Four Trent Students Receive Bursaries for Contributions to Ontario’s Parks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Time Four Recipients of $500 Bursary Have Been from the Same University

Friday, March 28, 2008, Peterborough

Four Trent students have each been awarded a $500 Ontario Parks Partners Bursary for demonstrating exceptional effort as Ontario Parks employees this past year, marking the first time as many as four students from the same university have been recipients in the bursary’s eight year history.

The Trent students who received a bursary are: Michele Buckley, Rebecca Lloyd, Danen Poley and Catherine Tratnyek.

Forensics student Michele Buckley spoke for all of the Trent recipients when she said, “I’m very humbled and honoured to win an Ontario Parks Partners Bursary.” Ms. Buckley has spent the last two summers working at Petroglyphs Provincial Park.

“The students receiving the awards have shown outstanding dedication and a high level of service to parks visitors,” explained Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield. “These young people play a vital role in our provincial parks system.”

The Ontario Parks Partners Bursary Program is open to students working in Ontario Parks or a “friends of” organization. Candidates may be nominated by co-workers, the public or a supervisor. Nominees are judged on their customer service, initiative, leadership, public recognition, overall dedication and promotion of the provincial parks system.

“In the five years I’ve been working for Ontario Parks I’ve learned a lot about our environment and its diversity,” explained bursary recipient Catherine Tratnyek, a student in the Trent-Fleming School of Nursing. “I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn any of it otherwise.”

Rebecca Lloyd, a Biology student, agreed, saying: “It is extremely rewarding to be recognized for my work. It’s really great to have a bursary partner program to recognize student’s dedication and help them financially reach their educational goals. I hope it continues to help and support many more dedicated students.” Ms. Lloyd has worked in Bon Echo Provincial Park for the last two years.

The fourth recipient from Trent, Danen Poley, worked at Pinery Provincial Park on Lake Huron.

The $500 education bursary is funded by corporate partners of Ontario Parks. Every year bursaries are awarded to 42 deserving students.

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For more information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence, Communications Officer, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x6185