Trent University to Celebrate More than 1,800 Graduates at 2018 Convocation
Inaugural graduates from Master of Education, Water Science and Social Work programs among students to be honoured
Students, families, faculty and special guests from across the country and around the world will gather at Trent University to celebrate the accomplishments of its newest graduates at the 2018 convocation ceremonies from Tuesday, June 5 to Friday, June 8, 2018 in Peterborough.
Highlights of Trent’s 2018 convocation ceremonies in Peterborough include honouring the first class of graduates from three new programs – Master of Education, Water Science and Social Work.
During this year’s ceremonies in Peterborough and Durham, the University will also bestow honorary degrees upon four outstanding individuals who will be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to society as a whole. In Peterborough, honorary degrees will be bestowed upon: George Cope, president and CEO of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada and leader of #BellLetsTalk; Sylvia Maracle, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres; and innovative architect Stephen Teeple. Max Eisen, Holocaust survivor, author and educator, will be presented with an honorary degree at Trent University Durham GTA convocation on June 12. Dr. Don Tapscott, chancellor of Trent University will also speak at convocation.
This year, across both campuses, Trent University will honour 1,827 members of the 2018 graduating class. Over the course of four days and eight ceremonies in Peterborough, a total of 1,573 undergraduate students will receive their degree, as well as 15 who are receiving a diploma or certificate. Trent will also bestow degrees upon 88 graduate students, with 9 students receiving doctorates and 79 receiving masters degrees. Of this year’s graduate students, 27 are completing degrees in the arts, 34 in the sciences, and, for the first time this year, 18 in education.
During the 2018 Peterborough convocation ceremonies, Trent will also honour 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/stream/ or follow @TrentUniversity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and add your own comments and photos during the ceremonies by using the hashtag #TrentUConvo.
A detailed breakdown of each convocation ceremony in Peterborough is as follows:
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:
Doctoral degrees, Master of Art and Master of Science degrees, Master of Education degrees and Bachelor of Education degrees will be conferred. The Governor General’s Gold Medal will be presented to Guillem Dayer and the President’s Medal will be presented to Beverly McClenaghan and Madeline Mcnab.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 – 2:00 p.m. ceremony:
Degrees will be conferred for Business Administration and joint majors with Business, Computing Systems, Economics, Information Systems, Mathematical Computer Science, Mathematical Economics, and Mathematics. Certificates in Human Resource Management and Marketing and Entrepreneurship will also be presented. Also at this ceremony: an honorary degree will be conferred upon George Cope, an Eminent Service Award will be presented to Bryan Davies, the Governor General’s Silver Medal will be presented to Vladislav Abramov, and a Symons Medal will be presented to Connor Pike.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:
Degrees will be conferred for Environmental Science/Studies, Ecological Restoration, Environmental and Resource Science & Studies, Environmental Chemistry, Geography, Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Environmental Studies, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, and Water Science. Foundations of Indigenous Learning diplomas will also be presented. Also at this ceremony: Sylvia Maracle will be presented with an honorary degree, Dr. Stephen Bocking will be presented with the Distinguished Research Award, and Hilary Margaret Robins Hodgins will be presented with a Bagnani Medal.
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 – 2:00 p.m. ceremony:
Degrees will be conferred for Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, English Literature, Gender & Women Studies, History, Journalism, Media Studies, and Philosophy. Also at this ceremony: Stephen Teeple will be presented with an honorary degree, Dr. Kelly Egan will be presented with the Symons Teaching Award, and a Symons Medal will be awarded to Cole Armitage.
Thursday, June 7, 2018 – 10:00 a.m. ceremony:
Degrees will be conferred for Social Work, Psychology and Sociology. Also at this ceremony, chancellor of Trent University, Dr. Don Tapscott, will give the convocation address, and Ryan O’Byrne will be presented with a Symons Medal.
Thursday, June 7, 2018 –2:00 p.m. ceremony:
Degrees will be conferred for Forensic Science and joint major Forensic degrees, Arts and Science, Anthropology, Archaeology, French Studies, Hispanic Studies, International Development Studies, International Political Economy, and Political Studies. An Eminent Service Award will also be presented to Gillian Stamp.
Friday, June 8, 2018 –10:00 a.m. ceremony:
Degrees will be conferred for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Computing Systems and Physics, Mathematical Physics, and Physics. A Symons Medal will be presented to Hamza Khatta and a Bagnani Medal will be presented to Kedija Abdella.
Friday, June 8, 2018 –2:00 p.m. ceremony:
Nursing degrees will be conferred.
Detailed information on the 2018 convocation ceremonies, including bios of honorary degree recipients and faculty/staff award winners, testimonials of graduating students, ceremony details and maps, can be found on the Trent convocation website at trentu.ca/convocation.
A second distinct convocation ceremony honouring 99 graduates of Trent University Durham GTA will take place at the Ajax Convention Centre on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. For the first time this year, a morning and afternoon ceremony will be held in the Durham Region to celebrate Trent graduates.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.
Kate Gennings, communications and media relations officer, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x6180 or kategennings@trentu.ca