When one meets Mika Cress, their Trent and Champlain College pride is immediately evident, so when the opportunity to join the Alumni Engagement & Services Office as an assistant presented itself, Mika knew that it was the perfect opportunity to further their involvement with the broader Trent community.

“I have a lot of pride not only going to Trent but also in being a Champlain student, and I feel working here in Alumni House, which is really a part of Champlain College, and connecting with the Trent community and interacting with people who are engaged with Trent is really something I wanted to be a part of. The opportunity seemed like the perfect fit.”

In fact, Mika’s entire Trent experience has been a “meant to be” journey, with things lining up perfectly for a bright future. After taking a gap year after high school, a friend told Mika about Trent, and the University’s renowned Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies piqued their interest.

“I have always been interested in Indigenous Studies and although I was considering other fields as well, Indigenous Studies just always seemed right to me. I really wanted to learn more about what it means for me to be Indigenous, but also to learn about the realities of Indigenous people in Canada and around the world,” says Mika. “It felt like Trent was the place where I had to be.”

Mika started as Alumni House assistant in May and enjoys the opportunity to gain an array of new skills and connect with Trent’s devoted alumni. One of the highlights to date was being involved with Convocation 2022 where he had the opportunity to meet some of the honorary degree recipients like the inspiring Honourable Dr. Lillian Eva (Quan) Dyck.

“Working in Alumni House has given me the opportunity to see the big picture of how the University works. I'm learning the importance of making and maintaining those beautiful Trent connections that really do last a lifetime.”

Being in their fourth and final year, Mika has been doing a lot of reflecting on what the future holds and is considering doing a master’s degree at Trent. He is extremely grateful for the donor funding that has made the Alumni House Assistant position possible, an experience that will stand them in good stead as they consider a career in the non-profit or social services sector.

“Thank you, this job has given me a lot of opportunities that I don't think I would have had in a different position. I’ve had the opportunity to make connections with so many people. I am learning so much from this position and I believe my contributions are beneficial to Trent as well.”

Supporting the Trent Fund gives students like Mika on-campus employment, financial aid, experiential learning opportunities, mentoring, on-campus safety, and health and wellness. Gifts to the Trent Fund have an immediate impact on students and can directly change the course of their lives.