Thanks to the generosity of five Trent University alumni, a $500,000 funding boost will bring the ambitious Student Centre project at Trent University another step closer to completion.   

The combined $500,000 donation from Gavin Marshall ‘76, Greg Piasetzki ‘72, Ken Hartwick ‘81, Martha Wilder ’74, and Don Tapscott ’66 and Ana P. Lopes builds on generous donations and commitment from students, alumni, staff, faculty, and the broader community, and pushes the Student Centre project closer to its $16 million goal.

“The Student Centre project is a Trent family effort,” says Julie Davis, vice-president of External Relations and Advancement at Trent University. “We strive to create an outstanding student experience and to do so we need spaces where students can collaborate, learn and grow. The Student Centre will do just that, and I am excited to see from my office window the building under construction. We are so grateful to these donors for their incredible generosity. We now have less than $400,000 left to raise towards our $4 million fundraising goal to ensure that every element of the new Student Centre is realized."

The highly anticipated new Student Centre will create lively spaces that help future students enjoy and benefit from the unique Trent experience. It has been carefully designed to complement Trent's iconic Ron Thom architecture. Nestled along the banks of the Otonabee River and beside the Bata Library, the new Centre has also been designed to be environmentally responsible.

The Student Centre will be home to two state-of-the-art classrooms and Stohn Hall, a 250-seat tiered theatre for special events, lectures, performances, and two state-of-the-art, high-tech classrooms, following a generous donation of $1 million from entertainment entrepreneur, lawyer and alumnus, Stephen Stohn ’66 last fall. It will be the hub of student activities, enabling a new era of participation in clubs and groups for thousands of students. Fostering social and intellectual development, promoting informal learning and enhancing collaboration, the student centre will be where students come together to experience the richness and diversity of Trent.

The Student Centre project is part of Trent University’s $50 Million Campaign: Unleash the Potential, the University’s most ambitious philanthropic campaign to date. Trent’s $50 Million Campaign focuses on three strategic priorities: to ensure students benefit from outstanding student experiences, to support ongoing teaching excellence, and to invest in world-class research. Help students realize their vision by making a donation to the new Student Centre.