During her time at UTM, she was involved in sports including the tri-campus basketball team and volleyball intramurals, and joined the Residence Council and the Innovative Business Association.
Van der Vleugel said as an upper-year student, she tried to make an impact on her peers and younger students by joining the International Education Centre and becoming a teaching assistant for economics students.
She also directed the UTM Management case competition group (UTMMC).
“My favourite time at UTM was for the social we had organized with the UTMMC directors,” van der Vleugel recalls.
“After the pandemic, this was the first time that our team was all together in one room, and it was amazing to see everyone interact and have fun. As the director, I was proud of the team I had led, and truly believe that this group would stay very close.”
Nikiela Baptiste
“The thing I’m going to miss most is definitely the nature,” said Nikiela Baptiste, who has earned an honours bachelor of science with a specialist in forensic biology and a minor in chemistry.
The fresh air and beautiful flowers made UTM a welcome break from city life.
Among the academic highlights were completing her research thesis and “getting to use the world-class laboratories,” she said.
“I was studying a new and very interesting emerging application within my field” which gave Baptiste the opportunity to represent UTM while presenting her research at a conference.
Sabrina Kirsten Sy
Sabrina Kirsten Sy spent her time as an ambassador, guide and mentor to students — past, present and future.
This spring, she earned an honours bachelor of arts degree from CCIT focused on linguistics as well as professional writing and communication.
After spending time with the UTM Alumni Relations Office as a work-study student, her work as an alumni relations events and communications assistant is continuing after graduation.
A particular highlight for Sy came in 2019, when she toured some of UTM’s first students (who attended what was then called Erindale College) around the campus for the Class of the 1970s alumni reunion.
In another tour guide role, she showed groups of potential students and their families around the campus during open house recruitment events.
Outside of school, Sy also hosted an informal dumpling-making party for U of T first-years.
Hamna Riaz
“Honestly, this is too difficult to pinpoint,” said Hamna Riaz when asked to name a favourite memory of her time as a digital enterprise management student. She is graduating with an honours bachelor of arts.
“I have amazing memories of every year and every era including COVID. First year, I remember making friends at Head Start and getting to know this beautiful campus. In COVID I remember watching the professors navigate online classes and then when some regulations lifted, coming to UTM every Friday to organize the Friday prayer. In third year, winning the Lions Lair assignment in front of representatives from small local businesses with ICUBE.”
In fourth year, Riaz was a senior mentor in the International Student Mentorship Program and became vice-president of the UTM Muslim Students’ Association, where she was part of the UTMMSA’s Ramadan program.
Jananee Savuntharanathan
“There are many memories from my time at UTM, but I would have to say my favourite memories come from the learning environment of my classes in the Master of Urban Innovation program,” said Jananee Savuntharanathan, who has completed the MUI program.
“I always love engaging in discussions with fellow students & professors during our seminars.
"Learning from one another and hearing each other's perspectives through healthy conversations and debates has really enriched my learning experience.”
Taylor Ball
“The past two years of my master's program has been everything I could dream of and more,” said Taylor Ball, who spent part of her time on campus co-founding the sustainability consulting club and starting a sustainability library.
While pursuing her master of science in sustainablity management at the Institute for Management & Innovation, she was student council president and gave a TEDx talk about digital fashion at TEDxUofT.
Ball was involved in the study abroad program by creating resources to make the study abroad experience more accessible to students of all demographics and completing a semester abroad at the University of Copenhagen, where she won a sustainable case competition.
Ball won other awards including the 2023 RBC x Rotman Sustainable Finance Case Competition and two UTM Student Leadership Awards for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Congratulations to all the grads of 2023! Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #UofTGrad23.
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