More than 500 recent high-school graduates from five area schools took part in the 2019 Walk with Excellence on June 11. The event is an annual celebration of their achievements along with the efforts of their key educators, including school principals, teachers and partners. Organizers describe the walk as representing a public showcase of the energy, commitment and enthusiasm of the students.
The students gathered first thing in the morning at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute and then walked along Sentinel Road to York University’s Keele Campus.
Each student wore a white T-shirt emblazoned with “Walk with Excellence” and a celebratory poem created for the event by Toronto’s poet laureate A.F. Moritz.
When the group arrived at the Keele Campus, they were greeted by members of the York University Faculty Association (YUFA) at the Lorna R. Marsden Welcome Centre. YUFA members handed out freezies. From there, the students paraded to Vari Hall, where they received the official welcome delivered by Professor Alice Pitt, vice-provost academic. Students were given non-plastic, reusable straws by York faculty and staff volunteers.
In her remarks to students, Pitt offered them an official welcome to the University. She congratulated the students and provided them an overview of the University. For students who accepted an offer to attend York University for their post-secondary studies, Pitt said she was looking forward to seeing them in four years at their York convocation.
The students then departed Vari Hall and walked to the Life Sciences Building, where they dined on fried chicken, plantain and salad. After lunch, they heard from their principals and the recipients of bursaries were announced and applauded.