THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. MIX & MINGLE (AC223) 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. GRADUATION CEREMONY (AC223) 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. RECEPTION (THE MEETING PLACE)

2016 GREEN PATH PROGRAM GRADUATION CEREMONY

The 2016 Green Path program welcomed its biggest ever cohort of 263 students from 21 partner schools across China and the first student from South Korea. Feedback from teachers and administrators indicates that this year’s cohort is exceedingly strong academically, socially, and culturally. Many have set exemplary roles for their fellow students academically and inspirationally and have played an invaluable role as cultural ambassadors between Canada and their home countries in Asia. I am delighted to see the first Green Path South Korean student Mr. Dustin Woo, share his story on the next page of this graduation invitation. 

We are committed to continue strengthening the Green Path program as the leading international university recruitment and academic preparation program tailored specifically for elite Chinese and Korean students. New in 2016, the Green Path program included a one-semester degree course: CTLA02H3 "Exploring Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Academic Contexts” which represents an opportunity for these students to earn 0.5 credits towards their 20.0 University of Toronto degree.

Schedule of Events 3:00 - 3:05 p.m. Welcome and introduction by Margaret Yan, Director of International Academic Programs and Initiatives

3:05 - 3:15 p.m. UTSC’s formal remarks from Professor Bernie Kraatz, Vice Principal (Research), UTSC

3:15 - 3:25 p.m. Formal remarks from Dr. XU, Weiya, Education Consul & Director of Education Office, Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto

3:25 - 3:27 p.m. “The Leap” by Alvy Zhu - Memories from the 2016 Green Path graduation journey (Video show)

3:27 - 3:37 p.m. Green Path Scholarship Award Ceremony - E Fund Scholarship and Jiangsu Scholarship

3:37 - 3:45 p.m. Valedictorian speech by Miss Grace Gao

3:45 - 3:50 p.m. Congratulatory video from parents in China and Green Path program instructors

3:50 p.m. Ceremony closure

3:50 - 4:00 p.m. All students and guests move to the H-Wing patio

4:15 p.m. Group photo on the HW patio stairs

4:30 -6:00 p.m. 2016 Green Path Program Graduation Reception at the Meeting Place

Quick Facts about 2016 Green Path Program

263 262 international students from the P.R China and 1 from South Korea in 2016 cohort

1,910 UTSC has attracted 1,910 top high school graduates from the P.R China since 2005

21 Strong partnership with 21 key high schools in China 

58:42 Female/male ratio in 2016 cohort

16 The youngest Green Path student in 2016 cohort is 16 years old 

Please allow me on behalf of the UTSC community to express our sincere gratitude to all parents, partner schools and friends from both countries. The Green Path program could not reach today’s momentum without their unwavering support and understanding.    Professor William Gough, Vice-Principal (Academic) and Dean

Green Path Program Updates

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E Fund and Jiangsu Provincial scholarships are available to attract quality Green Path applicants and improve the retention of students enrolled at UTSC. The scholarship is $5,000 for the first year and can be renewed on the basis that the student maintains a 3.70 CGPA after first year, second year and third year of studies.  Students must have completed four credits by the end of the summer session of each year to qualify and must re-register at UTSC. 

12 in the 2016 and 4 upper year students in 2015 Green Path Program have been awarded the scholarships in fields including the Arts, Sciences and Management. They come from different partner schools in Tianjin, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Wuxi, Xiamen, Harbin and Dalian.

Story about Dustin

Green Path Program Scholarships

Dustin Woo is the very first Korean student to ever participate in the Green Path program, an admissions program to transition non-native English speakers into undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). He feels very honoured to hold this distinction and is determined to represent the Korean community well. A lot of you may already know him for his speech that he performed on the opening day of Green Path. The Green Path staff had asked him to speak because they found his story to be powerful and that he would be able to encourage and inspire the other students in the program. He spoke about his father and how much of an inspiration he is, and how all of the students should recognize their parents’ efforts to give them a privileged life and to be able to send them to come to school in Canada. We thought we’d take a closer look at Dustin’s inspiration,why he wanted to study in Canada and his dream of working for the United Nations.

For Dustin, it is the peacefulness of it all. Korea is a very fast-paced society with barely any time to sit and take a breath. There is always something going on that would keep Dustin on his toes almost every moment. For Dustin, to some extent, coming to Canada means that he can absorb a level of tranquility and calmness, while still keeping up with his studies in Management. Dustin’s love for Canada started way back when he made his first visit in grade six in a study-abroad program. He stayed with a family in Chatham, ON, just south of London, for six months. He enjoyed this experience very much. He liked the multiculturalism, the natural environment and the friendly people that surrounded him. He was also able to practice his English skills with the family he was living with. Later, he found another opportunity to come to Canada which was with his younger sister. Dustin was in high school at the time, so for a month he lived with his previous home stay family and went to a Canadian high school. In the little time he was there he made many friends that he stayed in touch with. Upon graduating high school, he looked into attending university in Canada when he came across the Green Path program here at UTSC. He noticed that it was the very first year they were offering the program to students in Korea so he jumped at the chance and applied. To some surprise he was successful and received an offer of admission. His parents supported him fully, and he decided to accept his offer. He’s said that he loves being in Canada and going to school at UTSC, and even though he misses his family, he knows that it is a great opportunity for him. He looks forward to receiving a degree in Management and International Business, where he may contribute to the advancement of struggling economies globally, which is his dream.

Dustin has a message for all of the Green Path students,which he expressed in his speech and is re-iterated here. Follow your dreams, not anyone else’s. Do what you want to do because it makes you happy. It’s okay to be different and wish to do something completely unconventional. It’s okay to have a dream so big that no one else believes its possible. As long as you believe you can do it, and you have support from the people that are closest to you, your dream is achievable. Also, hardships aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Sure they are hard, but they show you that life isn’t always easy, and if you can get through those hardships, you have proven to yourself and to others that you can achieve anything, including finding success in what you love to do. Dustin hopes that all of you will dream big, follow those dreams and never give up. (Story by Gwendolyn Morgan. Photo: Bianca Quijano)

The success of the Green Path Program would not be possible without the unwavering support from our partner schools, UTSC departments, community and external friends. While we are celebrating the 2016 Green Path program graduation, we would like to take the opportunity to express our most sincere gratitude to our colleagues and friends.

Acknowledgements

UofT community• Academic Advising & Career Centre • Academic Integrity • AccessAbility Services • Admissions & Student Recruitment • Arts & Sciences Co-op Office • Athletics & Recreation • Campus Police & Security • Centre for Teaching and Learning

• Principal’s Office • Retail & Conference Services • Student Housing & Residence Life • Student Life • Student Union SCSU • TCard Office • The Registrar’s Office • The School of Continuing Studies -

English Language Program Partner Schools • The Experimental High School Attached to

Beijing Normal University • Nanjing Foreign Languages School • Foreign Languages School Attached to

Sichuan International Studies University • Tianjin Foreign Languages School • Shenzhen Foreign Languages School • Shanghai No.3 Girls' High School • Weifang No.1 Middle School • Dalian No. 24 High School • High School Attached to Harbin Normal

University • High School Attached to Fujian Normal

University, Fuzhou

• Hangzhou Foreign Languages School • Jiangsu Tianyi High School • Xi’an Gaoxin No.1 High School • Shijiazhuang Foreign Languages School • Chengdu Shishi High School • Xiamen Foreign Languages School • Wuhan Foreign Languages School • Jiangxi Linchuan No.1 High School • The High School Affiliated to Xi’an

Jiaotong University • No. 2 High School Attached to East

China Normal University • Suzhou High School Affiliated to Xi’an

Jiaotong University

• High School Attached to Northeast Normal University, Changchun

• The High School Affiliated to Fudan University

• The First High School of Changsha • No.1 High School of Guiyang • English School Attached to

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

• The High School Attached to Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou

• Communications and Public Affairs • Office of the Dean and Vice Principal

(Academic) • English Language Development Centre • Green Path Association • Health & Wellness Centre • IITS student help desk • International Student Centre • Management Co-op Office

Contact UsThe Department of International Academic Programs and Initiatives, under the direct leadership of the Dean and Vice Principal (Academic), has overall responsibility for the planning and operation of the Green Path Program.

Department of International Academic Programs and Initiatives University of Toronto Scarborough AA131, 1265 Military Trail Toronto, Ontario Canada M1C 1A4

Tel: 416-208-4844 Fax: 416-208-2961 Email: myan@utsc.utoronto.ca, bzhang@utsc.utoronto.ca Website: http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/greenpath-china/ https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/greenpath-korea/ Green Path Program WeChat: UTSCgp