U of T community celebrates Class of 2020 at fall convocation

November 25, 2020 by Michael McKinnon - A&S News

“Clearly no challenge is too great for the Class of 2020.”

These words, delivered by fall convocation keynote speaker Professor Maydianne Andrade wonderfully capture the spirit and drive of U of T’s Class of 2020.

On November 21, the newest members of U of T’s alumni family were celebrated by fellow graduands and the greater U of T community in a virtual ceremony, just the second in the University’s 193-year history in which all degrees were conferred in absentia.

Graduands, staff, faculty, students and alumni began celebrating the Class of 2020 before convocation officially started, with many gathering — virtually, of course — at a Saturday morning event hosted by Professor Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science.

President Gertler.
U of T President Meric Gertler.

“You are the remarkable graduands who made it to the finish line during tumultuous times. You continue to amaze me — and I want you to know how deeply you impress and inspire me and the entire faculty,” Woodin told the group. “Since we can’t be on campus, I wanted to find a way for faculty, staff, students and our alumni to mark this occasion.”

Woodin shared a special video message of congratulations delivered by students, staff, faculty and notable alumni, including Paul Shaffer, TV and film director Dawn Wilkinson and 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize recipient Ian Williams, among many others.

Then it was off to the official event, at which the Class of 2020 was commended for remarkable resilience and determination in completing their final months of university during a pandemic.

“Today, graduates, the University of Toronto is formally recognizing your hard work, accomplishments and perseverance in this milestone. Each of you, as a member of the graduating class, is joining an extraordinary family of University of Toronto alumni,” U of T President Meric Gertler said.

“To the graduating class, let me say thank you. Thank you for your many contributions to the University while you were students and thank you for what you will do as members of Canada’s largest — and I believe most distinguished — alumni community.”

Shira Joudan.
Maydianne Andrade, convocation keynote speaker.

Andrade, also a professor, Canada Research Chair and vice-dean of faculty affairs, equity & success at UTSC, expanded on Gertler’s words, commending students for having adapted to completely new ways of doing things almost overnight. She congratulated graduands on their years of hard work, intelligence, perseverance and creativity, and told them they deserve to be proud of their extraordinary accomplishments.

“I would like to offer double congratulations because you’ve reached this milestone in your lives during the unprecedented circumstances of a global public health emergency,” said Andrade. “Because of what you’ve experienced and overcome, you have every reason to look eagerly toward your future. Now more than any time in recent history, you will be central to our ability to overcome the daunting challenges we must face together.”

In the days leading up to convocation 2020, we spoke to alumni about their U of T journey — including the wisdom they picked up in the classroom and beyond. They told us fascinating tales of collecting samples in Nankai Trough, south of Japan; realizing dreams as newcomers to Canada; and gaining the experience as a student journalist that would lead to a career. Read all our convocation stories.

Marking this milestone during a pandemic called for creative approaches by graduands. Some sported traditional caps and gowns in their living rooms, while others wore more casual clothes and enjoyed a beer and a charcuterie platter with family.

Shira Joudan.
Shira Joudan celebrates earning her PhD in environmental chemistry earlier in the summer.

Shira Joudan — now also known as Dr. Joudan! — earned her PhD in environmental chemistry. She celebrated on her couch while texting family in Winnipeg, who were also watching the stream, and then jumped on a Zoom call with three other PhD graduates across different U of T Faculties.

“I’ve only been called Dr. Joudan a few times now, but it’s very cool!” she says. “It’s been a long time coming, and while I will only use it in formal settings, I truly feel like I’ve earned my title.”

Joudan has started a postdoc at York University with Professor Cora Young, also a Faculty of Arts & Science alumna, where her research is focused on better understanding how contaminants move through the atmosphere and change over time.

“I learned a lot during my time at U of T,” Joudan says. “Practical scientific and writing skills, but also, importantly, skills related to getting things done and standing up for myself. I couldn’t have completed my PhD without advocating for myself, while also having a strong support system to lean on both inside and outside the University.”

Renowned Canadian author and U of T alumna, Margaret Atwood, has been thinking of all the graduates this year, too. Here, she shares her words of wisdom to U of T’s Class of 2020.

Earlier in the week, the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra provided the soundtrack for the day’s event in the form of a physically distanced performance of an excerpt from Edward Elgar's “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1.”

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