Among the more than 4,100 students crossing the stage during Trent University's convocation ceremonies this June are ten exceptional graduates from the Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses who exemplify what it means to make the most of university, leave a lasting impression, and turn academic experiences into employment with global brands and Canada’s leading public institutions and organizations. 

“A Trent education is about helping students not only discover what they want to do professionally but to also explore who they want to be and become as people and citizens,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “At Trent, we support students and we challenge them, academically and as agents of change. And when they graduate from Trent, they are prepared, they have grit and the capability to lead. It is wonderful to see how Trent students take these honed skills, perspectives and character into their professions and communities.” 

Meet the Graduates Who Made Their Mark
Through student governance, research projects, varsity athletics, national competitions, on-campus employment, international placements, and community leadership, these graduates contributed to the intellectual, cultural and social fabric of Trent while preparing for careers and lives of purpose. These graduates will now help strengthen critical sectors including healthcare, public service, environmental stewardship, education, and business, working with organizations including Procter & Gamble, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Royal Victoria Hospital, Chubb Insurance, and Lakefield College School. 

Learn more about the diverse experiences, achievements and contributions in this spotlight of Trent graduates: 

Swati Banerjee | Brampton, Ontario
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Aquatic & Wildlife Biologist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Whether tracking wildlife in the field or building community on campus, Banerjee (Lady Eaton College) spent her Trent experience connecting people with nature. Banerjee was involved with groups such as Trent Outdoors and the Trent Herpetological Society and worked at the Trent Athletics Centre. This year’s recipient of the Robert W.F. Stephenson Prize, Banerjee was recognized for her leadership and contributions to campus life. She has now joined the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as an aquatic & wildlife biologist in its Small Mammal sector, working on wildlife research and wetland restoration projects across the province. A passionate advocate for conservation, women in STEM and BIPOC representation in science, Banerjee hopes to inspire others by sharing science through research, photography, art and community outreach. 

• "I hope always to be another voice for conservation, women in STEM and the BIPOC community."  

Andrew Bottiglia | Ottawa, Ontario  
Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Political Economy and Economics
Associate Underwriter, Chubb Insurance

Balancing varsity athletics with academic excellence, Bottiglia (Gzowski College) took advantage of his three years at Trent as a transfer student from another university. Originally from Ottawa, Bottiglia earned his degree while serving as goalkeeper for the Trent Excalibur varsity men's soccer team and treasurer of the French Club. Bottiglia has now launched his career with Chubb Insurance as an associate underwriter, saying Trent’s close-knit learning environment and strong faculty relationships helped prepare him for professional success. 

• “Trent gave me the opportunity to grow as a student, athlete and professional, helping me build the skills and confidence to succeed in my next chapter." 

Camryn Christie | Keswick, Ontario
Bachelor of Business Administration, specialization in Marketing & Consumer Culture
Sales Development Representative, Owner.com

While pursuing her Business degree, Christie (Champlain College) consistently stepped outside her comfort zone in pursuit of new opportunities. Encouraged by her professors, Christie competed in the Canadian University Sales Competition, advancing to the semifinals and ultimately earning a full-time position with Owner.com as a sales development representative. Recognized through Trent’s collegiate awards, she was acknowledged by her peers with the John Rymes Book Award, presented to a student who made the most of their educational experience at Trent.  

• “Some of my most valuable lessons came through learning from classmates, working with my professors and embracing opportunities that challenged me to think differently.” 

Brayden Ellis | Woodstock, Ontario
Master of Science in Forensic Science
Court and Client Representative / Court Registrar, Ministry of the Attorney General

Ellis (Gzowski College) spent his time at Trent proving that science, leadership and the arts go hand in hand. After completing both his undergraduate and graduate studies in Forensic Science, Ellis is beginning his career with the Peterborough Superior Court of Justice, where he will be supporting courtroom operations and judicial proceedings as a court and client representative and court registrar. Outside the classroom, Ellis served as a don in Trent’s Business Living Learning Community and as artistic director of the Anne Shirley Theatre Company, leading large-scale productions that brought together students and community members from across the region. Ellis hopes to continue building public confidence in legal and scientific systems while creating opportunities for connection through mentorship and the arts. 

• "I hope to bridge the worlds of science, law, leadership and community engagement in meaningful and accessible ways." 

Oluwabukola (Bukky) Lawal | Lagos, Nigeria
Business Communication & Human Resource Management Postgraduate Certificate
Category Specialist, Proctor & Gamble Canada

An international student from Nigeria in search of a career and lifestyle change, Lawal arrived at Trent Durham GTA to study in Canada for the first time and leaves as a top-performing graduate headed to a role with one of the world's leading brands, Procter & Gamble Canada. Lawal excelled academically while also serving as an accessibility peer note-taker and completing multiple leadership micro-credentials. Now beginning her career as a category specialist with P&G in Toronto, she hopes to help create opportunities for women, newcomers and people with disabilities pursuing their own professional paths in Canada. 

• “I came to Trent as a career pivoter and I’m leaving with a job with one of the world’s leading brands. I could not be more grateful. It’s never too late.” 

Brooklyn Loder | Guelph, Ontario  
Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology, minor in Indigenous Studies
Field Technician, Past Recovery Archaeological Services

An advocate for student voices and champion of initiatives that supported campus life, Loder (Gzowski College) made leadership and community engagement a defining part of their Trent experience. They represented students on Trent's Board of Governors and Colleges and Student Services Committee, welcomed new students as an Orientation Leader and played a key role in collegiate life as president of Gzowski College Cabinet and a student staff ambassador. Loder now begins their career as a field technician with Past Recovery Archaeological Services in Perth, where they will help preserve cultural heritage while advocating for Indigenous perspectives in archaeological practice. 

• “Students have more influence than they realize. Your voice matters and it has the ability to help shape communities and institutions.” 

Nazia Tasnim | Dhaka, Bangladesh
Master of Management M.Mgt
Project Assistant, Ontario Public Service Ministry of Infrastructure

Tasnim (Traill College) built her Trent experience around solving real-world challenges, from competing in Trent University’s STRIDE Business Case Competition to driving process improvement initiatives as a project analyst co-op student with the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure’s Corporate Management Unit. Her success during her co-op led directly to a full-time role with the Ministry as a project assistant supporting Freedom of Information operations. Inspired by her own experience navigating public systems as a newcomer to Canada, Tasnim hopes to help build more efficient, responsive and accessible services for Ontarians. 

• “Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, you have to go after them intentionally.” 

Stephany Troetsch Molina | Panama City, Panama
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science
Associate Faculty, Lakefield College School

Troetsch Molina (Champlain College) came to Peterborough from Panama City, and leaves as an award-winning student leader, campus advocate and educator. Graduating with a degree in Biomedical Science, Troetsch Molina made her mark through a placement with the Trent Excalibur varsity women’s soccer team as a physical trainer, student staff member with Trent International president of the Hispanic Organization for Latin Awareness (HOLA), where she helped foster cultural awareness and community on campus. Recognized with multiple leadership awards, including the Dr. Mike Allcott Prize from Trent International, she now begins her career as an associate faculty member at Lakefield College School, bringing her passion for mentorship and student success into local classrooms. 

• “The academic knowledge I gained has prepared me for my future, but it is the relationships and memories that will remain with me for a lifetime.” 

Vanessa Tully | Ottawa, Ontario
Master of Instrumental Chemical Analysis (M.ICA) 
Junior Physical Scientist, Natural Resources Canada

Tully's (Gzowski College) Trent experience was defined by hands-on scientific research and the development of advanced analytical techniques. Through her studies in Trent's Master of Instrumental Chemical Analysis program, she researched, developed, and validated new analytical methods while gaining extensive experience with sophisticated laboratory instrumentation. That work helped prepare her for a role with Natural Resources Canada at the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory in Ottawa, where she now works as a junior physical scientist conducting sample analysis, supporting research projects, and maintaining the analytical systems used to advance scientific understanding of energetic and non-energetic materials. Tully hopes her work will contribute to safer industrial practices and new discoveries in the field of materials research. 

• "Learning isn't about perfection. Being encouraged to experiment in a supportive setting gave me the mindset to approach challenges with curiosity and confidence."  

Nathan Urquhart | Barrie, Ontario
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Registered Nurse, Royal Victoria Hospital

Urquhart (Gzowski College) embraced every aspect of student life during his time at Trent, balancing studies, varsity athletics, and part-time work. While completing his nursing degree, Urquhart competed with the Trent Excalibur varsity men's soccer team and was a student staff member with the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing (TFSON). His commitment to helping others succeed earned him TFSON’s Pat & Doug Vaisey Peer Mentoring Award, recognizing his leadership and impact on fellow students. His experiential learning included an international placement in Honduras and a fourth-year consolidation in a critical care unit. Following graduation, Urquhart will begin his healthcare career as a registered nurse at Royal Victoria Hospital in his hometown of Barrie, where he hopes to bring confidence, teamwork and a patient-centred approach fostered at Trent to his practice.   

• “Whether on the pitch, in the classroom or in a clinical setting, I learned that leadership comes from showing up, supporting others and always being willing to learn.” 

Learn more about Convocation 2026.