Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus Celebrates Convocation June 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

80 graduates from Trent University Oshawa to be honoured at Symons Campus ceremony in Peterborough

Monday, May 30, 2011, Oshawa

During its 44th Convocation, Trent University will honour 1,699 members of the 2011 graduating class, over the course of five ceremonies on Wednesday, June 1; Thursday, June 2; and Friday, June 3 on Symons campus.

Among the 80 graduates of Trent University Oshawa, 49 are graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, nine with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree, 20 with a general Bachelor of Arts and two with a general Bachelor of Science.

All Trent University Oshawa graduates will be recognized during the ceremony on Wednesday, June 1 at 3 p.m. Ceremonies take place outdoors on the podium of the Bata Library on the Symons Campus. Dr. Steven E. Franklin, Trent’s seventh president and vice-chancellor, and Dr. Tom Jackson, the University’s tenth chancellor, will preside over Convocation. During the ceremonies, five distinguished Canadians will receive honorary degrees. Over 100 volunteers, mostly University employees and retirees, will be lending a hand at this year’s ceremonies.

As the first president of the Trent University Oshawa Student Association (TOSA), graduating student Nicole MacDonald said, “I feel blessed to have helped create an amazing support for students. Student life on campus blossomed through the year with the development of student clubs, various events held on campus and the student services offered by TOSA.” Ms. MacDonald is graduating with a history degree and looking forward to continuing at Trent in Peterborough in the Bachelor of Education program this September. She chose to study at Trent University Oshawa because of the amazing support offered. “I truly appreciated that my Trent professors were always available to assist me and that they knew my name, and the name of my daughter,” said Ms. MacDonald.

For full details on all Convocation ceremonies, please visit: www.trentu.ca/convocation

 

A detailed breakdown of the Wednesday Convocation ceremony is as follows:

On Wednesday, June 1 at 3 p.m., Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, Master of Science,
Forensic Science, Business Administration, Joint-Major Degrees with Business Administration, Joint-Major Degrees with Forensic Science will be conferred. All graduates of Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus programs will also be recognized. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Sandra Laronde, who will address convocation. Ms. Winnie Janzen will be presented with an Eminent Service Award.

Green Initiatives

For the third year, several green initiatives designed to reduce the event’s impact on the environment will be part of Trent’s Convocation ceremonies, including:

Water Bottle-Free Convocation
By eliminating the use of commercial bottled water at the ceremonies, Trent will reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of 5,000 single-use water bottles, which have been consumed at previous ceremonies. In lieu of bottled water, the University will set up a water station at an Information Table to provide tap water in recyclable or biodegradable cups to all guests of Convocation. Graduates will each receive a take-home gift of a stainless steel water bottle which will be filled with tap water for their use during the outdoor ceremonies.

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Media are invited and encouraged to attend convocation and will be provided with an official media tag allowing them into limited access points.

For official comments and more information on convocation details, please contact:
Rita Bode, associate dean, Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus, 905-435-5102 ext. 5002, rbode@trentu.ca

For more information on convocation logistics and media support, please contact:
Marilyn Burns, director, Marketing & Communications, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 ext. 6184

To arrange an interview with graduating student Nicole MacDonald, contact: An Kosurko, communications officer, Trent University, 705-748-1011 ext. 6182