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 Outstanding Trent Student Honoured by Greater Peterborough Chamber of CommerceFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Virginia Portmann Presented with 2008 Student Business Leadership Bursary at Business Excellence Awards on October 22 Friday, October 24, 2008, Peterborough Virginia Portmann, a dynamic student leader at Trent University, was honoured as the 2008 recipient of the Student Business Leadership Bursary by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Peterborough at the annual Business Excellence Awards dinner held on October 22, 2008. “I feel very honoured to have been recognized by both the community and the University through this award,” Ms. Portmann said. “This is probably the first award I've received that recognizes initiative in the community as opposed to solely academic achievement. That makes this award special.” As the winner of the $1,000 annual bursary, Ms. Portmann is recognized for exceptional business leadership potential in a post-secondary student. The Student Business Leadership Bursary is presented each year by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce to one Trent student and one student from Fleming College. “Each year, we are honoured to have a Trent student recognized for business leadership by the Chamber,” said Bonnie M. Patterson, president and vice-chancellor at Trent. “Virginia is an especially deserving student who has shown remarkable leadership and commitment both at Trent and within the community.” Ms. Portmann graduated from the Trent-Fleming School of Nursing in the spring. At convocation, she was presented with a Symons Medal for high academic achievement. She has returned to Trent this fall to complete a second degree in Business Administration. Originally from Gwynne, Alberta, Ms. Portmann is also captain of the women’s varsity fencing team at Trent. Outside of the University, she has dedicated her time to volunteering. She spearheaded the local portion of Cycle North-South, a project that collects and sends used bicycles to developing countries like Mexico and Peru. She is also deeply involved with Friends of Honduran Children/Peterborough Medical Brigades, helping to organize a major fundraiser and has participated in a medical brigade trip to Honduras. While finishing her BBA, she is also working at the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga in the oncology department. Ms. Portmann hopes to use her educational and volunteer experience to eventually become a chief nursing officer of a hospital or health region in order to be able to “implement positive change of a more widespread nature.” -30- For more information, please contact: |
