By Lindsey Cooke
PETERBOROUGH- Trent graduates, faculty and the founding president of Trent said that the relationship between the students and faculty at the university is what makes it special.
This year was the 50th anniversary celebration of Trent convocation.
“This is a time when we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, the contributions and support of their families and friends, and the pivatble role played by the faculty and staff with guiding them to this moment” said president and vice-chancellor of the university, Leo Groarke.
Leo Groarke
The founding president of Trent, Professor Thomas H.B. Symons said he founded the university about 52 years ago and decided to create Trent because “there was a need for it.”
Fifty odd years later and Symons said that his favourite thing about Trent is the interaction and relationship between students and staff. “The students and the relationship between the students and the faculty, which is very special” he said.
Tom Symons
Environmental resource science honors graduate, Clara Taylor would have to agree. “It was a great environment to learn in and small class sizes, I loved it so much. My professors were great.”
Clara Taylor
Merv Usleen is a political sciences graduate and she said that she loved how the professors really challenged her learning experience. “They really challenged us and that’s what I love about Trent.”
Merv Usleen
Besides the students, a couple faculty members said that the best part of the university would have to be “the students.” “Students make the place” said Environmental Sciences professor Stephen Hill.
With celebrating 50 years of convocation Trent hosted some guests, one of them being former Chief of Curve Lake Keith Knott. He was honoured with a Doctors of Law degree from the university, for all his personal accomplishments for the First Nations community and Curve Lake.
Keith Knott
Knott made a very inspirational speech acknowledging all of the people that supported the graduates through their journey. He told the graduates to reach for the sky because that is the limit. “Never be discouraged, the direction that you want to go is within reach as of now. Give yourself the time in order to reach that” he said.
Convocation ceremonies will be continuing until Thursday afternoon.
