HTM student Geoffrey Handelman awarded Ryerson Gold Medal

Congratulations to Hospitality & Tourism Management student Geoffrey Handelman for winning the Ryerson University Gold Medal.

The Gold Medal is the university's highest award, presented to students with outstanding academic achievement combined with extraordinary contributions to the life of the university and/or their professional community and/or the community at large.

Handelman has been an excellent ambassador for the Hospitality & Tourism program and Ryerson overall. He has demonstrated his commitment to the Ryerson community as co-director of the HTMentoring program for new students, achieving Mentor of the Year. He has also been an integral part of the Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program, Top 200 Program and representative with the Ted Rogers Students’ Society.

In addition, Handelman helped promote connections with Jewish culture, life and history across campus as President of Hillel Ryerson.  His involvement with Smart Proud built a community for LGBTQA+ business students across Canada as well.  

“We are all very proud of Geoffrey, the second Hospitality and Tourism Management student in a row to win the prestigious Ryerson Gold Medal award,” says Dr. Frederic Dimanche, Director, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism.  “Geoffrey is the epitome of what a Ryerson student should be: service-oriented, ambitious, hard-working and dedicated to his studies and fellow-students.”

Handelman says he is extremely honoured to win the Ryerson Gold Medal award. “It’s a highly gratifying ending to this long chapter that was my university education.”  

“Each and every moment of my Ryerson journey, in many ways, was a stepping stone in getting to this place,” he explains.  “Whether it was the additional hours I poured into an assignment or the drive to devote all of myself to my community at large, this award really is the physical manifestation of all of that hard work.”

“I am eternally grateful to each and every individual that pushed me over the years to be the best version of myself,” adds Handelman.  “This isn’t just my success, it’s a shared success, and I’m so glad I have the opportunity to represent Ryerson, not only now, but for years to come.”

Handelman’s Gold Medal and certificate will be presented to him at the Convocation ceremony scheduled for the Fall.