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 Shad Valley Open Day at Trent University to Showcase Designs with ConscienceFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24 Event Presents Opportunity for Public to See Projects Designed by Some of Canada’s Top High School Students Monday, July 21, 2008, Peterborough
On Thursday, July 24 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the public is invited to the Shad Valley Open Day in the Lady Eaton College Dining Hall at Trent University to see and learn about the different visions and ideas 48 of Canada’s best and brightest high school students have come up with to help deal with global issues of poverty, starvation, homelessness and education, as part of the prestigious Shad Valley program. “This is an especially exciting project for Trent as it plays to the University’s strong tradition of research and action in human rights and social awareness,” said Kingsley Hurlington, program director of Shad Valley Trent. “Shad Valley is where the brightest young minds in Canada come for 27 days to develop a sense of self and community and to become agents of change in addressing some of the world’s most important and challenging problems. What they have accomplished during this time is simply amazing.” Trent University is one of twelve universities across Canada to offer the Shad Valley program, which combines entrepreneurship with science and technology, and gives students an opportunity to attend lectures and workshops and get involved with cooperative projects. Some participants are also offered a five-week, paid work experience with a Shad partner company upon completion of the program. This year, hundreds of students were selected to participate in this award-winning summer program, hosted simultaneously at campuses across Canada from June 29 to July 25. The “design with conscience” inventions are a significant component of the four-week Shad Valley program. For the Design-Entrepreneurship Project, Trent’s Shad participants were split into six working groups (called pods) and have spent three weeks designing a product that could help address issues of poverty, starvation, homelessness and education issues in Canada or in specific countries from around the world. In addition to designing a functioning prototype, groups also had to write a business plan, conduct market research, and develop financial statements for the design. Each project, including the winners in various categories, will be on display at Open Day. Throughout Open Day, the Shad Valley program participants will be on hand to explain their projects and answer questions. Other information will also be on display, including an interactive “day-in-the-life-of-Shad” display, products from their annual Rocket Building Competition, and photographs of the many other activities in which the Shad participants have been involved in at Trent, including: a two-day camping trip to Bark Lake; multiple trips to the Peterborough Festival of Lights; lectures with various professors and community professionals; a Liftlock Cruise; and a musical performance at Riverview nursing home where participants had a chance to perform for and talk with the residents. Established in 1981, Shad Valley is a not-for-profit organization based in Waterloo, Ontario, consisting of an extended community of leaders dedicated to the development of remarkable youth, helping them to recognize, harness and strengthen their talents. For the past quarter century, the award-winning international Shad Valley program has proven to be a competitive advantage for senior high school students striving to push past intellectual and creative standards. Shad Valley currently boasts a network of 10,000 Shad Valley alumni, some 100 supporter organizations, and thousands of educators at schools across the country. The Shad Valley Open Day at Trent is open to the public and free to attend. Refreshments will be available. Following Open Day, a banquet and variety show will be held in the Great Hall at Trent University’s Champlain College. For more information about the Shad Valley program, please visit: www.shad.ca. -30- For more information, please contact: |
