At the eighth annual Peterborough Business Excellence Awards ceremony on October 18, 2011, student Gemma L. Edwin was awarded $1,000 for showing initiative beyond the boundaries of academics, while displaying academic excellence in her studies at Trent University in the Department of Business Administration.

During her time at Trent, Ms. Edwin has demonstrated exceptional leadership through her direct involvement with many areas of student life, in campus groups and clubs, working with the administration, and organizing and hosting events in the greater Peterborough community.

“It’s been a true learning experience,” said Ms. Edwin, “not just academically, but for how things work in life. At Trent, I like that as students we get to voice our concerns in our University setting.”

Among her activities, Ms. Edwin collaborated to create a student human rights group, which resulted in being invited to join the Presidential Advisory Committee on Human Rights, wherein she advocated for an on-campus spiritual space which now exists.

Ms. Edwin has also worked with administration in the Liaison Office and the New Student Advisory (NSA) program, advising parents and assisting students with their entry into an enriched student experience at Trent.

Ms. Edwin worked in communications with the on-campus organization Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) and sought to make connections and link events together on campus and in the Peterborough community. She was also the host of Afrobana and completed an internship with the Kawartha Heritage Conservancy.

Gemma Leana Edwin is an international student from St. Lucia. She arrived at Trent as a mature student in 2009, with experience as a teacher in Guyana and business person in her home community. Ms. Edwin chose Trent because she was inspired to see the world from many perspectives, and wished to be part of something more than a traditional school of business. Her interests lie in sustainable development and global policy.

The Student Business Leadership Bursary was established by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce as a way to recognize exceptional business leadership potential in post-secondary students. The Bursary is also sponsored by the Small Business Week Committee.

Trent University gratefully acknowledges the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Week Committee for their support and encouragement of Trent students who are interested in the world of business and for recognizing student excellence while fostering responsible leadership and business prosperity for our future.

Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2011.