There's a buzz in the air as Trent University prepares for its 35th spring convocation, celebrating the successful completion of degrees for 760 undergraduate and 21 graduate students, and conferring honorary degrees on four distinguished recipients.

Chancellor protem Ambassador Mary May Simon, in the absence of the late Peter Gzowski, will preside over both the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ceremonies held on the podium of the Bata Library at the University's Symons Campus.

Bachelor of Arts and Science degrees for Catharine Par Traill, Otonabee, and Julian Blackburn college students will be conferred during the morning ceremony. Also at that ceremony, Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees will be conferred on renowned artist and teacher Doris McCarthy, and former Trent Board Chair John de Pencier. Eminent Service Awards will be given to Tony van Hoeckel and Paul Wilson. The Distinguished Research Award will be presented to Joan Sangster.

At the afternoon ceremony, Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees will be presented to David Morton, former President and CEO of Quaker Oats Company of Canada, and John Daniel O'Leary, President of Frontier College. Trent University's Athletic Director, Paul Wilson, will receive the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching. Degrees for Champlain, Lady Eaton and Peter Robinson college students will be conferred, along with doctoral, masters and bachelor of business administration and diploma programs.

A total of 781 students will receive degrees at the two ceremonies. The University will grant 20 masters degrees - six in the arts and 14 in the sciences - and one PhD. It will confer 450 honours bachelor degrees on 285 arts and 165 science graduands and 266 general bachelor degrees on 201 arts and 65 science students. Thirty-nine will receive bachelor of business administration degrees and five will receive diplomas for successful completion of diploma programs.

All graduating students achieving a cumulative average of A- (80%) or better are named to the President's Honour Roll. Students who achieve an A- average in their most recent session and have a cumulative average of B (75%) or better, have their names placed on the Dean's Honour Roll. The names of 141 students will be placed in the 2002 convocation program as members of the President's Honour Roll; a further 227 names will be on the Dean's Honour Roll.

Statistics from the Office of the Registrar show that 68% of graduates are female and 32% male. Students graduating in the range of 22-23 years of age make up 53% of graduates; 29% are 24-30, while 10% of grads are 31-50 years old. There are 16 students graduating who are above the age of 51.

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For more information contact:

Marilyn Burns (705) 748-1011 ext. 1303