Awards and Scholarships

In addition to general university scholarships and prizes, for which all students are eligible, the following are of particular interest to History students.

Application is required for the following prizes:

• The James Middleton Essay Prize in the Humanities The James Middleton Essay Prize prize rotates between Ancient History & Classics and Philosophy in one year, and History and English Literature in the next. For 2016-17, the two prizes will be awarded to students in Ancient History & Classics and Philosophy. The material submitted cannot be used in applications for other prizes administered by the Department of English Literature.

Humanities Prizes

The James Middleton Essay Prize in the Humanities

This is an essay prize for second or third year students in the Humanities, offered in alternating years to students in Classics and Philosophy (Year 1) and History and English Literature (Year 2). In the 2015-16 academic year, one prize will be awarded to the best essay submitted to the competition by a student in the second or third year of an honours program in English Literature, and one prize will be awarded to the best essay submitted by a student in the second or third year of an honours program in History.  Value: $600. Recipients

Current Department Prizes

Alan Wilson Prize in History

This prize, named in honour of the founder of the Trent History Department and of the Canadian Studies Program, is awarded to the honours student achieving the highest record in fourth year.  

The Pammett Historical Prize

Awarded annually when merited, for the best student research essay on the history of the Kawartha District (defined as including the Counties of Peterborough, Victoria, Haliburton, Northumberland, Clarington and the Algonquin region).  The recipient will be chosen by the Chair of the History Department.  This prize is established by the late Howard Pammett (1909-1993), in honour of his parents, Robert and Ruby Pammett. Recipients

Donald Chase Memorial Prize

This prize, in memory of Donald Chase, a Trent student in 1989, is awarded annually for the best essay in Canadian history written by a first year undergraduate student. Recipients

Douglas McCalla Essay Prize in History

Named in honour of the distinguished Canadian historian and former member and Chair of the Trent History Department, and Master of Lady Eaton College, this prize is awarded to the honours student writing the best essay in the fourth year.  Recipients

Donald Fleming Memorial History Prize

This prize, established by family and friends in memory of the late Donald Fleming, is awarded annually to a third or fourth year student submitting an outstanding essay in Modern European History. Recipients

First Year Essay Prize in History

This prize, awarded by members of the Department, goes to the student in the first quarter of his or her program who writes the best essay. Recipients

John Syrett Prize in History

This prize, in honour of a former member and Chair of the Trent History Department, is awarded to a student writing the best essay in the second year. Recipients

W.L. Morton Essay Prize in History

This prize, named after the distinguished Canadian historian, an early member of the Trent History Department, and first Master of Champlain College, is awarded to the third-year student writing the best essay.  Recipients

Past Department Prizes

History 1700 Essay Prize

As of 2009, this prize is being awarded under the title of "First Year Essay Prize in History". This prize, awarded by members of the Department, goes to the student in the first quarter of his or her program who writes the best essay in History 1700.  Recipients

Honourable Leslie Frost Prize

This prize, the gift of the late Hon. Leslie M. Frost, P.C., Prime Minister of Ontario from 1949 to 1962 and first Chancellor of Trent University, is awarded to the leading undergraduate in the first-year course in Canadian History. Recipients

Honourable Sidney Smith Prize

This prize is named in honour of Hon. Sidney Smith, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the United Province of Canada from 1854 to 1861, Postmaster General of the United Province of Canada from 1858 to 1862 and elected Member of the Legislative Council from 1861 to 1863.  It was the gift of Hon. Bruce Smith, then Chief Justice of Alberta, and of Muriel Turner and H.G.H. Smith, Q.C. of Winnipeg, and is awarded annually to the leading undergraduate majoring in Politics and History in the second year. Recipients 

Ian Stonehewer Memorial Scholarship

Named in honour of Ian Stonehewer, B.A. Honours 1975, this scholarship, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Stonehewer, is awarded annually for excellence to a student entering fourth year of an Honours History Program.  The value of the scholarship is determined annually. Recipients

John Gilchrist Memorial Scholarship

Named in memory of John Gilchrist, a former member of the History Department, this scholarship is awarded to an upper-year student with a single or joint major in the Humanities.  Recipients

For more information, visit Scholarships and Financial Aid