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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Trent Hosts Four Convocation Ceremonies Over Two Days

Tuesday, May 30, 2006, Peterborough

With a record 1,700 graduates, Trent University will celebrate its 39th Convocation over the course of four ceremonies on Thursday, June 1 and Friday, June 2. Ceremonies will take place on both days at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the podium of the Bata Library on the Symons Campus.

Over the four ceremonies, degrees will be conferred upon 1,650 undergraduate and 53 graduate students. Eight PhDs and 48 Masters degrees – 21 in the arts and 25 in the sciences – will be granted. Five undergraduate students will receive diplomas in Canadian Studies and Native Studies, 59 students will graduate from the nursing program, and four distinguished Canadians will receive honorary degrees.

Dr. Roberta Bondar, Trent University's ninth Chancellor, will preside over her fourth convocation; she was installed as Chancellor in 2003.

Statistics from the Office of the Registrar show that 70 per cent of graduates are female, while 30 per cent are male. Of the 342 Bachelor of Education recipients, 27 per cent are male and in the Bachelor of Business Administration program, 49 per cent of graduates are male while 51 per cent are female. Overall, students aged 19 to 23 comprise of 53.8 per cent of the graduating class; 24 to 30 comprise of 31 per cent; 31 to 50 comprise of 14 per cent; and 51and over comprise of 1.2 per cent.

All undergraduate students graduating with a cumulative average of at least 80 per cent are named to the President's Honour Roll. Students who achieve an average of at least 80 per cent in their most recent session and who have a cumulative average of 75 per cent of better have their names placed on the Dean's Honour Roll. This year, 81 per cent of graduates have an A or B average while 17 per cent of all graduates are on the President's Honour Roll.

A breakdown of each convocation ceremony is as follows:

On June 1 at 10:00 a.m., Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred upon graduates from Julian Blackburn College and Otonabee College. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Charles Coffey, who will address convocation, and a Bagnani Medal will be awarded to a graduate at this ceremony. Also at this ceremony, the Eminent Service Award will be presented to Professor Elwood Jones and, posthumously, to Edward (Ted) Tremain.

On June 1 at 3:00 p.m., Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees will be conferred upon graduates from Catharine Parr Traill College, Champlain College, and Peter Robinson College. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Richard B. Wright, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professor Geoffrey Eathorne will be presented with the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching. Two Symons Medals recognizing academic excellence will also be awarded to graduates at this ceremony.

On June 2 at 10:00 a.m., all doctoral degrees and masters degrees will be conferred upon graduates, as well as Bachelor of Education degrees. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees for Peter Gzowski College will also be conferred in addition to the conferring of Canadian Studies Diplomas and Native Studies Diplomas. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Roberta Jamieson, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, Professor Barbara Marshall will be presented with the Distinguished Research Award and the Governor General's Gold Medal will be awarded to a graduate.

On June 2 at 3:00 p.m., Bachelor of Business Administration degrees and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees will be conferred upon graduates, as well as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees for Lady Eaton College. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Donald Tapscott, who will address convocation. Also at this ceremony, a Bagnani Medal, two Symons Medals, and the Governor General's Silver Medal will be awarded to graduates. Professors and Librarians Emeriti will also be honoured.

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Media are invited and encouraged to attend convocation.

Interesting graduating student profiles include:

• Geoffrey Cameron

Mr. Cameron is the winner of the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship. He will be studying Politics at the University of Oxford in the fall. At Trent, he spent a year abroad in Ghana. Mr. Cameron will graduate at the Friday afternoon convocation ceremony where he will be presented with a Symons Medal.

• Christopher Rompré

Mr. Rompré is graduating with a degree in International Political Economy. A budding documentary film maker, he recently won one of the coveted Peter Gzowski Internships at CBC Radio. Mr. Rompré will be graduating on Thursday afternoon.

• Lai Jeet Yeo

Mr. Yeo is from Malaysia. He came to Trent as an international student in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a nurse (men are not permitted to become nurses in Malaysia). He has overcome many obstacles, worked at the PRHC, and graduates with honours. He is now working at Kingston General Hospital. Mr. Yeo graduates on Friday afternoon.

• Pauline Mills

Ms. Mills is the Assistant to the Director of Athletics. She has been working at Trent for over 40 years. On Thursday afternoon, Ms. Mills will receive her degree in Native Studies.

• Jennifer Couch and Benjamin Lyman

Ms. Couch and Mr. Lyman have known each other since nursery school. They attended elementary school and high school together. On Friday afternoon, they will graduate from Trent University together.

For official comments and more information on convocation details, please contact:
Susan Salusbury, Registrar, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x1677

For more information on graduating student profiles, please contact:
Kathryn Verhulst, Communications Officer, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x1456

For more information on convocation logistics and media support, please contact:
Marilyn Burns, Director of Communications, Trent University, (705) 748-1303

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Last Updated May 30, 2006