Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award

The Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Awards were established in 1994 by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) and the Division of University Advancement in order to recognize students who have made outstanding extra-curricular contributions to their college, faculty or school, or to the university as a whole.

In naming the awards after Gordon Cressy, former vice-president of development and university relations, the UTAA recognized his commitment to higher education and his leadership in fundraising and community service. The qualities of leadership and dedication demonstrated by Mr. Cressy during his six years with the university are also embodied in the efforts of students chosen to receive this award – students who are committed to "making a difference."

We aim to encourage and recognize participation in university affairs by alumni and students. Through the Gordon Cressy Awards, we hope to foster student and new alumni involvement in the university.

About Gordon Cressy

Gordon Cressy has been involved with the not-for-profit and academic sectors for more than 30 years. He was a youth worker in Trinidad, on the south side of Chicago, and in the inner city of Toronto. He has been an elected school trustee and chairman of the Toronto Board of Education, and an elected city councillor. He has also been president of the United Way of Greater Toronto, and a vice-president of Ryerson University and the University of Toronto, as well as an instructor at U of T for 15 years.

Mr. Cressy is a graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Social Work program. As a volunteer, Mr. Cressy has chaired the board of YMCA of Canada and Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO). He is the founding president of The Learning Partnership, best known for the Take Our Kids to Work™ program and the founding director of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. He is also involved in an honorary capacity with a number of other charities. Gordon and his wife have returned from a three year assignment to assist in building the first ever YMCA in Tobago, West Indies. Mr. Cressy is now involved as a consultant and volunteer working with a number organizations including our own University of Toronto.

Nominations for the 2013-2014 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award will open in November 2013.

Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award recipients will be honoured at the Awards Ceremony & Reception on Wednesday, April 9, 2014.