"International students make our community a better place," said Michael VanDerherberg, the 2012 recipient of the Robert Campbell Friends of Trent International Program (TIP) Award and employment counsellor for the New Canadians Centre. Mr. VanDerherberg joined with Trent's international community gathering in the Great Hall of Champlain College to celebrate the accomplishments of students from all over the world.

Mr. VanDerherberg was honoured as this year's recipient of the Robert Campbell Friends of TIP Award. He was cited for his "extraordinary commitment and friendship to international students" by being a cultural contact and support, as well as a key advisor in providing access to employment networks in Canada.

Also recognized at the dinner were first-year student, Jacoba Vlugman from St. Lucia for her volunteer involvement in the student community, Canadian student Constance Dupuis for the depth of friendship and support she has show to international students, and Michelle Gauthier, who studied abroad in the UK last year.

The evening's ultimate award was given to graduating student Nejat Abdella from Ethiopia:  The Jack Matthews Award, named in honour of the founding director of TIP and former head of Lakefield College School, goes to a student who has achieved the values of global citizenship and international understanding espoused by the late Matthews. Ms. Abdella, who graduates with distinction in June, worked on behalf of others throughout her four years at Trent, compiling a lengthy list of accomplishments, from leadership of student clubs and groups to service as the anti-racism commissioner on the President's Advisory Committee on Human Rights. As the Trent Central Student Association's anti-racism commissioner, she produced a show called "Mind Your Own Language" to raise awareness of racism, and participated in a film version of the same in 2012 called "Two Mind Your Own Language".  In the past year, she established a group called the Trent Millennium Promise which connects the University to NGOs supporting a village in Ethiopia. Moreover she revived the Trent Model United Nations Society which had been dormant for several years, and trained and led delegations of Canadian and international students to Model United Nations competitions in Montreal and New York City.

Other awards included:

Continuing International Student Award:  Shani Victorin (St Lucia) and Airin Aguilera (Venezuela)

Karanja Ngoroge Community Service Award:  Gemma Edwin (St. Lucia)

Leonard Conolly Award for Service to Refugee Students:  Samudhya Jayasekara (Sri Lanka)

David Morrison Award:  Shirin Nuesslein (Germany) and Huajing "Jing Jing" Yan (Thailand)

Entertainment during the evening was provided by the TISA Choir, and by "Northern Lights" a musical combo with members from Bhutan, Japan, Greenland, Germany and Canada who performed Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and were met with a standing ovation. 

The annual TIP Formal recognizes the achievements of graduating international students, Canadians who have studied abroad or worked with international people, and students at all levels who help to build the environment of the Trent International Program (TIP), "Where the World Learns Together."