CATA also awarded Athletic Therapy Student Sabrina Suppa, graduating in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, this year's CATA Scholarship Award which "recognizes Athletic Therapy skills, academic success, and potential for leadership within the profession."

In the feature, Sestito reflects on her academic journey in the Kinesiology and Health Science program and discusses how her studies helped prepare her for real‑world application. Drawing on knowledge gained in courses such as KINE 3345, she describes how she has applied classroom learning to advance her workplace involvement, particularly in the area of inclusive recreation.

Titled “From KINE 3345 to the City of Toronto: Olivia Sestito on Supporting Inclusive Recreation,” the video highlights Sestito’s work with the City of Toronto and her commitment to creating accessible and inclusive recreational opportunities for diverse communities. Her story demonstrates the value of experiential and skills‑based learning in preparing students for impactful careers.

“This feature is a great example of how our students leverage their education to make a difference beyond the classroom,” said [Faculty representative / instructor name, optional]. “Olivia’s experience reflects the strengths of the kinesiology and health science program and the practical relevance of our curriculum.”

The video is now available on the Faculty of Health YouTube channel and serves as an inspiring example of how Faculty of Health students are turning academic learning into meaningful contributions in their fields.

Watch the video:
From KINE 3345 to the City of Toronto: Olivia Sestito on Supporting Inclusive Recreation
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The work of the �첥��Ƶ alum was also quoted in Natural News this April as , and also featured in YFile.

The article, “The Relationships Between Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Sleep, and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies,” was published on April 8, 2026. The study synthesizes evidence from longitudinal cohort studies to examine how movement-related behaviours—physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep—are associated with dementia risk.

This work formed a central component of Oye-Somefun’s doctoral dissertation and reflects a large, collaborative research effort. In addition to Oye-Somefun as lead author, the research team included current PhD student Parmis Mirzadeh and former Master’s student Jenny Gao-Kang, along with faculty collaborators Michael Rotondi, Jennifer L. Kuk, Hala Tamim, and Chris I. Ardern.

The study’s findings contribute to the growing body of research emphasizing the importance of balanced daily movement behaviours across the lifespan, particularly as populations age and dementia prevalence continues to rise worldwide.

Following publication, the research attracted national and international media interest. Oye-Somefun was interviewed by NBC News, and the study was subsequently covered by multiple news outlets, underscoring the public health relevance of the findings and the growing recognition of student-led research excellence.

“This work highlights the strength and impact of doctoral research when supported by interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship,” said Dr. Chris I. Ardern, senior author and faculty supervisor. “Akinkunle’s leadership on this project demonstrates how rigorous evidence synthesis can inform both scientific understanding and public discourse.”

Publication Details

• Journal: PLOS ONE
• Publication date: April 8, 2026
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343621

About the Research Team

The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of trainees and faculty with expertise in epidemiology, movement behaviour research, and public health, including graduate students and faculty members affiliated with KAHS.

The YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships (originally the All England Badminton Championships) first started on 4 April 1899 at the London Scottish Drill Hall in Westminster, London. The inaugural Open featured only doubles events, with singles added the following year in 1900.

This great news was covered in .

Alexander Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships (NSERC)

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) offers the Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships to support high��첹��������� graduate students in the natural sciences and engineering, enabling them to focus on their studies and connect with leading research mentors. NSERC provides financial assistance to exceptional graduate students to help them develop strong research skills and dedicate themselves fully to their academic work. These scholarships provide financial support to exemplary scholars who are engaged in master’s or doctoral programs in the natural sciences or engineering.

This year’s recipients of the Alexander Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship are:

1. Ihtisham Ahmed
2. Emily Fraschetti
3. Madison Garibotti
4. Lorna-Maureen Krelove
5. Pierre Lemieux
6. Rohin Malekzadeh
7. Nora Pourhashemi
8. Nourallah Salem
9. Victoria Sanfrancesco

Frederick Banting & Charles Best Graduate Scholarships (CIHR)

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) strives to ensure a strong foundation of future health research leaders and is committed to offering programs that increase the supply of highly qualified researchers. The Frederick Banting and Charles Best Graduate Student Scholarship program provides special recognition and financial support to graduate students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field in Canada.

This year’s recipients of the Frederick Banting & Charles Best Graduate Scholarships are:

1. Mohadeseh Ahmavadvand
2. Samaneh (Sam) Fatehi
3. Anastasiya Kuznyetsova
4. Parsa Shekarloo
5. Lauren Turner
6. Kelyn Young

Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship

The Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) offers the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship aimed to develop research skills and assist in the training and support of graduate students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate programs in the social sciences and humanities. These funding opportunities help train Canada’s researchers and leaders of tomorrow.

This year’s recipient of the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship award is:

1. Valerie Bhupaul
2. Katerina Disimino
3. Benton Oliver

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowships support high‑calibre students pursuing doctoral studies in the social sciences and humanities, allowing them to dedicate themselves fully to advanced research and scholarly training.
These fellowships enable recipients to work with leading research mentors and contribute meaningfully to Canada’s academic and research landscape during and beyond their studies.

This year’s recipients of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowships are:

1. Julia Ferreira Gomes
2. Jessica Nachman

Bobby Orr Entrance Scholarship

Bobby Orr has generously funded an endowment at �첥��Ƶ which provides an annual entrance scholarship. To be considered for this scholarship an applicant must apply to the Kinesiology & Health Science program. The applicant must also have a distinguished academic record at the secondary school level combined with extracurricular participation or service. This year’s winners of the Bobby Orr Entrance scholarships are:

1. Melissa Amirnia
2. Julian Calicchia

Kinesiology & Health Science Entrance Award

The annual entrance award is given to an outstanding undergraduate student choosing to pursue the study of kinesiology and health science at �첥��Ƶ. The recipient must have a distinguished academic and extra-curricular record at the secondary school level. The recipient must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, reside in Ontario and meet the eligibility criteria related to financial circumstances.

This year’s winner of the Kinesiology & Health Science Entrance Award is:

1. Marinella Ganios

Greg Malszecki Award for Community Engagement

The Greg Malszecki Award for Community Engagement was created to benefit a first-year undergraduate student enrolled in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science who has demonstrated leadership and proactive engagement in their community, whether at school or extracurricular, in a way that shows openness, kindness, vision, engagement and commitment to the public interest. To be eligible, applicants must submit a one-page statement detailing how they are putting their leadership and commitment to the public interest into action.

This year’s winner of the Greg Malszecki Award for Community Engagement is:

1. Esosa Osasere

Book Prizes are awarded to the Kinesiology and Health Science majors who have the highest major cumulative grade point average in their respective year of undergraduate study.

Bryce M. Taylor Book Prize winners this year are:

1. Trinity Lam
2. Lina Ahmadi
3. Luna Ktecha

Frank Cosentino Book Prize winners this year are:

1. Sepehr Khalifeh
2. Sahil Patel

Stuart G. Robbins Book Prize winners this year are:

1. Ameen Al-Habbobi
2. Sarira Behnia

Norman Gledhill Book Prize winners this year are:

1. Zac Pour
2. Daniel Aliee

Esther Handelsman Bursary

The Esther Handelsman Bursary is a need-based financial bursary offered by �첥��Ƶ to support students enrolled in health-related programs, including Kinesiology and Health Science.

The recipients of this year’s Esther Handelsman Bursary are:

1. Kiana Hosseini
2. Ava Owlia
3. Nikan Movahedi

The Physical and Health Education Canada Award is funded thanks to a very kind and special donation from the Donald Sanderson Memorial Fund.

The Physical and Health Education Canada Award is presented annually to a third year Kinesiology & Health Science honours major who has played a leadership role in the School student organizations and has attained a minimum cumulative grade point average of B. This year’s recipient of the award is:

1. Danielle Burnett

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Since 1975, the Province of Ontario, in partnership with Ontario’s publicly assisted universities, has encouraged excellence in graduate studies at the masters and doctoral levels through the awarding of Ontario Graduate Scholarships. OGS awards are merit-based scholarships available to students in all disciplines of academic study.

This year’s Ontario Graduate Scholarship award recipients are:

1. Aditya Brahmbhatt
2. Rachael Carson
3. Sabrina Champsi
4. Luke Flewwelling
5. Shahrzad Khajehzadehshoushtar
6. Parmis Mirzadeh
7. Neushaw Moradi
8. Monika Nguyen
9. Olivia Ramraj
10. Shauna Spirling
11. Marcel Tesolin
12. Sonia Vovan

QEII Graduate Scholarships in Science & Technology

The Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology is a merit‑based graduate scholarship available to master’s and doctoral students in Ontario, supporting and encouraging excellence in graduate studies research in science and technology (STEM) fields. The QEII is in addition to and harmonized with the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program.

This year’s QEII Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology recipients are:

1. Parsa Jamal-Zadeh
2. Jaryeon Lee

York Graduate Scholarship

The York Graduate Scholarship is an entrance scholarship that is awarded to top-ranked external doctoral applicants in their first year of study based on their academic merit.

The recipients of this year’s York Graduate Scholarships are:

1. Katelyn Eisner
2. Wahid Khan
3. Bahar Roohshad
4. Jumana Waez

Connected Minds Graduate Scholarship

The Connected Minds Graduate Scholarship provides financial support to high-calibre scholars doing research that is aligned with the Connected Minds program under the supervision of a Connected Minds scholar. This support provides funds in addition to standard University support to attract and train leading scholars of tomorrow.

This year’s Connected Minds Graduate Scholarship recipients are:

1. Kayton Jaksic
2. Lorna-Maureen Krelove
3. Temitope Kumapayi
4. Chukwuebuka Prince Onyekere
5. Nora Pourhashemi

VISTA (Vision: Science to Applications) Training Scholarship

The VISTA (Vision: Science to Applications) Training Scholarship provides financial support to high-calibre scholars doing research that is aligned with the VISTA program under the supervision of a VISTA Core or Associate Member. This support provides funds in addition to �첥��Ƶ and/or external support to attract and train leading vision researchers of tomorrow.

This year’s VISTA Graduate Scholarship recipients are:

1. Aiza Khan
2. Jennifer Le
3. Nourallah Salem
4. Kelyn Young

LaMarsh Graduate Student Leadership Award

The LaMarsh Graduate Student Leadership Award recognizes a graduate trainee who demonstrates outstanding leadership and a strong commitment to enhancing student engagement in research at the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research at �첥��Ƶ to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families. The recipient receives mentorship from LaMarsh faculty. This award honours students whose initiatives, collaboration, and service strengthen the Centre’s research community.

This year’s LaMarsh Graduate Student Leadership award winner is:

1. Abby Shimmerman

Provost Dissertation Scholarship

The Provost Dissertation Scholarship is awarded to assist outstanding doctoral students in their final year of doctoral study to concentrate exclusively on and complete their dissertations. It is designed for students who have made significant progress on the research and writing of their dissertations to facilitate timely degree completion.

This year’s Provost Dissertation Scholarship goes to:

1. Deanna Vervaecke

St. George’s Society of Toronto Endowment for Graduate Student Award

The St. George’s Society of Toronto Endowment for Graduate Student Award recognizes exceptional graduate scholars whose research advances the understanding of British culture as well as those contributing to health sciences. This award celebrates recipients whose work exemplifies academic excellence and reflects the Society’s long-standing commitment to supporting research that enriches cultural and scientific knowledge.

The St. George’s Society of Toronto Endowment for Graduate Student Award goes to:

1. Aseosa Ehi

Michael Smith Foreign �첥��Ƶ Supplements Program

The Michael Smith Foreign �첥��Ƶ Supplements Program supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, recipients contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.

This year’s Michael Smith Foreign �첥��Ƶ Supplement is awarded to:

1. Pierre Lemieux

The School of Kinesiology and Health Science honours the legacy of distinguished faculty members through several undergraduate memorial awards. These awards recognize academic excellence, leadership, and service, celebrating the lasting impact of faculty who have shaped the School’s teaching, research, and community. They support and inspire students as they carry forward these enduring values forward.

Dr. Normal Gledhill KAHS Graduate Student Travel Award

The Dr. Normal Gledhill KAHS Graduate Student Travel Award honours the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Gledhill’s work as a pioneering scholar, mentor, and leader in exercise physiology and sport science. Over his academic career at York, Dr. Gledhill was instrumental in shaping our school’s evolving curriculum. Reflecting his lifelong commitment to supporting students and advancing research, this award provides financial support to offset the costs of graduate students attending a conference to present their graduate research, helping emerging scholars share their work, build connections, and carry forward the spirit of excellence and inquiry that defined Dr. Gledhill’s career.

This year’s recipients of the Dr. Norman Gledhill KAHS Graduate Student Travel Award are:

1. Katerina Disimino
2. Mohadeseh Ahmadvand
3. Sonia Vovan
4. Tia Bankosky

Bryce M. Taylor Memorial Scholarship

The Bryce M. Taylor Scholarship is one of the School’s most prestigious awards and is given to a Kinesiology and Health Science major in their final year of study who has distinguished themself through public service in the University and the external community.

This year’s recipient of the Bryce M. Taylor Memorial Scholarship is:

1. Ameen Al-Habbobi.

Dr. Charles Bull Athletic Therapy Scholarship

The Dr. Charles Bull Athletic Therapy Scholarship, which was named in honour of Dr. Charles Bull in recognition of his contribution to the field of sports medicine. It is awarded to a Kinesiology & Health Science student who is enrolled in the Athletic Therapy Certificate program who has demonstrated academic excellence, service to injured athletes, and leadership within the Certificate program.

This year’s recipient of the Dr. Charles Bull Athletic Therapy Scholarship is:

1. Lara Alt

Ed Nowalkoski Award

The Ed Nowalkoski Award, named in memory of the former head athletic therapist and lecturer in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, which is presented for good academic performance combined with demonstrated involvement in the program either as a student-athlete or student-therapist.

This year’s recipients of the Ed Nowalkoski Award are:

1. Mona Hanachi
2. Prabhshan Brar

R.F. Price Scholarship

The R.F. Price Scholarship, which is named in memory of R.F. “Bud” Price, a former administrator in the School. This scholarship is awarded annually to an Honours Kinesiology and Health Science major student entering Year 3 of their program who has contributed in a leadership role in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science.

The recipients this year for the R.F. Price Scholarship are:

1. Sahil Patel
2. Arad Sabzvari

Michael Smith Award

The Michael Smith Award, which is named in memory of Dr. Michael D. Smith, a former professor in sport sociology and leading researcher in the field of violence in sport and domestic violence. This award is given to a student who has extracurricular involvements including volunteer work, either with the disadvantaged or in support of social agencies or causes.

This year’s recipient for the Michael Smith Award is:

1. Arad Sabzvari

Robert Munro Menzies Award

The Robert Munro Menzies Award. Robert Munro Menzies received a Bachelor of Arts from Atkinson College at �첥��Ƶ in 1984. He generously established this award in 1999, shortly after retiring as a teacher with Toronto Board of Education. This award is presented annually to a Kinesiology and Health Science major who is a continuing and outstanding inter-university athlete.

The recipients of this year’s Robert Munro Menzies Award are:

1. Grace Whitley
2. Julia Typa

James Laws Memorial Athletic Therapy Award

The James Laws Memorial Athletic Therapy Award (also referred to as the Dr. James Laws Student Athletic Therapist of the Year Award) is an award established to honour the legacy of Dr. James (Jamie) Laws, a highly influential figure in Canadian athletic therapy and sports medicine. The award recognizes a student enrolled in the School’s Athletic Therapy Certificate Program who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and commitment to the field of athletic therapy, excellence in clinical practice and professionalism, and presents values reflecting compassion, service, and leadership, which characterized Dr. Laws’ career.

The recipient of this years James Laws Memorial Athletic Therapy Award is:

1. Gwendolyn Beauchamp

Sport and recreation play a vital role in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science by bringing the study of human movement, health, and performance into lived experience. They promote physical and mental well‑being, foster leadership and inclusion, and connect academic learning with meaningful physical engagement in campus and community life. Through sport and recreation, students help strengthen a culture of health, excellence, and collaboration in our program and beyond.

Sport and Recreation Award

The Sport and Recreation Award is presented to students based on Honours standing within their program of study and contribution to sport and recreation programs. Recipients are selected as those who reflect a fair and reasonable balance of college and faculty affiliation and sport and recreation program involvement.

This year’s recipients of the Sport and Recreation Award are:

1. Seyedalireza Vaziri
2. Adriano Nogueira
3. Danielle Burnett
4. Arvin Moradi

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Award

This award is an external award offered by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology to a graduating student who has completed all 8 PKINs, the practicum courses that focus on experiential learning through physical activity.

This year’s recipient of the CSEP Award is:

1. Ameen Al-Habbobi

Leadership awards recognize students who positively influence others through initiative, integrity, and service, reinforcing the values within the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, which our community seeks to uphold. These award recipients inspire faculty and their peers as they engage with community and contribute to academic success as leaders within and outside our School.

Steve Dranitsaris Leadership Award

The Steve Dranitsaris Leadership Award is named in honour of Steve Dranitsaris, a fixture on �첥��Ƶ’s campus for more than 40 years. From 1989-2002, he held the role of executive officer in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science and in his years with the School, he was responsible for many initiatives, including being the founder of the �첥��Ƶ Sport Hall of Fame. The recipient of this award demonstrates superior leadership skills in either the Sport & Recreation program, or within the School of Kinesiology and Health Science academic program.

This year’s recipient of the Steve Dranitsaris Leadership Award is:

1. Sarva Saeid

Sue Vail Leadership Award

The Sue Vail Leadership Award is given to students who exhibit exceptional leadership qualities as demonstrated through involvement in one or more of the following: participation in extracurricular activities such as student clubs and organizations, recreation, intramurals and/or varsity sports. This scholarship is named in honour of Dr. Susan Vail in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, the Faculty of Health and �첥��Ƶ.

This year’s recipients of the Sue Vail Leadership Award are:

1. Tandeep Sadhra
2. Arvin Moradi

Lily D’Urzo Leadership Award

The Lily D’Urzo Scholarship is named in memory of Lily D’Urzo, a former York student, instructor and coach, and is awarded to a continuing honours Kinesiology & Health Science major student who has contributed in a leadership role to the School of Kinesiology & Health Science. 

This year’s recipients of the Lily D’Urzo Leadership Award are:

1. Grace Whitley
2. Abigail Hicks

These awards celebrate students whose academic performance reflects the rigour, discipline, and high standards of Kinesiology and Health Science at �첥��Ƶ, and who exemplify the values of our academic program.

Kinesiology and Health Science Honour Award

The Kinesiology and Health Science Honour Award recognise students in the School who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement within the Honours program through sustained coursework and a strong commitment to scholarly success across the degree.

This year’s Kinesiology and Health Science Honour Award go to:

1. Tandeep Sadhra
2. Kiana Hosseini
3. Sina Dadashi
4. Sofia Ostapchuk
5. Seyedalireza Vaziri
6. Julia Lianos
7. Ava Owlia
8. Nikan Movahedi
9. Julia Typa
10. Arad Sabzvari
11. Elahe Foadoddini

Roger Kelton Academic Scholarship

This scholarship is named in honour of Dr. Roger Kelton, former Chair, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the School of Kinesiology and Health Science.

The Roger Kelton Academic Scholarship is awarded to the School of Kinesiology & Health Science undergraduate student with the highest major grade point average of all Kinesiology & Health Science major award winners.

The recipient of this year’s Roger Kelton Academic Scholarship is:

1. Ava Owlia

Anjali was selected by the Toronto Argonauts, and she is the only successful candidate across all teams with an area of focus in Athletic Therapy.  Last year, Anjali completed a summer placement through the athletic therapy certificate program with the BC Lions.  

The athletic therapy certificate program currently has practicum agreements with five CFL teams across Canada.  This coming summer, a record number of twelve of our students were offered and have accepted placements with these teams.

See .

Para athletes Travis Murao, Rio Kanda Kovac, Cody Caldwell and Eric Rodrigues attended the campus event to share their experiences, allow students a unique opportunity to perform musculoskeletal assessments on para athletes, and even take a spin in a competition chair!

A very special thank you to Dr. McRoberts for making this unique workshop happen once again for the Athletic Therapy students!

Anthony Scimè, Associate Professor
Integrated platform for high resolution analyses of stem cells and tissues in response to metabolic pre-conditioning: Provide advanced equipment to study muscle disease and aging, supporting new strategies to restore muscle function in older adults.
$100,000

Michael Paris, Assistant Professor
A novel laboratory to study sarcopenia and the neuromuscular control of movement across the aging spectrum: Establish infrastructure to measure neuromuscular function across the aging spectrum and advance applied motor function research.
$80,000

George Mochizuki, Associate Professor
Walking while talking: assessing the interplay between age, distraction, and mobility: Examine how distraction affects mobility and brain activity in mid‑life to better understand and prevent fall risk later in life.
$72,422

Devin Phillips, Assistant Professor
A novel laboratory to investigate cardiorespiratory function and perceived dyspnea during physiological stress in humans: Enable precise measurement of heart and lung function during physiological stress to advance applied cardiorespiratory research.
$138,000

PROJECT IMPACT: Coming together to establish a priority agenda for knowledge mobilization initiatives for the well-being of Canadian children and youth, led by Rebecca Bassett-Gunter (KHS Professor) and co-led by a team of York researchers including Jessica Fraser-Thomas (KHS Associate Professor) and Karl Erickson (KHS Associate Professor), along with others in the Faculty of Health, Heather Prime, Jennifer Connolly, Jennine Rawana,  Madison Aitken, Melody Wiseheart and Thanujeni (Jeni) Pathman.

The project received $24,948.