Congratulations on an Incredible Semester, Ontario Tech Students!
As we wrap up this semester, I want to take a moment to acknowledge your resilience, hard work, and commitment to making the most of your student experience. You’ve all navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and contributed to our vibrant campus community. Congratulations on reaching this milestone, and let’s celebrate some of the fantastic achievements that made this semester memorable.
Creating Vibrant Communities and Experiences
Our Events and Engagement Department (Ashley, Joelle, Krysta & Sinthu), led by Jennifer Neitzel, has delivered incredible results:
- Clubs and Societies: Ashley managed the largest club portfolio in OTSU history, with 112 active clubs and societies, organizing over 300 events this semester. These opportunities have strengthened leadership and community bonds.
- Campus Events: Joelle brought us unforgettable events like the GlowZone Roller Rink and Carnival, creating a lively and memorable campus atmosphere.
- Wellness: Krysta led the creation of a new wellness centre on North Campus, launching in January. This space will offer essential resources for student well-being.
- Esports: Sinthu saved $10,000 for future operations while revamping the Esports program, fostering a stronger sense of community among gaming enthusiasts. The OTSU E sports community grew by over 200 new students this semester.
Innovative Communications and Marketing
Jennifer Prior and her Communications and Marketing team—including Austin, Jocie, and Brad—achieved remarkable milestones:
- Austin: Built a custom Esports arena booking platform and launched a brand-new website in September 2024.
- Jocie: Refreshed O-Week with stunning Glow Week branding and designs while promoting initiatives like the Period Project with monthly campaigns.
- Brad: Grew our Instagram following by over 2,500 new followers, integrated OTSU’s newsfeed into the university app, and collaborated with OTU to send the Rundown to all students.
- The team collectively introduced the biggest Glow Week contest ever, with over 2,400 entries!
Leadership and Financial Stewardship
Under Brian Robson’s leadership as Executive Director, we’ve seen remarkable advancements:
- The onboarding and training of our Executive team fostered a strong collaborative spirit.
- Brian’s networking at the Amiccus-C National and Regional Conferences and his focus on a data-driven approach have strengthened our strategies for student engagement and representation.
- Together with Salvador Caruncho, Brian reinstated the Town Halls, encouraging meaningful dialogues between students and leadership. They also launched the Campaign School, empowering students to engage with student governance.
Financial Excellence
Mayooran Thurairajah, with support from JoAnn Scott, ensured fiscal responsibility and alignment with our goals. Their diligent work has kept us on track to deliver high-quality programs and services. This semester alone they processed over 360 payment forms for students.
Gratitude and Best Wishes
None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts by our OTSU staff going above and beyond. Jennifer Neitzel and Jennifer Prior have been outstanding in their leadership to ensure their teams are successful. Brian, Salvador, Mayooran, and their respective teams have worked hard to bring your voice to the forefront, delivering exceptional results.
To all our students: Thank you for your energy, creativity, and commitment to making our campus a thriving community. We are so proud of what we’ve achieved together.
Wishing you all a joyful and restful winter break. See you in January for another incredible semester!
Regards,
Rai Ali, President
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