During its 45th Convocation, Trent University honoured 1,774 members of the 2012 graduating class, over the course of five ceremonies on Wednesday, June 6; Thursday, June 7; and Friday, June 8 on Symons campus.
Dr. Steven E. Franklin, Trent’s seventh president and vice-chancellor, and Dr. Tom Jackson, the University’s tenth chancellor, presided over the Convocation ceremonies.
Two ceremonies were held on Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Friday, one ceremony was held at 10 a.m. All ceremonies took place outdoors in the University Court of the Bata Library on the Symons Campus. Over 100 volunteers, mostly University employees and retirees, lent a hand at this year’s Convocation ceremonies.
Graduating in 2012 were 1,670 undergraduate, three diploma and 101 graduate students. Eleven Ph.D.s and 90 masters’ degrees – 56 in the arts and 34 in the sciences – were granted.
Students graduated for the first time with degrees in Archaeology and in Ecological Restoration. The first master’s degree in Sustainability Studies was awarded within the largest class of graduate-level graduates in Trent’s history. All three diplomas granted were in Foundations of Indigenous Learning.
Also during the ceremonies, the Governor General’s Gold Medal was presented to the graduate student with the highest standing and the Silver Medal was presented to the undergraduate student with the highest standing. In addition, four Symons Medals and two Bagnani Medals were presented to undergraduate students who have achieved high academic standing in their programs. The President’s Medal was awarded to two outstanding graduate students. During the ceremonies, five distinguished Canadians received honorary degrees.
Statistics from the Office of the Registrar for undergraduate studies show that 69 per cent of graduates are female, while 31 per cent are male. At the graduate level, 61 per cent of graduates are female and 39 per cent are male.
Undergraduate students graduating with a cumulative average of at least 80 per cent are named to the president’s honour roll. This year, 22 per cent of graduates are on the president’s honour roll.
Be sure to follow @TrentUniversity on Twitter and add your own comments and photos during the ceremonies by using the hashtag #TrentConvo.
A detailed breakdown of each convocation ceremony is as follows:
On Wednesday, June 6 at 10 a.m. degrees were conferred upon all graduates in the following programs: Ancient History & Classics; Canadian Studies; Cultural Studies; English Literature; Gender & Women’s Studies; History; Modern Languages and Literatures: French, German & Hispanic Studies; Philosophy; and all degrees for Trent University Oshawa. An honorary degree was conferred upon Dr. Gwynne Dyer, who addressed convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professors Emeriti Leonard Conolly, John Fekete, Michael Neumann, Ian Storey and Graham Taylorwill were recognized.
On Wednesday, June 6 at 3 p.m. degrees were conferred upon graduates in Business Administration and the School of Education & Professional Learning. An honorary degree was conferred upon Ms. Sheila Fraser, who addressed convocation. Professor Deborah Berrill was presented with an Eminent Service Award and recognized as Professor Emeritus.
On Thursday, June 7 at 10 a.m. Degrees was conferred upon graduates in the following programs: Anthropology; Ecological Restoration; Economics; Environmental and Resource Science/Studies; Globalization: Communities and Identities; Indigenous Studies; Indigenous Environmental Studies; International Development Studies; International Political Economy; Politics; Archaeology; and Sociology. Diplomas will be granted in Foundations in Indigenous Learning. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Dr. Ralph Heintzman, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professor Tom Hutchinson was presented with the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching. Professor Jacqueline Solway was presented with the Distinguished Research Award.
On Thursday, June 7 at 3 p.m. Degrees were conferred on all graduates in the following programs: Forensic Science; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Chemical Physics; Computer Science/Studies; Computing and Information Systems; Computing Systems and Physics; Environmental Chemistry; Geography; Mathematics; Mathematical Computer Science; Mathematical Economics; Mathematical Physics; Physics & Astronomy; and Psychology. An honorary degree was conferred upon Mr. Mark Starowicz, who addressed convocation. An Eminent Service award was presented to Mr. John Breukelaar.
On Friday, June 8 at 10 a.m. Graduate Degrees were conferred upon Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts and Master of Science graduates. Graduates from the Trent-Fleming School of Nursing also received their degrees. An honorary degree was conferred upon Dr. Judith Shamian, who addressed convocation.
Green Initiatives
For the fourth year, several green initiatives designed to reduce the event’s impact on the environment were part of Trent’s Convocation ceremonies, including:
Water Bottle-Free Convocation
By eliminating the use of commercial bottled water at the ceremonies, Trent reduced the negative environmental and social impacts of 5,000 single-use water bottles, which have been consumed at previous ceremonies. In lieu of bottled water, the University set up a water station at an information table to provide tap water in biodegradable cups to all guests of Convocation. Graduates each received a take-home gift of a stainless steel water bottle filled with water for their use during the outdoor ceremonies.
Free Passes for Peterborough Transit
In addition to the bottle-water free initiative, graduates and their families were actively encouraged to reduce emissions by travelling, free of charge, on Peterborough Transit to and from the ceremonies. This option also benefited guests by alleviating parking concerns on campus.
Posted on Friday, May 25, 2012.