Toronto 2024 Convocation: A Moment of Celebration and Inspiration
Before Adaire Stapleton could finish his speech by quoting a memorable line from the wildly popular sitcom The Office, his fellow students erupted into thunderous applause. Stapleton had just delivered an emotion-filled address to graduates, university faculty and administration, and guests at the Northeastern University convocation in Toronto. The May 23 event celebrated 601 graduates who received degrees from nine programs across three academic Colleges. It also recognized the importance of lifelong learning and the diversity that defines the institution’s global approach.
“Today, I want to remind you of this incredible journey we’ve undertaken together — one filled with challenges, triumphs, and countless moments of growth,” Stapleton told the graduating class. “We have discovered the true power of community … We found strength in our diversity, unity in our collective purpose, and inspiration in each other’s stories. As we step into the next chapter of our lives, let us go forward with resilience and conviction, knowing that we carry with us the support of our Northeastern community.”
Northeastern University in Toronto’s 2024 Student Speaker
Throughout his time at Northeastern University in Toronto, Stapleton took his student journey beyond the classrooms of his Master of Professional Studies degree program, becoming a community leader and advocate for inclusivity.
He was a Global Learner Support ambassador, peer mentor, and president of the student interest group Data Analytics Society for Huskies (DASH). All this while excelling in his studies and co-op, gaining experience as a Junior Emergency Management Analyst at the Toronto Transit Commission.
“Many of us can say that one of the most impactful parts of our journeys at Northeastern was our co-op or project experiences,” he recalled. “It took courage to overcome rejections and step outside our comfort zones … Experiences like these have taught us invaluable lessons in courage, teamwork, and leadership.”
During the ceremony, Regional Dean and CEO for the Toronto campus, Aliza Lakhani, welcomed Stapleton and six other graduates into the inaugural Lux. Veritas. Virtus. Society of Distinction. The honour recognizes outstanding graduate students throughout Northeastern’s global network. In addition to Stapleton, who received an astounding 15 nominations from Toronto campus community members, recipients included Tahereh Ahadisarkani, Leslie Cham, Chirag Prajapati, Wan-Hsuan Chung, Jonah Igweh, and Foram Shah.
A Celebration of Diversity and Lifelong Learning
Northeastern University’s unique focus on global learning and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion was fully displayed. During an address, Lakhani, in what has become a staple of Northeastern ceremonies, asked the graduates to raise the small flags representing their home countries that many carried with them.
“This sea of colours is a representation of our shared humanity,” Lakhani, who is also Northeastern University’s Managing Director-Global Campuses, told the audience. “It demonstrates that we are a truly global community that will have an impact around the world as you proceed with your next endeavours.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Olutoyin Oyelade, meanwhile, instilled numerous life lessons in the 2024 graduating class while sharing her own story of perseverance.
In 2011, Oyelade — the founding CEO of the Toronto-based investment advisory firm InVcap —left a lucrative investment banking career to start a non-profit and pursue a doctoral degree. It was during this pivotal moment in her life that Oyelade discovered that challenges crumble when one is goal-oriented.
“Tough seasons hold huge opportunities,” she said. “Opportunities to explore, to learn, to open doors, to discover, and to break through.”
Today, Oyelade is a powerful advocate for elevating Africa’s economies, nurturing young entrepreneurs, and advancing the leadership aspirations of women in business. Her CASA Foundation addresses perennial economic and political challenges, fosters partnerships, provides seed capital, and facilitates trade discussions across the globe with CEOs and government leaders.
Oyelade urged graduates to prepare, never give up, be problem-solvers, have faith, and cultivate healthy relationships.
“Class of 2024, you will most likely earn your greatest achievements through what you do in your fields of endeavour, with peers, and the impact and influence you make on people,” said Oyelade, to whom the university later presented a citation signed by Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun. “However, your most important and greatest achievement is your community and family … Remember that no one is an island; we need our families and cannot seek achievement for ourselves alone. You cannot be great all by yourself. No one is a repository; we need others. Build bridges, mend bridges, do not burn them all.”
As the ceremony concluded with graduates receiving their folios, alum Azi Sohrabi welcomed them into the network of 300,000 alumni in nearly 200 countries. It was a fitting reminder that no matter where in the world graduates end up, they will always be members of an enduring, inclusive, and international Northeastern University community.
By: Izabela Shubair