Trent University and Shad International have entered into a new partnership to deliver a residential summer experience at the University starting in July 2005.

"The Shad Valley program encourages students to push their limits and dream of previously unimagined possibilities," says Pat St. John, Shad International President. " Students are introduced to areas of science, business, engineering and technology at a level which most high school students simply do not have access to." St. John adds, "Trent University continues to demonstrate a powerful vision for academic excellence and unwavering support for tomorrow's leaders. We are thrilled to have Trent joining the Shad Valley community."

Bonnie Patterson, President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University praised the new partnership. "Shad's proven track record for providing outstanding academic programs that develop individual students and their entrepreneurial skills is complemented by Trent's national reputation for quality teaching and our business administration and science programs. The University is very pleased to participate in the Shad Valley Program which will expose Canadian and international secondary school students to the Trent experience and to programs on university campuses across Canada."

Shad provides outstanding senior high school students with a chance to learn about the disciplines that will give them an edge in the competitive, knowledge-based world of tomorrow.

In operation since 1981, this award-winning international program joins entrepreneurship with science, engineering and technology.

"The other practical outcome for some of our students is the chance to be hired in field placements,” said Mr. St. John. He added that graduates of the program, known as "Shads," network with each other and are targeted for recruitment by employers.

A central premise of the Shad Valley experience is to encourage students to study in a new community. "Trent is joining with 10 other universities across the nation to extend the Shad network," said Peter Northrop, director for the program at Trent. "The strength of this national network is that it allows students from the Peterborough area, for example, to travel to a Canadian university and become immersed in another community." Information about the national Shad program and the application process is usually available through local secondary school guidance counselors and on the internet at www.shad.ca

Shads spend the month of July at one of 11 host universities across Canada in a four-week academic program comprised of stimulating and varied lectures, workshops, and group projects. Some participants will also be offered a five-week, paid work experience with a Shad partner company, testing their minds and skills on intriguing real-world challenges.

At Trent, students will work in teams of 12 within four 'houses.' As their major project, each team will develop an idea for a new product, build a working prototype, prepare a business plan, conduct a marketing survey, and present their work to a panel of experts for evaluation. Winners of the campus competition will proceed to the national RBC/Shad Entrepreneurship Cup competition held in October at the Ontario Science Centre. Approximately 48 students will be admitted to the first year of the four-week program at Trent.

Shad International was incorporated in December 1980 as the Shad Valley Centre for Creative Technology. The first Shad Valley program was offered in 1981. Shad Valley was the brainchild of Dr. Derek Lane-Smith, parent, teacher, physicist, entrepreneur and founding president. Dr. Lane-Smith attributes his own childhood experiences at a youth club in England, and his desire to provide opportunities for growth and discovery for his own children, as his motivation to launch Shad Valley. The first Shad Valley program was offered at St. Andrew's College in Aurora in 1981. The program was relocated to the University of Waterloo in 1983. A total of 11 university campuses now participate in the national Shad-university network. Shad International is a charitable not-for-profit organization headquartered in Waterloo. The program has more than 7,800 alumni, 15 of whom are Rhodes Scholars. Shad Valley is operated by Shad International, a Canadian registered charity.

Trent University is an outstanding small undergraduate university known for its commitment to a liberal arts and sciences education. Within a collegial setting, the University offers traditional and interdisciplinary degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Spanning the picturesque Otonabee River, Trent's main campus features award-winning architecture designed to complement its natural setting. Some of Trent's strengths include interdisciplinary studies in environmental sciences – especially aquatic and DNA research – Canadian studies and Native studies. The University serves 6,410 full and part-time students in Peterborough and Oshawa.

To learn more about the Shad Valley program visit www.trentu.ca/shad. For more information about Trent University visit www.trentu.ca.

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For further information, please contact:

Pat St. John, President and CEO, Shad International, (519) 884-8844, ext . 224

Jen St. Louis, Communications Manager, Shad International, (519) 884]8844 ext .229

Peter Northrop, Program Director, Shad Valley-Trent University, (705) 876-7536

Don Cumming, Senior Director, Public Affairs, (705) 748-1011, ext. 1224

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Last Updated April 21, 2004