Student Profiles - 2020

This graduating year had so many high-achieving students who excelled academically, and worked hard to give back to their communities.

Read the profiles below to learn more about just some of our graduating students who accomplished great things during their time at Trent Durham.

We’d love to share your Trent Durham story. Reach out to us at durham@trentu.ca and let us know what your favourite memories are from Trent Durham and what you have planned for your future.

Rebecca Albion '16
B.A. Honours, Child & Youth Studies
Oshawa, Ontario

Rebecca Albion knew Trent University Durham was the right university for her because of the strong connections she was able to build with faculty and peers both within her program and outside of it as well.

During her time at Trent she received the Trent National Renewable Scholarship and was on the Dean’s Honour Roll for her outstanding academic achievements for all four years of her studies.

“Being able to receive this scholarship and honour meant so much for me because it helped me financially with completing my degree and it demonstrated that the hard work I was putting into getting these high marks was something that I could be very proud of.” 

Ms. Albion participated in the weekly soccer scrimmages, represented Trent Durham as part of the official extramural soccer team and took part in the Pen Pals program. These clubs and experiences helped contribute to her time at Trent as they connected her with new people and experiences.

Speaking of her academic experiences, she said: “I enjoyed how we had so many different guest speakers come into our classes. Not only did they teach us about important issues but this also gave us the opportunity to discover and learn more about what we could potentially do with our degrees after we graduated.”

What’s Next: Ms. Albion has been accepted into Trent’s School of Education where she will continue her studies with the goal of becoming a primary school teacher.

Devni Gamage '16
B.A. Honours, Child & Youth Studies, Teacher Education Stream
Oshawa, Ontario

At Trent University Durham GTA, Devni Gamage was the recipient of several academic honours including Dean’s Honour Roll, and graduated on the President’s Honour Roll. Being recognized for her hard work through these honours encouraged Ms. Gamage to strive for excellence.

Throughout her time at Trent Durham, Ms. Gamage was an active and involved student who participated in an acapella vocal group in second year, completed field placements in each year of study, and conducted a community-based group research project with the City of Oshawa.

“I knew that Trent Durham was the right university for me because the community is tight-knit. I was able to build meaningful connections with my peers, and I received one-on-one time with my professors which really helped me be successful.”

What’s Next: Ms. Gamage will be continuing her education for the next few years, looking ahead to teach internationally.  Trent prepared Ms. Gamage for this goal because the CHYS program opened her eyes to the children who need help around the world. She wants to pursue opportunities in order to advocate for these children and help them develop their voice and power through education.

Holly Grassl '16
B.A. Child and Youth Studies
Whitby, Ontario

At Trent University Durham GTA, Holly Grassl was the recipient of numerous scholarships, including one from the Toronto Police. She was also on the Dean’s List for her high academic performance.

Here, Ms. Grassl had the opportunity to enhance her in-class knowledge with experiential learning opportunities that included working alongside classmates and the City of Oshawa through Teaching City to develop a plan later implemented at a local youth centre. This experience allowed her to develop personally by giving her the opportunity to work with peers and professionals in her field.

“This program has provided me with in depth knowledge about things that I had never even thought about before first walking through the door. The interactive nature made it an amazing program to be a part of.”

What’s Next: Ms. Grassl has plans to pursue a Masters in Child and Youth Studies this September. She feels prepared for this next step through the knowledge gained in the Trent Durham CHYS program and the amazing professors and mentors.

Raiyan Milki '16
B.B.A.
Pickering, Ontario

At Trent University Durham GTA, Raiyan Milki took full advantage of numerous experiences, including participating in student government and extracurricular activities such as clubs, and intramural sports.

Mr. Milki has been a strong and influential student at the Trent Durham campus, volunteering for many roles to help to contribute to the student experience on campus. He attended many leadership seminars, ran several events through the clubs he was a part of, and worked as a TDSA student staff member. Mr. Milki also worked as an orientation leader and encouraged many new students to take full advantage of student life at Trent Durham.

“Trent Durham offered a large variety of courses and conveniences that suited my academic goals. From a campus that was easy to access to the many benefits of not having to relocate, to even offering every course needed for my graduation at a campus that felt like home, it was the perfect place to start my post-secondary career.”

What’s Next: Mr. Milki hopes to be accepted into the Masters in Management program at Trent University Durham in order to further build his business repertoire.

Sabrina Moreino '17
B.A. Child & Youth Studies
Oshawa, Ontario

While studying at Trent University Durham GTA, Sabrina Moreino participated in a placement which proved to be an incredible experience. This opportunity added to her university experience because it gave her hands on experience in the community.

“I absolutely loved the faculty in the Child & Youth program. They are truly incredible, knowledgeable, and kind. From first year until fourth year and beyond, they have always had my best interest, and the interest of my classmates in mind. Getting to know my professors on a more personal level helped to make the university experience less overwhelming.”

What’s Next: Ms. Moreino plans to take a short break from academics and instead take a look at workplace opportunities within the child and youth field. Eventually, she would like to go on to complete a graduate degree. She became motivated to do this after completing the Literature Review/Thesis fourth year class wherein she completed a large paper (24 pages) on the topic of Childhood Cancer and its effects. This paper will act as an aid to applying for graduate studies and future career paths.

Michelle Ryken '15
B.Sc. Honours, Psychology
Oshawa, Ontario

At Trent University Durham GTA, Michelle Ryken’s academic achievements as a Dean’s and President’s Honor Roll student were complemented by an impressive list of extracurricular activities. She was the vice-president of the Psychology Club, worked with the Academic Mentoring Program as both a mentor and coordinator, was an orientation leader, and participated in research practicums.

By actively engaging in campus life, Ms. Ryken formed life-long friendships and created a support network. These activities also helped push her to achieve her goals.

“In Dr. Nancie Im-Bolter’s Language and Cognition lab, I learned a lot of valuable skills and also met some fantastic people. I thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience but also the ability to cultivate some life-long friendships.”

What’s Next: Ms. Ryken plans to attend a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Behavioural Sciences at McMaster prior to continuing on to complete graduate studies in Psychology.

Katherine Nocera '15
B.A. Honours, Psychology
Oshawa, Ontario

At Trent University Durham GTA, Katherine Nocera received the “Trent National Renewable Scholarship” for maintaining an average of 90% or higher. Recently, she earned recognition as the first runner up in the annual 3MP competition at Trent. Ms. Nocera was honoured to receive this award as it recognized her final thesis and gave her newfound confidence in her presentation abilities.

For the past two years, Ms. Nocera has been a practicum student/volunteer in Dr. Nancie Im-Bolter’s Language and Cognition Lab. This experience provided her with valuable research skills that she will be able to utilize in her future academic endeavors. Along with gaining research skills, she also got to meet and form relationships with fellow psychology students who shared similar interests, which positively impacted her personal as well as academic life at Trent.

“One of my favorite memories at Trent Durham was volunteering as an Orientation Leader. It was a really fun and rewarding experience for me! I got the opportunity to meet upcoming first year students and answer any questions or concerns they had. I also helped my group compete in the “Campus Cup” tournament where we participated in fun games and icebreakers all day. As I move on from Trent Durham, these are the memories I will continue to cherish!” 

What’s Next: Ms. Nocera plans to expand her experiential learning through work and volunteer opportunities in the psychology field. Along with her academic background, she believes these experiences will further prepare her to pursue an M.A. and PhD in Psychology. In her view, Trent has prepared her for the next step upon graduation. Throughout the year, Trent provided Ms. Nocera with various resources and information sessions on graduate studies which assisted her decision-making process in deciding plans for the future.