Diamond duty

Education program secretary Marie Murphy (centre) and her daughter Nicole (left) admire Jaime, Murphy's older daughter, wearing the diamond necklace her mother won for her.

Education program secretary Marie Murphy presented her daughter Jaime with a diamond necklace for her 16th birthday. The surprise gift, given almost three weeks after the Nov. 13 coming of age, was the grand prize in the CKPT "My Special Someone" contest. Murphy submitted a description of Jaime as her friend and confidante who, beginning at the age of 10, took care of her younger sister, Nicole, prepared meals, kept the wood stove stoked and did "anything that needed to be done without a word of complaint" while her single/sole support mother completed a three-year college program in information systems. "Jaime was always there above and beyond the call of duty....Without her support, the struggles would have been much harder to bear," wrote Marie. CKPT granted Marie her wish: "Just once I would like to be able to give my daughter Jaime something other than love and promises to show my appreciation for all that she has done to keep us together as a single parent family."

None such as Jeanne

Jeanne Lynch with her Nonesuch Award

On Dec. 6, Julian Blackburn College Students Association (JBCSA) presented Jeanne Lynch with the annual Nader Nonesuch Award for outstanding contributions to Trent's part-time-students college. She got it for serving as the association's secretary-treasurer for the past two years, says JBCSA executive director Helen Wallis.

        What also triggered the decision to nominate Lynch, says Wallis, was her creative response to the problem of falling part-time-student enrolment. Interim president David Smith had asked for ideas during a meeting with the Registrar's Office staff and Lynch sent him a two-page e-mail suggesting, among other things, that Trent advertise and recruit in non-traditional venues like plazas, workplaces and fitness centres -- where the baby boomers work and play -- and employ mature students with families and jobs to help recruit. She also believes it's important to let high school students know they have the option of enrolling in university part-time, a cheaper alternative for financially strapped families.

        When Lynch finished high school, her family couldn't afford to send her to university. A year after she started work at Trent in 1991 she signed up for her first university course. She was 30, married with a newborn and working full time. She started because she wanted "to be part of the excitement in September" and "I thought it would be important in my role as an employee because it allowed me to see both sides of the coin." She also "thought it would be good for me. Learning should be something you do forever." She has been taking one course every year in history and Canadian studies. "I just love it. It keeps me thinking and keeps me in touch with the whole Trent community." It also keeps her on the Dean's Honors List.

Mills on wheels
Executive secretary Pauline Mills won a mountain bike Dec. 3 in a Cadbury chocolate bar contest promoted by Campus Store manager Darcy Legros. Interim president David Smith drew her name from among 130 entries in the draw. Soon after, Mills rode into a new position Jan. 5 as administrative assistant to athletics director Paul Wilson after 14 years working for vice-presidents administration.