The Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program recently honoured members of the Trent alumni family with three prestigious awards: The Sharon Carew Spirit of Teaching Award; the Host Teacher Award; and the Host School Award.

Sharon Carew Spirit of Teaching Award

Named in honour of long-serving Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program coordinator and professor, the Sharon Carew Spirit of Teaching Award is given annually to a year one or two student who exemplifies what it means to be a Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education student and future teacher through their dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism in the program and in the teaching community. 

Awarded for the first time this year, the 2008/09 Spirit of Teaching Award was presented to Rhiannon Wicks and Jillian Wood. 

Host Teacher Award

The Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program Host Teacher Award is given annually to a Peterborough area teacher who acts as an exemplary role model for students. This year marked the first time the award was presented to an alumnus/alumna of the Trent-Queen’s program.

The 2008/09 winner, Shirley Hamilton, is a teacher at Queen Elizabeth Public School. In the words of one of her nominators, “Shirley has a genuine love for all her students. She is a friend, a confident, a mentor, and a mom – filling in all roles whenever it is needed and always playing the role of an amazing teacher. I feel great gratitude for my experience this year in her classroom – I learned a lot as an individual and a future educator and I have Shirley to thank for the opportunities, the lessons, the laughs, and knowledge that she provided.”

Host School Winner

St. Peter’s Secondary School was named the 2008/09 Host School Winner. This marks the first time a high school has been presented with the award and it is especially meaningful because many teachers at St. Peter’s, including the principal, are alumni of the Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program.

In describing her experiences as a student teacher at St. Peter’s, Ashley Hillier said: “From our very first day at St. Peter’s myself and the other teacher candidates felt trusted, valued, and even infected with the cheerful exuberance that the teachers at St. Peter’s Secondary School have toward their work, their students, and each other. I am grateful for the experience that working at St. Peter’s has enabled me to have and how much I have grown as a teacher candidate through staff and student support.”

Also honoured at the special awards dinner held at Trent University’s Alumni House, was Paul Rexe, a member of the first graduating class at Trent. Prof. Rexe retires this year after many years as a key faculty member with the Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program. 

For more information on the Host Teacher or Host School awards please visit the website.

Photo caption: Sharon Carew, Concurrent Education Program Coordinator, with 2008-09 Host Teacher Award winner Shirley Hamilton and Laurie Mudd, principal of Queen Elizabeth Public School.