The Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching is named for the late Professor T.H.B. Symons, the Founding President of Trent University, and is made available through the generous support of Professor and Mrs. Symons. The Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching is Trent University’s most prestigious award that recognizes faculty and staff members who stand out from others in encouraging learning, bring unique experiences to the teaching space, challenge students to do their best work, serve as inspiration for students, and demonstrate exemplary concern for students.

Award Criteria

The Teaching Awards Subcommittee’s decisions are based solely on the information that nominators like you provide. The strongest nominations provide specific details about a candidate's interaction with students, and clear examples illustrating ways in which this candidate fulfills the following award criteria: 

• stands out from others in encouraging learning
• brings unique experiences to the teaching space
• challenges students to do their best work
• serves as inspiration for students
• demonstrates exemplary concern for students

Eligibility

An Full-time or part-time Trent faculty and staff who are employed as of the closing date of nominations are eligible. Self-nominations are not accepted. An individual may receive this award only once during his or her career. Previous recipients are ineligible for nomination. Please review the list of previous recipients below.  

How to Nominate:

Nominations will be accepted for a window at the conclusion of each academic term:

Nomination Window 1: April 9-25, 2025

Nomination Window 2: December 18, 2025-January 12, 2026

To nominate an instructor, complete the online form below. The online form will be live from 8AM on the first day of each nomination window and close at 4PM on the final day.

» Online Nomination Form for the Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching

Complete the "Nominator Information" and the "Candidate Information" sections on the Nomination Form, open January 9th - 24th, 2025 at 4:00pm. Tell the story! Complete the "Candidate Qualifications" section by providing specific examples of how/why your candidate should be considered for the Award.

Make sure to review our list of previous award winners as individuals are only eligible to win the award once.

For helpful information on writing strong nominations, including exemplars, please see the Trent Teaching Commons' "How to Write a Strong Nomination for a Teaching Award" page. 

How is the Award Determined?

The Teaching Awards Subcommittee’s decisions are based solely on the information that nominators provide. This information is assessed in relationship to the award criteria. 

The strongest nominations provide specific details about a candidate's interaction with students, and clear examples the illustrating ways in which this candidate fulfills the criteria.

The award has a monetary value of $2,000 and is accompanied by a Symons liripipe and a framed certificate. This award is announced at Senate and is presented at the Celebration of Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Research in April of each year.

Timeline

April-January: Nominations are cumulatively collected during two nomination windows open during the winter and fall terms (nomination windows are listed above).  

Early January: Nominations close.

Mid-January: Trent Teaching Commons prepares nomination packages.

Late-January: Collated nomination packages are circulated to the Senate Teaching Award Subcommittee (STAS) for review and scoring.

Early February: Deadline for all STAS members to submit scores to Trent Teaching Commons.

Mid-Late February: Trent Teaching Commons sends finalized shortlist to STAS members.

Late February: Meeting to deliberate and decide award.

March: Award recipient, finalists and nominees are notified.

April: Recipient is awarded their certificate and prize at the annual Celebration of Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Research.

Previous Recipients

• 2024-2025 David Riegert (Mathematics & Statistics)
• 2023-2024 Laura Summerfeldt (Psychology)
• 2022-2023 Elizabeth Russell (Psychology)
• 2021-2022 Christine Goodwin-De Faria (Child and Youth Studies)
• 2020-2021 Shannon Accettone (Chemistry and Forensics)
• 2019-2020 Kathryn Chittick (English)
• 2018-2019 Wesley Burr (Mathematics)
• 2017-2018 Kelly Egan (Cultural Studies and Media Studies)
• 2016-2017  Deborah Kennett (Psychology)
• 2015-2016 Joel Baetz (English Literature)
• 2014-2015 Marg Hobbs (Gender and Women's Studies)
• 2013-2014 Mark Dickinson (Canadian Studies)
• 2012-2013 Keith Walden (History)
• 2011-2012 Tom Hutchinson (Environmental & Resource Studies)
• 2010-2011 Stephen Hill (Environmental & Resource Studies)
• 2009-2010 Paul Shaffer (International Development Studies)
• 2008-2009 Molly Blyth (Canadian Studies; English Literature)
• 2007-2008 Emilia Angelova (Philosophy)
• 2006-2007 Ivana Elbl (History)
• 2005-2006 Geoffrey Eathorne (English Literature)
• 2004-2005 Carolyn Kay (History)
• 2003-2004 Eric Helleiner (International Development Studies)
• 2002-2003 David Page (Ancient History & Classics)
• 2001-2002 Paul Wilson (Athletics Department)
• 2000-2001 Richard Hurley (Computing and Information Systems)
• 1999-2000 Sarah Keefer (English Literature)
• 1998-1999 Susan Wurtele (Geography)
• 1997-1998 Deborah White (Sociology)
• 1996-1997 Jim Sutclife (Biology)
• 1995-1996 Christl Verduyn (Canadian Studies)
• 1994-1995 David Poole (Mathematics)
• 1993-1994 Robert Campbell (Political Studies)
• 1992-1993 Stephen Brown (English Literature)
• 1991-1992 Alan Slavin (Physics)
• 1990-1991 Morton Berkowitz (English Literature)
• 1988-1989 Joan Sangster (Women's Studies)
• 1987-1988 Alan Wilson (History)
• 1987-1988 Deborah Berrill (Education)
• 1986-1987 Marion Fry (Philosophy)
• 1986-1987 Robert Carter (Philosophy)
• 1985-1986 John Milloy (Canadian Studies)
• 1984-1985 Robert Page (Environmental & Resource Studies/Science)
• 1983-1984 Constantin Boundas (Philosophy)
• 1982-1983 Fred Wheatley (Native Studies)
• 1981-1982 John Syrett (History)
• 1980-1981 Fred Tromly (English Literature)
• 1979-1980 Iswar Chakravartty (Mathematics)
• 1978-1979 James Jury (Physics & Astronomy)
• 1978-1979 Stuart Robson (History)
• 1977-1978 Michael Berrill (Biology)
• 1976-1977 John Wadland (Canadian Studies)