Academic Excellence
Excellence in academic achievement and in participation in departmental life is recognized through a number of awards.
Elaine Stavro Prize in Political Theory
This prize is awarded to the student majoring in Political Studies who has achieved the highest average in courses focusing on political theory, thinking, and philosophy. This award was established by Dr. Elaine Stavro upon her retirement, in recognition of her long-standing commitment to theoretical inquiry and student engagement.
Margaret Doxey Scholarship in Political Science
Established to honour Professor Emerita, Margaret Doxey who was a trailblazer as a female professor with Trent's Department of Political Studies. Awarded to an upper-year student in third or fourth year who has written the best paper on a topic that explores a political issue that has a significant international dimension.
Recipients of the Margaret Doxey Scholarship:
- 2024-25 Ava Baksh-Corneil
- 2023-24 Mark Wilson
- 2022-23 Jackson Whilshire
- 2021-22 Jordyn Roffe
- 2020-21 Ryan McNamara
- 2019-20 Vanessa Wooten
- 2018-19 Clay Duncalfe
The 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 is the gift of Hon. S. Bruce Smith, Chief Justice of Alberta, and of Muriel Turner and H.G.H. Smith, QC, of Winnipeg and is awarded annually to the leading undergraduate majoring in Political Studies and History in the second year.
Recipients of the Hon. Sidney Smith Prize:
- 2019-20 Quinn Jenkins
- 2016-17 Jordan Stere
- 2014-15 Matthiew Reekie
- 2013-14 Shalon Hunte
- 2009-10 Heather-Lynn Degeer
- 2008-09 Nicole Rallis
- 2007-08 Nicole Rallis
- 2006-07 Brennan McConnell
- 2005-06 Mara Wyatt
- 2003-04 Eric D. Lee
- 2001-02 Logan Weir
- 1995-96 Brian David Kelly
- 1994-95 Gavin Muir
- 1993-94 Christopher Dummit
- 1992-93 Al Vachon
- 1990-91 Corey Scott
The Andrew Priestman Memorial Prize in Politics
This book prize was established in honour of the late Andrew Priestman, Honours B.A. 1991. It is awarded annually to a graduating student in Politicsal Studies who has maintained a solid academic achievement and made an above-average contribution to student life and the activities of the Political Studies Department. Students and faculty are encouraged to make nominations.
Recipients of the Priestman Book Prize include:
- 2024-25 Elenor Marano
- 2020-21 Edward Mathers and Thomas Mooney
- 2019-20 Noah Kathen
- 2018-19 Clay Duncalfe
- 2017-18 Annette Pedler
- 2016-17 Ashley Fearnall
- 2015-16 Rebecca Hubble and Boykin Smith
- 2014-15 Charlotte Caza
- 2013-14 Mathew Neeson and Lauren Pinder
- 2012-13 Jordan Pegutter
- 2011-12 Tegan Owen
- 2010-11 Jillian Toonders
- 2009-10 Not awarded
- 2008-09 Christiana Fizet
- 2007-08 Christopher Augstman
- 2006-07 Not awarded
- 2005-06 Michael McClurg
- 2004-05 Mark Noble
- 2003-04 Gabrielle McMurray
- 2002-03 Jamie Levin
- 2000-01 Matthew Griem
- 1999-00 Sarah Gauthier
- 1998-99 Kari Wolanski
- 1997-98 Shannon Roberts
- 1996-97 Andrew Steele and Sarah Blackstock
- 1995-96 Allison Mudge
- 1994-95 Jason Gauley
- 1993-94 Andrea Harrington
The Honourable George S. Henry Prize
This prize, in memory of The Hon. George S. Henry, Prime Minister of Ontario from 1930 to 1934, and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for East York from 1913 to 1943, is awarded to the leading undergraduate in the first-year course, Politics 1001 and 1002.
Recipients of the George S.Henry Prize include:
- 2024-25 Jakob Wildfong
- 2023-24 Abby Woodall and Ellen Edmonds-Whyte (Peterborough)
- 2023-24 Yousef Ishaq (Durham)
- 2022-23 Alex Bruneau and McCreath Dobias
- 2020-21 Aimee Marie Anctil and Max Ward
- 2019-20 Daniel Magnone
- 2018-19 T-Anna Johnson
- 2017-18 Adam Milburn and Ruth Wallace
- 2016-17 Szymon Rodomar
- 2015-16 Sarah Law and Joshua Lee Yow
- 2014-15 George Baragar
- 2013-14 Daniel Haynes
- 2012-13 Caleb Seguin
- 2011-12 Lachlan MacKinnon
- 2010-11 Molly Gray and Matthew Norman
- 2009-10 Rebecca Sawyer
- 2008-09 Meghan Johnston
- 2007-08 Aaron Henry
- 2006-07 Matthew Dow
- 2005-06 Matthew Whitfield
- 2004-05 Leslie Barton
- 2003-04 Jamie Posen
- 2002-03 Tobold Rollo
- 2001-02 Matthew Nelson and Jacob Rolfe
- 2000-01 Tanya Roberts
- 1999-00 Elayne Oliphant
- 1998-99 Maureen Hill and John Hennessey
- 1997-98 Jason Manett
- 1996-97 Kristian Kennedy
- 1995-96 Kari Wolanski
- 1994-95 Trevor Corkum and Justin Dawson
- 1993-94 Alexandria Crombie
- 1992-93 Tracey Brieger
- 1991-92 Damian Rodgers
The Denis Smith Essay Prize
This prize, the gift of the Politics Department, is awarded each year to a fourth-year student submitting an outstanding Politics essay. This prize was instituted in 1973.
Recipients of the Denis Smith Essay Prize include:
- 2024-25 Isabelle Row
- 2023-24 Laura Page
- 2022-23 Donna-Claire Njoku
- 2021-22 Emmaleigh Dew
- 2020-21 Jazmine Raine
- 2019-20 Noah Kathen
- 2018-19 Jeremy Dicenzo
- 2017-18 Matthieu Reekie
- 2016-17 Rohan Droom and Annette Pedler
- 2015-16 Not Awarded
- 2014-15 Caleb Seguin
- 2013-14 Lauren Pinder
- 2012-13 Bradley Kussen
- 2011-12 Kristen Hamley
- 2010-11 Mary Dirmeitis
- 2009-10 Not awarded
- 2008-09 Matthew Whitfield
- 2007-08 Karli Johnston and Armadeep Kaur
- 2006-07 Jay Prudhomme
- 2005-06 Deborah Rachlis
- 2004-05 Dieter Valtins
- 2003-04 Kathryn McLeod
- 2002-03 Elayne Oliphant
- 2001-02 Julie Stevens
- 2000-01 Raymond O'Flaherty
- 1999-00 Kevin Rushton
- 1997-98 Tracey Brieger
- 1996-97 Jen Cameron
- 1995-96 Rose Hately
- 1994-95 Anne-Marie Sheppard
- 1993-94 Dimitri Safronov
- 1992-93 Derek Hall
- 1991-92 Chris MacDonald
- 1990-91 Trent Ward
- 1989-90 Scott Powell
- 1987-88 Jamie Lawson
- 1986-87 Robert Hornung
- 1984-85 Peter Jones
- 1983-84 Alan Harman
- 1980-81 Lesley Cameron
- 1979-80 Richard Hamilton
- 1974-75 Ted Schrecker
- 1973-74 Robert Campbell
Justice Samuel H. Murphy Scholarship
This scholarship was established by friends, colleagues and family members to honour and remember Mr Justice Samuel H. Murphy. The scholarship is awarded to a student in Canadian politics and political theory entering third or fourth year.
Recipients of the Justice Samuel H. Murphy Scholarship include:
- 2021-22 Dylan Cameran
- 2020-21 Ruth Wallace
- 2019-20 TBA
- 2016-17 Brianna McCann
- 2015-16 Shelby McFadden
- 2014-15 (Jack) Timothy Smye
- 2013-14 Kathleen Ruggles
- 2012-13 Not awarded
- 2011-12 Not awarded
- 2010-11 Kristen Hamley
- 2009-10 Bianca Bell
- 2008-09 Evan Senkiw
- 2007-08 Christiana Fizet
- 2006-07 Karli Johnston
- 2005-06 Lauren Elliott
- 2004-05 Erin Clow
- 2003-04 Mathew Nelson
- 2002-03 Saera Michael-Salitter
- 2001-02 Kevin Young