Golf Tournament Raises Record $101K for Student Athletes

Twenty-four golf teams teed off at Trent University's annual President's Excalibur Golf Tournament and raised a record-breaking $101,000 for student athletes facing financial challenges. The 20th anniversary event at Peterborough Golf and Country Club shattered previous fundraising totals.

The money funds the Green & White Athletic Financial Awards, which support students who excel in three areas: athletic performance, academic achievement, and community leadership. More than 70 student athletes received awards during the 2025-26 season alone, bringing the program's total to over 450 recipients since its start.

Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent's president and vice-chancellor, says athletics builds more than athletic skill. "It's about developing leaders—students who build resilience, confidence, discipline and teamwork," she explained at the tournament.

Former recipient Aly Saydam knows exactly what that support means. The men's volleyball player maintained an 80 percent academic average throughout his undergraduate degree while training like a professional athlete.

He graduated with a 90 percent average, earning him a spot on the President's Honour Roll. He also received two of Trent Athletics' highest honors: the Bonnie M. Patterson Award and the Arthur Cup.

The Ripple Effect

Saydam's success shows what happens when financial barriers disappear. "Being a student-athlete is very challenging," he said. "You're expected to train like a professional athlete while still excelling at a full-time university education."

The scholarship freed him to focus on both volleyball and his studies instead of worrying about how to pay for school. That focus translated into recognition as a USPORT Academic All-Canadian, proving that investing in student athletes pays dividends far beyond the playing field.

The tournament's record fundraising means dozens more students will get the same chance to excel without choosing between their sport and their education. These athletes develop leadership skills that extend into their communities, creating a positive cycle that touches far more lives than just the scholarship recipients themselves.

Financial support transforms potential into achievement, one student at a time.