When Trent opened in 1964, three men who played a key role in the University’s birth felt it was only fitting they establish a prize that would recognize and reward student academic excellence for decades to come.

The late Professor J.M. Blackburn, then of Queen’s University, the late Dean Frank Stiling, then of the University of Western Ontario, and the late Dr. M. St. A. Woodside, former vice-president of the University of Toronto, who assisted at the birth of Trent by being named by their universities to act as a liaison committee between these three universities and the Founding Board of Trent University, established the aptly named Midwives’ Prize, awarded annually to the student with the highest overall standing in the first year.

First awarded in 1966, the Midwives’ Prize has had many notable recipients, including Dr. Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, who is currently a professor of chemistry at the University of California and was recently a featured speaker at the Ideas That Change the World Symposium, one of Trent University’s 50th Anniversary celebration events.

The 2013/14 recipient of the Midwives’ Prize is Hazma Khattak, who, despite achieving an impressive 97.5 percent grade average, was surprised to learn that he had won the award.

“I knew I was one of the top students because I did well in all my courses, but I had no idea that I had the best marks overall,” said Mr. Khattak, who is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology. His best subject was calculus, where he achieved a 99 percent grade.

Mr. Khattak, who attended high school in Peterborough, chose Trent University because of the quality of research taking place and the opportunity to have personal time with the professors. Describing his first year as a great learning experience, he said “The best part is the interaction with the professors. They take the time to talk with you. They’re friendly and like to tell you about their own research.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Khattak, who spent the past summer working in the Paul Frost Lab at Trent’s DNA Building, would like to conduct cutting-edge research that combines technology with microscale biological systems.  He hopes to pursue a career as a professor.

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2014.