A Celebration of Student Growth, Contribution, and Achievement
The collegiate system is built as a supportive network that celebrates its communities year round. The annual College Awards bring this spirit to life by inviting the Trent community to nominate students and recognize the contributions that shape our campus.
There are two sets of undergraduate awards, each with its own nomination process and eligibility criteria.
Symons Campus College Awards
All members of the Trent community are encouraged to nominate deserving students by Friday, February 13, 2026.
Collegiate award categories include academic, athletic, and artistic excellence, volunteerism, community leadership, governance, extracurricular engagement – and more. Awards are for students in all levels of study, and many include financial prizes.
Nominations can be made without listing a specific award and without knowing the student's college affiliation – the committee will determine eligibility upon receipt of your nomination.
The full listing of awards distributed by Champlain College, Lady Eaton College, Otonabee College, and Gzowski College can be found below.
Note: Traill College awards are managed by the Traill College Cabinet.
All Colleges Awards
There are four major awards students can be nominated for. These awards have specific criteria for eligibility and include financial prizes. Details about the awards are noted below.
The nomination process is open from February 9-27, 2026.
Champlain College
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Cheryl & Bryan Davies Award
The Cheryl and Bryan Davies award is given each year to a graduating student of Champlain College who has contributed to college life through the demonstration of one or more of the following qualities: compassion, generosity, enthusiasm, innovation, creativity, and enterprise.
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Alumni College Recognition Award
The alumni award is voted on by the graduating class. This award is presented to a student who has made a significant and continuous contribution to the college.
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Marian O'Brien Award
An award that goes to a graduating student who best emulates the dedication that Marian had shown to the college. Marian served as Assistant to the Master of Champlain College from 1992 to 1994 and as College Administrator from 1995 to 1999.
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Truslow Award
The Truslow Award is given to a graduating student who has made significant and continuous contributions to the life of the College.
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Noranna Flower Award
Presented to a graduating student who embodies the heart and soul of Champlain College. Started in 2014to honour Noranne Flower, a long-time dedicated member of the Champlain community.
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Dr. Mike Allcott Award
Awarded to a graduating student who has made significant contributions to diversity and inclusivity at Trent. Started in 2014 in honour of the former College Head Michael Allcott.
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Graham Sheldon Award
Awarded to the graduating student who spent time volunteering to help others in the community, specifically with a focus on helping those with accessibility issues.
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Spectrum Awards
Awarded to a graduating student who has engaged in a spectrum of co-curricular activities in the broader Trent community.
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Principals Prize
Awarded to the graduating student of Champlain College who has shown significant contribution to enhancing student life within their academic department.
Lady Eaton College
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LEC Majory Seely Prize
Up to three prizes are awarded in honour of the first Principal of Lady Eaton College to students of the College who have distinguished themselves in sports, academics, student government, or College communities, or who have contributed to the College in such a way as to enrich its life.
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Arndt Krüger Prize
Established to honour Arndt Kruger, Principal of LEC from 2000 to 2010. To be awarded to an LEC international student in good standing who has contributed to the College.
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Tony Britt Leadership Prize
Established in honour of Tony Britt '79 (LEC). Awarded to an undergraduate student who has made significant contributions to student life at LEC. Tony was very actively involved on campus and with the college, and wanted to ensure that LEC students continue to strive to be leaders at Trent.
Otonabee College
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Otonabee College Bob Annett Prize
During his 30 years at Trent, Professor Annett was committed to encouraging students to reach their potential and to benefit the fullest from their experience at Trent. Eligibility for this prize is to be a full-time undergraduate student of Otonabee College who is in second year or above. A short essay (max. 1.5 pages) is requested, and the nomination show demonstrate what strategies, resources, and self-reflection has contributed to your overall improvement between first and second year.
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Gordon Johnston Prize for Artistic Excellence
This award honours the first Master of the College and is presented to a member or friend of Otonabee College who has made a contribution to the College through artistic excellence. This prize is accompanied by an honorarium of $50.00 and presented at the annual Otonabee College Awards Reception.
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Douglas Bruce Memorial Prize
Created in memory of Douglas Bruce, who began his studies at Trent at the age of 78 and took every upper-year Greek or Latin course offered within Ancient History and Classics until he passed away in 2004 at the age of 87. This prize is awarded annually to an upper-year Otonabee College student for excellence in the study of the ancient world. This prize is presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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Otonabee College Sociology Prize
In recognition of a graduating student enrolled in the Sociology program for their outstanding contributions to the Department and College Life. This prize is presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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Otonabee College Excellence Prize
Awarded to a graduating student who has consistently combined academic excellence (a cumulative average of 80.0% or above) with all-round participation in student government and a contribution to the life of the College. This prize is presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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College Heads Prize
Awarded to three members of the graduating class who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of Otonabee College. These prizes are presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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Alumni Recognition Award
This award was donated by Bruce Hurley '75 and is presented annually to a graduating student who has made a continuous contribution to Otonabee College. The winner's name is added to the permanent wooden plaque displayed in Otonabee College. This prize is presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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Eileen Gallagher Otonabee College Spirit Medal
This medal is the gift of alumni, friends, and family, the late wife of Professor Fin Gallagher, who was the fourth Master of Otonabee College. This prize is awarded to a graduating female member of Otonabee College who has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the College. This prize is presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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Scott Rennie Otonabee College Spirit Medal
The gift of alumni, friends, and family of Scott Rennie. The award is presented to a graduating male member of Otonabee College who has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the College. This prize is presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
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Otonabee College Spirit Awards
These certificates are presented by the President of Cabinet to three graduating students, selected by member of the graduating class, who have made outstanding contributions to the College. These certificates are presented at the annual Otonabee College Graduation Dinner.
Peter Gzowski College
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Alumni Recognition Award
Presented to a Gzowski College graduating student who has made a significant and continuous contribution to the College. Plaque from Alumni Affairs Office.
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Robert Lightbody Award
Established by the Alumni Association to honour the contributions to the university of alumnus Robert Lightbody, a member of Trent's first class. Originally awarded to an upper-year Peter Robinson College student, the prize is now awarded to an upper-year student in its successor college, Peter Gzowski College. The recipient has been actively involved in the life of the College and has maintained a minimum B+ average.
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Peter Robinson College Students' Prize
Established in 2005 by the students of Peter Robinson College. Awarded to a Peter Gzowski College undergraduate student who has a significant contribution to the university community and has a minimum C+ average.
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Ellen Bentzen Community Leadership Prize
Established in 2011 in memory of Professor Ellen Benzten, former Principal and Senior Tutor of Peter Gzowski College and Professor of Biology, by family, friends, colleagues, and students. Awarded to an upper-year student of Peter Gzowski College who has shown outstanding efforts and leadership in community building both on campus and within the broader community. Preference will be given to a student who has promoted greater awareness of social justice and sustainability.
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Gzowski College Enwayaang Prize
Established in honour of the building's tenth anniversary. Awarded to the graduating student who best exemplifies relationship-building across collegial communities in the spirit of the building's name (Enwayaang, "the way we speak together"). Recipients will have demonstrated engagement in the college community and commitment to developing strong relationships between groups, departments, or organizations in Enwayaang.
All Colleges Awards
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Trent Homophile Association (THA) Prize
This prize recognizes an undergraduate student who has shown outstanding leadership in social justice and educational organizing towards queer and trans rights, campus inclusion, and/or advocacy in the surrounding community. This leadership should be demonstrated through meaningful participation in a campus group, club, or initiative whose work contributes to these efforts.
Criteria for eligibility:
- Student must be enrolled full-time, in any undergraduate program and in any year of study at Trent.
- Open to domestic and international students in good academic standing (60% or higher).
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Jennifer A. Reed Leadership Scholarship
The scholarship was established by family, friends, and colleagues in memory of Jennifer A. Reed '88 after her tragic death in July 2015. Established for Jennifer's participation and involvement with the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference, an important requirement is that the student recipient of the scholarship must have demonstrated leadership.
Criteria for eligibility:
- Any full-time undergraduate student who is in second year or above.
- The student must have a minimum average of 80% and be enrolled in any undergraduate program.
- The student must have demonstrated leadership qualities that contribute to the Trent mission, the community, or the country as a whole.
- The recipient of this award must have held at least one leadership role at Trent University and used this opportunity to bring about positive/constructive change and/or meaningful learning for members of the community.
- Consideration may also be given to an individual who has taken a lead role in a grassroots movement on an important issue or cause.
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David Glassco Prize
Established in honour of David Glassco, long-time faculty member in the Department of English Literature and former principal of Champlain College. Given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding generosity of spirit in a range of activities outside the classroom, including music, athletics, or theatre, in the Trent and Peterborough communities.
Criteria for eligibility:
- The student may be in any discipline and year of study, with a minimum average of 65%.
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Robert W.F. Stephenson Prize
Established by the Alumni Association on the occasion of Robert's completion of his term as Chair of Trent's Board of Governors. Mr. Stephenson was the first alumnus to hold the position of chair. The prize, which recognizes outstanding student leaders, was awarded in 1995. The Award of Excellence in Student Governance underscores the Alumni Association's high regard for student leadership contribution to the overall mission of Trent University.
Criteria for eligibility:
- Awarded to recognize outstanding student leaders, particularly "excellence in student governance".
- No guidelines regarding undergraduate or graduate, major or discipline, year of study, or academic average.