Missed any of the Convocation ceremonies? View our video and photo galleries at www.trentu.ca/convocation/coverage.php

Trent University welcomed students, families, faculty and special guests to the University Court of the Bata Library on Symons Campus to celebrate the accomplishments of its newest graduates from across Canada and around the world at the 2015 convocation ceremonies from Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5, 2015.

The 2015 convocation marked the end of Trent’s 50^th anniversary celebrations and was also the first convocation ceremony for Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent’s eighth president and vice-chancellor. President Groarke presided over convocation along with Dr. Don Tapscott, Trent chancellor.

The University bestowed honorary degrees upon five outstanding individuals who were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to academic life at Trent and to society as a whole, including: Degrassi producer Stephen Stohn, filmmaker Peter Raymont, renowned naturalist Drew Monkman, Indigenous teacher and Elder Michael Thrasher, and leading child care advocate Martha Friendly.

Over the course of four days and eight ceremonies, Trent University honoured 1,840 members of the 2015 graduating class. A total of 1,725 undergraduate students received their degrees. Statistics from the Office of the Registrar for undergraduate studies show that 70 per cent of 2015 graduates are female, while 30 per cent are male. Twenty per cent of this year’s graduates were named to the President’s Honour Roll, which celebrates undergraduate students graduating with a cumulative average of at least 80 per cent. This year also marks the largest graduating class from Trent University Durham, over the University’s 40 year history in the Durham Region, with 154 students receiving degrees, three of whom are the inaugural recipients of the new postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management.

Trent also bestowed degrees upon 118 graduate students, the largest graduate class ever at the University, with 19 students receiving doctorates and 99 receiving masters degrees. Of this year’s graduate students, 48 are completing degrees in the arts and 51 in the sciences. At the graduate level, 63 students are female and 52 are male.

During the 2015 Convocation ceremonies, Trent also honoured several of its most accomplished students with special awards:

• The Governor General’s Academic Medal to reward scholastic merit was established in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin who served as Governor General of Canada from 1872 to 1878. The Silver Medal and Gold Medal are awarded to the students with the highest academic standing in the undergraduate and graduate programs, respectively.
• The President's Medal, established in 2009, will be awarded to three graduate students who achieved academic excellence in several degree programs.
• The Symons Medal, established in 1972 in honour of Trent’s founding president T.H.B. Symons, will be awarded to four undergraduate students in the Honours program who achieve high overall standing on graduation.
• The Bagnani Medal, established in 1986 to honour the late founding faculty member Professor Gilbert Bagnani, will be awarded to two students in the General program who achieve high overall standing on graduation.

Watch the live web-cast of the ceremonies at trentu.ca/convocation/coverage.php or follow @TrentUniversity on Twitter and Facebook and add your own comments and photos during the ceremonies by using the hashtag #TrentConvo.

A detailed breakdown of each convocation ceremony is as follows:

Tuesday, June 2, 2015 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:

Forensic Science and Bachelor of Environmental Science/Studies Degrees will be conferred. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Ecological Restoration, Environmental and Resource Science/Studies, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Also at this ceremony: an honorary degree will be conferred upon Drew Monkmann an Eminent Service Award will be presented to Dr. Jim Sutcliffe, and the Bagnani Medal will be awarded to Emily Nisbett.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015 – 2:00 p.m. ceremony:

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred for Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Computing and Information Systems, Computing Systems and Physics, Geography, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Also at this ceremony: the Symons Medal will be awarded to Ryan Cole and Eamonn Corrigan.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:

Bachelor of Arts Degrees will be conferred for Ancient History & Classics, Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, English Literature, Gender and Women’s Studies, History, Media Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures, French, German and Hispanic Studies. Also at this ceremony: an honorary degree will be conferred upon Peter Raymont, Dr. Marg Hobbs will receive the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching, an Eminent Service Award will be presented to Dr. James Struthers, and the Bagnani Medal will be awarded to Victoria Silvera.  

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 – 2:00 p.m. ceremony:

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred for Anthropology, Archaeology Economics, Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Environmental Studies, International Development Studies, International Political Economy, Mathematical Economics, Philosophy, Political Studies and Sociology as well as Diplomas in Foundations of Indigenous Learning.  Also at this ceremony: an honorary degree will be conferred upon Michael Thrasher, the Governor General’s Silver Medal will be awarded to Duc Hien Ngyuen the Symons’ Medal to Jennifer Rowden and Dr. Haroon Akram-Lodhi will receive the Distinguished Research Award.

Thursday, June 4, 2015 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:

Bachelor of Business Administration degrees and joint major degrees in Business Administration will be conferred. Also at this ceremony an honorary degree will be conferred upon Stephen Stohn. 

Thursday, June 4, 2015 – 2:00 p.m. ceremony:

Doctoral degrees, Master of Art and Master of Science degrees will be conferred. All degrees will be conferred for Trent University Durham. Certificates in Human Resource Management will be granted. Also at this ceremony: the Governor General Gold Medal will be awarded to Michael Peers, the President’s Medal will be awarded to David Rapaport and the Symons’ Medal will be awarded to Raheleh Saryazdi.

Friday, June 5, 2014 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:

Bachelor of Education degrees will be conferred.

Friday, June 5, 2014 – 2:00 p.m. ceremony:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees will be conferred. Also at this ceremony an honorary degree will be conferred upon Martha Friendly.

Green Initiatives

Several green initiatives designed to reduce the event’s impact on the environment will be part of Trent’s convocation ceremonies again this year, including:

• Water Bottle-Free Convocation: By eliminating the use of commercial bottled water at the ceremonies, Trent will reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of 5,000 single-use water bottles, which have been consumed at previous ceremonies. In lieu of bottled water, the University will set up a water station at an information table to provide tap water in biodegradable cups to all guests of convocation. Graduates will each receive a take-home gift of a stainless steel water bottle which will be filled with tap water for their use during the outdoor ceremonies.
• Free Passes for Peterborough Transit: In addition to the bottle-water free initiative, graduates and their families are being actively encouraged to reduce emissions by travelling, free of charge, on Peterborough Transit to and from the ceremonies. This option will also benefit guests by alleviating parking concerns on campus.