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Trent University Celebrates 41st Convocation June 4, 5 and 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nearly 2,000 Graduates to be Honoured in Five Ceremonies over Three Days

Monday, June 2, 2008, Peterborough

Convocation Highlights:

  • 41st Convocation
  • Over 1,906 undergraduate degrees to be granted
  • 46 graduate degrees – eight Ph.D.s and 38 Masters degrees
  • Six distinguished Canadians to receive Honorary Degrees

Trent University’s 41st convocation will honour the 1,956 members of the graduating class of 2008 over the course of five ceremonies on Wednesday, June 4, Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6.

Two ceremonies will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Friday, one ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. All proceedings take place outdoors on the podium of the Bata Library on the Symons Campus.

Over the five ceremonies, degrees will be presented to 1,906 undergraduate, seven diploma and 46 graduate students. Eight Ph.D.s and 38 Masters degrees – 18 in the arts and 20 in the sciences – will be granted. Also at the ceremonies, the Governor General’s Gold medal will be presented to the graduate student with the highest standing and the Silver medal will be presented to the undergraduate student with the highest standing. In addition, four Symons Medals and two Bagnani Medals will be presented to undergraduate students who have achieved high academic standing in their programs.

Dr. Roberta Bondar, Trent University’s ninth chancellor, will preside over her sixth convocation; she was installed as chancellor in 2003. During the ceremonies, six distinguished Canadians will receive honorary degrees.

Statistics from the Office of the Registrar for undergraduate studies show that 70 per cent of graduates are female, while 30 per cent are male. At the graduate level, 57 per cent of graduates are female and 43 per cent are male.

At the undergraduate level, the University is pleased to report that 77 per cent of the graduating class will receive an Honours degree, up from 65.7 per cent last year. An important milestone to note in the undergraduate area is Trent’s largest ever graduating classes in Nursing (123 graduates) and Forensic Science (40).

All 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 all graduates are on the President’s Honour Roll (up from 18.3 per cent last year).

A detailed breakdown of each convocation ceremony is as follows:

On June 4 at 10 a.m., Degrees will be conferred on all graduates in the following programs: Ancient History & Classics; Canadian Studies; Cultural Studies; English Literature; Greek and Latin Language and Literature; and History. Students receiving a Diploma in Canadian Studies will also be honoured. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Hugh Anson Cartwright, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professor James Struthers will be presented with the Distinguished Research Award and the Eminent Service Award will be presented to Susan (Tui) Menzies. Professors Emeriti Michael Peterman, Fred Tromly and John Wadland will also be recognized.

On June 4 at 3 p.m., Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred upon graduates in the following programs: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biology; Chemistry; Chemical Physics; Computer Science/Studies; Computing and Physics; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental and Resource Science/Studies; Geography; Mathematics; Physics; and Psychology. A joint honorary degree will be conferred upon Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, who will address convocation. Professors Emeriti Alan Brunger, David Lasenby, Gary Reker will also be honoured.

On June 5 at 10 a.m., Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees for graduates in Anthropology, Economics, Global Studies, Globalization: Communities and Identities, Indigenous/Native Studies, International Development Studies, International Political Economy, Modern Languages and Literature: French, German & Hispanic Studies, Philosophy, Political Studies, Sociology, and Women's Studies, will be conferred. Diploma in Indigenous Studies will also be presented. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Zacharias Kunuk, who will address convocation, and the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching will be presented to Professor Emilia Angelova. Professor Emeriti Joseph So will also be recognized.

On June 5 at 3 p.m., Doctoral and Masters degrees will be conferred upon graduates, as well as Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts Honours and Bachelor of Science Honours with a Joint Major in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Michael MacMillan, who will address convocation.

On June 6 at 10 a.m., Bachelor of Education degrees will be conferred. An honorary degree will be conferred upon The Hon. Flora MacDonald, who will address convocation.

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Media are invited and encouraged to attend convocation.

For official comments and more information on convocation details, please contact:
Susan Salusbury, University Registrar, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 ext. 7677

For more information on convocation logistics and media support, please contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Officer (media specialist), Trent University, (705) 748-1011 ext. 6185

For further information on the 2008 Convocation ceremonies, including details about the honorary graduands, visit www.trentu.ca/convocation.