Honouring Trent’s Community Connections
Inaugural Trent Day marked by a celebration of spirit including alumni musical acts, community lectures and philanthropic campaigns
Trent University’s first-ever Trent Day has exceeded expectations. The occasion was marked with two well-received online events and a fundraising campaign that more than doubled University goals - raising over $165,000 in a 24-hour period for Trent Colleges, the Trent Fund, and a variety of other designations, surpassing the Trent Day goal of $80,000. The celebration, created to commemorate the April 1963 signing of the Trent Act, which formalized the incorporation of University as a degree-granting institution, sets the stage for years to come.
“The inaugural Trent Day was a resounding success on all accounts,” said Lee Hays, director of Alumni Engagement and Services. “Alumni enjoyed celebrating their Trent memories and joining the campus communities to recognize the impact the University has made in so many ways. We are grateful to everyone who made a donation on Trent Day to ensure current and future students continue to have an exceptional university experience.”
The online festivities kicked off on the evening of April 8 with Trent Day Live, hosted by alumni celebrity grill masters Maddie and Kiki Longo, featured musical performances with alumni musicians from the Juno-nominated group The Jerry Cans and I, the Mountain. April 9 involved alumni and community members sharing Trent memories and photos on social media, as well as the Last Lecture, an annual event with addresses by a graduating student, a distinguished alumnus, a staff member, and a faculty member.
Trent Day also offered alumni and community members the opportunity to give back to the University, with several “challenge” campaigns in place to match donations, doubling the philanthropic impact of individual gifts.