Mr. Frank McKenna, deputy chair of the TD Bank Group, announced a $250,000 gift from TD Bank Group to Trent University, to establish the TD Green Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships Fund on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. Visiting guests from the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce gathered in the Great Hall for the announcement and were treated to a talk by Mr. McKenna, the former Canadian ambassador to the United States and former premier of New Brunswick, who shared his thoughts and perspectives on economic issues in Ontario and North America.

Third-year environmental chemistry student, Irene Brueckner-Irwin was in attendance to receive the first TD Bank Group Scholarship. Irene is an exceptional student, soon to receive an NSERC undergraduate research award before heading to Ghana for a study abroad program.

Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, Ms. Brueckner-Irwin has been awarded a National Renewable Scholarship each year for the last three years.

“These scholarships have enabled me to focus on my studies to succeed in my classes,” said Ms. Brueckner-Irwin. “Students are driven to achieve more in the areas they want to pursue, especially when they know that the source of their scholarship comes from organizations whose interests align with their own."

These new scholarships and awards are granted to students working towards undergraduate degrees at Trent, in environmental areas of study such as ecological restoration, biomaterials, environmental and resource science, Indigenous environmental studies, geography, chemistry and biology. They are awarded to students enrolled in these programs who have met specific standards of academic excellence and who have demonstrated financial need.

"This gift recognizes Trent's leadership role in the environment since the University's founding in 1964," said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor. “The fact that TD’s gift focuses on student success and the environment demonstrates that the bank values a hopeful and future-oriented perspective on our world. Trent gratefully accepts this support to make it easier for students to pursue success in fields related to improvement of the environment – and thereby a brighter a future for all.”

TD was a founding contributor to Trent University in its establishment in 1964, and as Trent gears up for its 50th anniversary celebrations, it gratefully acknowledges TD for its support in a number of programs throughout Trent’s history. This $250,000 gift is the largest gift TD has made to the University in its history.

”We are proud to support the next generation of green leaders during their studies at Trent where they will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to match their passion for creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment”, said Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group.

TD is committed to being an environmental leader by reducing its operational impact and pioneering projects to create carbon offsets that have community benefits. The first North American-based bank to be carbon neutral, TD powers many parts of its business with renewable energy, offers its customers green product options and supports local and national environmental initiatives through TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. TD has also recently committed to major paper reduction initiative and with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Nature Conservancy in the U.S to protect threatened forests.