Spectacular
Students Recognized by Trent University Alumni Association
 When
Jessica Dobyns first came to Trent, she was struck by how engaged and
active students were in the larger Peterborough community. Meanwhile,
the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) sparked her interest
in food issues. This led Ms. Dobyns and some friends to create a student-run
café on campus.
Ms.
Dobyns is among the accomplished students who have recently been recognized
with awards from Trent University's Alumni Association.
Ms.
Dobyns worked to start The Seasoned Spoon, which soon became a place
where students, staff and faculty could purchase healthy, well-prepared
food, while learning how to make ethical consumption choices.
For
her, the most rewarding part of this project has been watching a community
develop. With more than 200 members, a seven-person board of directors,
a dozen paid staff and many daily customers, she has watched what was
an empty room, turn into a vibrant environment. Ms. Dobyns also directed
the first Trent production of the "Vagina Monologues".
Ms. Dobyns is this year's Robert Lightbody Prize recipient. The Alumni
Association established this prize in honour of alumnus Bob Lightbody's
contributions to the University. Mr. Lightbody is one of Trent's favourite
sons; his career as a member of the original class; Peter Robinson College
cabinet president; Alumni Councillor; Board of Governors and Trent University
Foundation member, has benefited Trent immeasurably.
- The
Robert Lightbody Prize is awarded to an upper year Peter Robinson College,
or its successor, Peter Gzowski College student who has been actively
involved in the life of the college and who has maintained a strong
academic average.
This
year the Gary Wolff Leadership Cup for leadership, courage and determination,
was presented to two athletes. Leath Sweringa was an active participant
in many intramural sports and competed nationally for the Trent University
Rowing Club, placing third in the Canadian University Championships.
Alex Barbaris, a top-notch swimmer, also received this award.
- The
Robert Stephenson Award recognizes students who make outstanding contributions
to student governance. This year there were four recipients.
Jason
Marshall initiated the Education Student Association (ESA) at Trent's
new School of Education. He was elected president, held meetings, took
minutes, established an office and volunteered countless hours to establish
the ESA. He was instrumental in recruiting other active volunteers -
a sure sign of leadership.
Kelly
Ray's dedication to the social development of Peter Gzowski College
gave her the opportunity to sit on the Gzowski College Cabinet as the
social and spirit representative. This venture included not only planning,
facilitating, and evaluating events such as college weekends and formal
for the first year residents at the college, but sitting on another
number of sub-committees. Ms. Ray was also employed by the Trent Central
Student Association to govern the spring 2004 elections as chief electoral
officer.
Sam
Grey has been intimately involved with founding the Students' Association
in International Development (SAID), which brings together students
from within International Development Studies (IDS) and beyond, and
provides a forum for students interested in issues relevant to international
development. She designs, edits and distributes a monthly e-mail newsletter,
which has almost 200 student subscribers. Ms. Grey also initiated a
cooperative effort between SAID and the Youth Employment Summit / Canada
Country Network to get Trent students actively involved in youth-lead
community development projects in the developing world. Another important
initiative that Ms. Grey led was the InSight Students Conference (www.trentu.ca/insight),
which was held in June 2004 in Winnipeg. The conference attracted IDS
students from across Canada to discuss their interests, concerns and
goals as undergraduates.
 Kim
Fielding was the recipient of two awards this year - the Robert W.F.
Stephenson Prize for excellence in student governance and the Julian
Blackburn College Alumni Recognition Award. Ms. Fielding says it would
have been impossible for her to win these awards without a wonderful
community supporting her. These awards recognize Ms. Fielding's exceptional
work on the Board of Governors and as president of the Julian Blackburn
Central Students' Association.
- Each
college annually presents a graduating student with an Alumni Recognition
Award. These students have made a significant contribution to developing
and maintaining the collegial environment at Trent.
Sarah
Alderwick won the Alumni Recognition Award for Catharine Parr Traill College.
As a student she took every opportunity available to participate in college
activities. As an outstanding first-year student she was presented with
the "Silver Star Award". Since then Ms. Alderwick has been secretary for
the College Cabinet, traveled abroad for her third year and then returned
to cabinet. Ms. Alderwick says she is is thankful for the recognition
but insists that working with Prof. Michael Peterman and Judy Stephenson
was all she desired.
Otonabee
College was pleased to announce Melanie Murdock as the recipient for
the Alumni Recognition Award. In her second year, she was yearbook editor
for the Otonabee College Council as well as a member of the Introductory
Seminar Week (ISW) team. Ms. Murdock's third year saw her as secretary
and senior treasurer for the Otonabee College Cabinet. She also worked
in the College Office and was involved in hosting various college events.
In her final year, Ms. Murdock was a member of the ISW team as well
as co-chair for Wildside Weekend.
"All
my involvement has had an incredible impact on my life...Contributing
to the social life of the college in any way possible made my university
experience unforgettable. I loved every moment. Winning this award is
such an honour," said Ms. Murdock.
Erica
Harris is the recipient of the Champlain College Alumni Recognition
Award. She started her active college career by attending the Trent
Leadership Conference in her first year. Since then, she has played
an active role in Champlain College. Her first project was working with
her staircase as a food committee representative. In her second year,
she was an ISW leader as well as secretary on the College Cabinet. Throughout
her final two years, Ms. Harris remained focused on Cabinet, participating
in many committees and groups, including as co-chair of ISW and as Vice-President
of College Cabinet. Cabinet was not her only focus; she helped organize
the first (soon to be annual) Float Your Boat for AIDS fundraiser. She
has volunteered with Special Needs, Trent Students for Literacy and
the Peer Mentoring Program for the past two years. Ms. Harris has also
been corresponding with a third grade child for the last three years
through the Queen's-Trent Pen Pal program.
The
Alumni Association is pleased to have Ms. McDonald as the recipient
of the Lady Eaton College Alumni Recognition Award. For her second summer,
Lady Eaton student Marjorie McDonald will be working with Prof. Peter
Dillon in Nova Scotia. In her first year, Ms. McDonald was involved
in her residence section and intramural sports.This love for Lady Eaton
blossomed in her fourth year with involvement as LEC Fall College Weekend
chair, ISW amiga for Lady Eaton College, cabinet executive, senior senator,
co-MC for Grad Dinner, and a member of the TCSA Board of Directors,
Elections Committee, Student Government Review Committee, Research Policy,
University Affairs Committee as well as a number of intramural sports.
"Extra-curricular
activities have given me as valuable an education as the courses I have
taken," she said.
April
Taylor won the Peter Robinson College (PRC) Alumni Recognition award.
"I started to get really involved in my second year when I became an
amigo. PR might be small but we had a fantastic (ISW) week..."
Ms.
Taylor
was also the PRC social representative that year and was responsible
for such events as the fall and winter college weekends, the Formal,
and "Winter Wonderland". She also held a position on the TCSA. Last
but not least Ms. Taylor was the Shinerama Director for 2003, a great
campaign that drew many supporters from the Trent and Peterborough Communities.
Posted
July 12, 2004
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