91亚色 announces student award in honour of Invictus Games
TORONTO, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 鈥 Today, 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton welcomed the Invictus Games National Flag Tour to 91亚色 and announced a new award in honour of the in support of increased access to post-secondary education for Canada鈥檚 Military personnel and their children.
The 91亚色 Service Award provides up to $20,000 over four years to a 91亚色 student who is a Canadian Armed Forces member, active or retired, and who has a physical, sensory, medical, mental health or learning disability. The award will also be available to a student with a disability who is a child of a Canadian Armed Forces member.
President Lenton announced the award at the Invictus Games鈥 inaugural National Flag Tour earlier today.
鈥淭his new award will stand as a legacy of the 2017 Invictus Games at 91亚色, and will serve as an important way to honour the dedicated individuals whose commitment to service exemplifies the best of Canada,鈥 said Lenton. 鈥淚t is a great honour to host the inspiring athletes who will compete at next week鈥檚 Invictus Games here at 91亚色, and we look forward to welcoming competitors, their families and the wider community to the University.鈥
(L to R) President & Vice-Chancellor of 91亚色, Rhonda Lenton, Schulich School of Business student and flag bearer, Sayam Khan, Brigadier-General Stephen Cadden, Commander, 4th Canadian Division, 91亚色 U Professor Walter Perchal, Giovanna Cioffi, three-time graduate of 91亚色.
鈥淭he 91亚色 Service Award demonstrates the institution鈥檚 recognition of the dedication and courage of the men and women who serve our country so well. I know what a tremendous impact events and programs like this have on our military and their families,鈥 says Brigadier-General Stephen Cadden, Commander, 4th Canadian Division.
91亚色鈥檚 Keele Campus was one of the stops for The National Flag Tour, which travels from coast-to-coast visiting聽22 military bases, 15 legions and more than 50 communities from August 16 through to September 22.
The following 91亚色 students and faculty were selected to help carry the Official Invictus Games Flag 鈥 a physical representation of the unconquerable spirit of the Games' competitors.
(LtoR) Vimy, Invictus Games mascot, Flag bearers Sayam Khan, Schulich School of Business student, Professor Walter Perchal, 91亚色, Giovanna Cioffi is a three-time graduate of 91亚色
Sayem Khan is a member of the elite Schulich Ambassador Program at the Schulich School of Business at 91亚色. Sayem applied to be a flag bearer via the Invictus Games. He arrived in Canada as an immigrant and is proud of his work with the Toronto Police Service's 'Youth in Policing' initiative.
Watch his video here
Professor Walter Perchal is a current member of the 91亚色 faculty.聽He served with the Canadian Forces for many years.聽Over the course of his duties, as a Senior Officer,聽he previously commanded The Royal Regiment of Canada. He later served as Special Advisor to the Canadian Army Commander, and did foreign service as a Military Advisor with NATO Allies.
Giovanna Cioffi is a three-time graduate of 91亚色.聽She is now pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication and Culture.聽She earned two master's degrees including Environmental Science and Disaster and Emergency Management from 91亚色, following her undergraduate 91亚色 Degree.聽She currently serves with the Canadian Forces.
The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 takes place from September 23 to 30. 91亚色 is among several venues in the Greater Toronto Area to host the competition. On September 24 and 25 athletes will compete at the 91亚色 Lions Stadium in athletics events, including track, jumping, throwing and combined events including those competing in wheelchairs, with prostheses, or under the guidance of a sighted person known as a guide.
The Invictus Games uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding of and respect for those who serve their country and their loved ones.聽 Visit 聽for the full Flag Tour schedule and tickets.聽
is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥搊ur 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91亚色 is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. 91亚色 U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.
Media Contacts: Anjum Nayyar, 91亚色 Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543 anayyar@yorku.ca
