UPEI business student wins inaugural Robert J. Connaughton Sr. Memorial Award

Third-year University of Prince Edward Island business student Colin Trewin is the winner of the inaugural Robert J. Connaughton Sr. Memorial Award.

Established by the late Robert J. Connaughton Sr.’s family, the award is given to a UPEI student who is a member of the Holland Hurricanes football team, or the UPEI track-and-field or hockey teams. 

Trewin plays with the senior men’s Island Mariners, of the Maritime Football League, and the Holland Hurricanes, of the Atlantic Football League. He is the research and policy coordinator for the UPEI Student Union, working on issues such as sexual violence and employment insurance reform. After he graduates in May 2019, he plans to attend law school.

“The financial assistance provided by this award will make an extraordinary contribution towards helping me achieve my goals,” said Trewin.

A resident of Massachusetts, Robert Connaughton Sr. was an avid sports fan, particularly at the scholastic and college levels. His six children and 11 grandchildren were all involved in high school and collegiate sports.

Robert Connaughton Sr. was a great fan of Saint Dunstan’s University’s and UPEI’s football programs in the 1960s and 1970s. His son Bobby Jr. played football for Saint Dunstan’s University and UPEI—Saint Dunstan’s is one of UPEI’s two founding institutions—and sons Dave and Neal for UPEI. He and his wife, Jane, came to Prince Edward Island as often as they could, attending UPEI hockey and football games during their visits. Two of his grandchildren (Ellen and Jared) were born on PEI. Jared Connaughton is a two-time track-and-field Olympian.

“On behalf of the Connaughton family, I congratulate Colin on being the first winner of the Robert J. Connaughton Sr. Memorial Award,” said Neal Connaughton.