Nimesha Basnayaka dove into the pool of experiential learning as a U of T Mississauga undergraduate and learned not only to swim, but to thrive. Today, the environmental studies graduate is working for the organization where she first did a year-long Department of Geography internship, and she has moved from her entry-level position into management.

Interestingly, Basnayaka, now a program manager with the Association for Canadian Educational Resources (ACER), is responsible for supervising the organization’s student interns herself.

Under the soaring ceilings of University of Toronto Mississauga’s Innovation Complex, the third annual Black Graduation celebration wrapped up by calling out the names of U of T students who had graduated this year.

Amid applause and laughter from family and friends, the graduates – about 50 of whom were in attendance – walked to the front of the room and were presented with Black Grad scarves to recognize their achievements.