The true heart of the Trent community – the University’s dedicated staff, faculty and retirees – were honoured earlier today for their dedication and service to the University at the second annual Heart of the Trent event, held in the Great Hall of Champlain College.

The afternoon event featured special remarks from President Leo Groarke, as well as the honouring of all 2016 retirees, the presentation of the 2016 Service Awards – recognizing 25, 30, 35 and 40-year service milestones – as well as award presentations for three significant awards for employees’ outstanding contributions to the University, including: the Provost’s Award for Support Staff; the Trent Community Leadership Award, new for 2016; and the Nancy Simmons Smith Staff Award of Excellence (NESS).

“Today we celebrate the end of a great year at Trent by recognizing the commitment of our staff and faculty,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor, in his remarks. “Not only do I commend all the award winners that were honoured today, but all the staff and faculty at our institution who make Trent the inviting and interactive work environment that it is.”

Matt Keefer, analyst programmer in Information Technology at Trent University, was presented with the 2015/16 Provost’s Award for Support Staff at the event for his exceptional commitment to student recruitment and retention. The Provost’s Award was created to recognize a member of the support staff who plays an important role in student retention and is indispensable to the academic enterprise. It was first awarded in 2013.

In Mr. Keefer’s nomination package he was commended for “his passion for the well-being and advancement of the University” and his “commitment to Trent’s myTrent portal which has revolutionized our dated interface and improved the experience of students to access information, registration and other key functions with ease and from any device.” As the recipient of the award, Mr. Keefer was presented with a cash gift of $500.

The second award presented at today’s event was the new Trent Community Leadership Award. This award will be given every year to two recipients, a faculty member and a staff member, who make exceptional contributions to the local community in the Peterborough or Durham regions. The inaugural winners of the award are: Mary-Jane Pilgrim, a coordinator for Trent Online, and Ann MacLeod, a faculty member in our Nursing department. Both Ms. Pilgrim and Ms. MacLeod were presented with a framed certificate, a $250 cash award, and an additional $250 cash award to donate to a charity or agency of their choice.

Ms. Pilgrim’s nominator commented on the many groups she’s involved with in the Peterborough community, including her role as president of the Peterborough Horticultural Society, and said that she “gives her heart and soul to the organizations that she volunteers for.”  Ms. MacLeod’s nominators held a similar sentiment, saying: “Over the years I have found Ann to be an amazing representative for Trent at a broad range of community tables. Again her ability to balance academic and community interests has enabled Trent to be well represented due to her professionalism and interest in making this a better Peterborough for all ages.”

The final award presented at the Heart of Trent event was the NESS award which recognizes a non-academic staff member who demonstrates excellence and exceptional commitment to Trent. The 2016 NESS award winner is Peter Galbraith, security officer with Campus Security and Risk Management, who took home a certificate and a cash gift of $500.

Speaking of Mr. Galbraith, one of his nominators said: “Peter has been instrumental in providing front line response to Trent University students, faculty and staff over his 12 years of as a campus security guard. He understands the balance between the ‘student experience’ and safety standards of the University.”

Also at the event, 31 individuals were presented with the Trent University Service Award, recognizing their 25, 30, 35 and 40-year service milestones to the University