This Month in FASS
The latest news and events from the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences at Dalhousie University

The FASS monthly e-newsletter: Year-End edition (Spring 2023)

Message from the Dean

Dean's Office Announcements

Welcome Mohammad Ashiq, who joined FASS this week in the position of Manager, Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations!

We are excited to announce that Black and African Diaspora Studies (BAFD) is one step closer to launching its new Majors, Honours and Certificate programs after recent approval in Dalhousie Senate.  These programs will be supported by new faculty members, including Chevy Eugene who will joining FASS this fall. 
Learn more about the program in recent coverage by CBC News.

FASS Faculty and Staff Award Recipients

In April, Dean Jennifer Andrews presented three very deserving members of the FASS community with the annual FASS Faculty and Staff Awards! Congratulations to this year's award recipients:

Award for Service Excellence
Letitial Meynell
Professor
Philosophy and Gender and Women's Studies

This annual award honours a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in service and professional contributions to committee processes, departmental and Faculty leadership, and other administrative service.
 

Award for Excellence in Teaching
Bob Huish
Associate Professor
International Development Studies

This annual award honours a faculty member who has made an outstanding contribution to teaching, mentoring, and serving the students of the Faculty. The award is intended, above all, to underline the fundamental importance of effective and/or innovative pedagogy.
 

Staff Award for Excellence in Service
Tatjana Vukoja
Administrative Officer, Finance & Personnel
Fountain School of Performing Arts

 

The annual Staff Award for Excellence in Service recognizes a staff member who has made an exceptional contribution to supporting FASS faculty members and students.
 

2023 FASS Essay Competition Winners

This year's winner of the Irving and Jeanne Glovin Award is Maria Spear for her paper, "Framing Ethical Responsibility: Voluntourism, Ethnomusicology, and the Importance of Listening as Ethical Praxis". 

The winner of this year's Mushkat Memorial Essay Prize is Phoebe Durand-McDonnell for her paper, "What'd They Miss?: Performing Race in Hamilton: An American Musical".

 

Both winners (Phoebe pictured left and Maria pictured right with Dean Andrews in the photo above) are students in the MA Musicology program in the Fountain School of Performing Arts. In April, Dean Andrews hosted a reception where the winners presented excerpts of their papers to an invited audience.

Each individual essay contest within the annual FASS Essay Competition has a prize value of $4000. Learn more about this annual competition and watch the video recordings of this year's presentations at www.dal.ca/fass/essaycompetition.

2023 Clan Ramsey of Nova Scotia Prize Winner

This prize is awarded to a student registered in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who has written the best paper dealing with any aspect of the influence of Scottish culture within Canada. 

This year's winner is Jaida Lapsley, a FASS student doing a double major in Theatre (Costume Studies) and History for a project she submitted in the HIST 3274, History of Nova Scotia Since Confederation course.

 

The paper follows Jaida's process and reflections on creating a highland-style kilt from scratch. She researched historical sewing techniques, learning about the endangered traditions of kilt-making, and the appropriateness of this apparel to highland life, while building her own kilt in Nova Scotia tartan. 

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM STUDENT AWARD WINNERS

Please note: The University Medal is awarded to the student with the highest academic standing in a department, school, or faculty, among graduates of diploma and baccalaureate programs.

Classics Department

University Medal in Classics
Brendan Kay

Nicole Knox Memorial Prize
For the top student in advanced (third-year) ancient languages (Latin and Greek).
Sister Angela Burnham and Emily MacPherson

Donald Hambrick Memorial Prize
For the top grade in First-year Greek.
Mars Semenova

Patrick Atherton Prize
For for the top grade in  First-year Latin.
Maggie Fyfe

Miss Bubbles Hellenic Scholarship Prize
For top performance in Advanced (third-year) Greek.
Emily MacPherson

Society of Classical Studies Outstanding Student Awards:
Eleanor Friddell, Anaïs Grant-Church, Anna Shubaly

Classical Association of Canada Exceptional Student Award
Nerissa Zhang

English Department

University Medal in English
Sabina Willmott

University Medal in Creative Writing
Sabina Willmott

Malcolm Ross Prize for Best Thesis in Canadian Literature              
Brittany Kraus

Avie Bennett Prize
Awarded each year to the best essay on Canadian literature submitted from an undergraduate class at Dalhousie during the current academic year. 
Divided between: Alison Keogh and Sam Sumner.

Allan & Lura Bevan Scholarship
Awarded to a student who will be entering the third year of a general or honours B.A. in English.
Gillian Owensby

Bennett Chittick Prize
Awarded annually to an outstanding first-year student enrolled in English a 1000 level course.
Morag Brown

Graham Creighton Prize
Awarded annually to a student entering their 4th year of study in an English Major or Honours programme who has demonstrated a high level of academic excellence.
Split between: Erin Inglis, Laura Gilron, and Zia Shirtliffe

Kim Rilda LeBlanc Memorial Award
Established to recognize outstanding interdisciplinary initiatives between the arts and the health sciences, and it honours the memory of this former graduate student in English. The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Medicine, and Health Professions. 
Kate Sutherland Hartling

Archibald MacMechan Scholarship
Granted to a graduating English student who has demonstrated special abilities at the Undergraduate level. 
Brandon Hachey

Paul McIsaac Memorial Prize
Awarded to a student in the second or third year of study in the Honours or Majors programme in English who demonstrates an enquiring and original mind.
Eva Dobrovolska

Margaret Nicoll Pond Memorial Prize
This prize was endowed by Mr. F.H. Pond of Halifax in memory of his wife, the late Margaret Nicoll Pond, a gifted teacher of English and a devoted alumna and governor of Dalhousie University. The prize is awarded to the woman graduating in  English with the highest academic standing.
Sabina Willmott

Samantha Li Memorial Award
Established by family, friends, faculty, and students to honour the memory of Samantha Li by supporting an annual prize for a student in the Honours programme in English.  The recipient chosen will most closely reflect the academic and personal qualities of Samantha Li: intellectual reach and creativity; a passion for the exploration of literature and ideas; generosity toward and engagement with fellow students and professors.
Cassandra Burbine

James W. Tupper Graduate Fellowship
Two fellowships are awarded by the English Department, on the recommendation of the Undergraduate Committee, to students selected on the criteria of the GPA of all English classes at the 2000 level and beyond and a clear indication that the student(s) will go on to do graduate work.
Split between Susanna Cupido and Cassandra Burbine

Fountain School of Performing Arts

University Medal in Music
Dylan Hay 

University Medal in Theatre
Sam Cooper

University Medal in Cinema & Media Studies
Geneviève Richer

Cinema and Media Studies Award
Awarded to an outstanding graduating student enrolled in the Cinema and Media Studies program. Selected by Cinema and Media Studies faculty members based on the highest overall GPA in Film classes.
Olivia Crawley 

Dalhousie Alumni Association (Women's Division) Medal in Costume Studies
Medal presented annually to the graduating student with the highest cumulative GPA in the Costume Studies Program.
Tess Martin

Dalhousie Alumni Association (Women's Division) Medal in Music
Presented to the graduating student who achieves the highest cumulative GPA in music subjects over the four-year Bachelor of Music degree.
Dylan Hay

Dalhousie Alumni Association (Women's Division) Prize in Music
Presented to the graduating student who has achieved a high cumulative average in music subjects during the four-year Bachelor of Music degree program.
Kip Johnson 

James & Abbie Campbell Prize in Music
For outstanding achievement in Music
Tory Martin and Gabriel O'Brien

John Pennoyer Award for Excellence in Costume Design
This award has been established to support a gifted upper-level student(s) in the Costume Studies Degree or Diploma Program who show aptitude, keen interest, and commitment to costume design.
Eleanor Gillis-Nielsen and Agustine Correa Scarpa

French Department

The University Medal in French
Nicole Basso

Marcelle Cendres Sandhu Memorial Prize  
Annual prize awarded to a Major or Honours student in the Department of French who achieves excellence in third or fourth year French grammar courses. 
Grace Rix

Ruth Murray Scholarship for French Studies
Awarded to students who are academically sound and who are participating in a departmental program abroad. At the discretion of the Department, the fund may also be used to provide financial assistance for on-campus students majoring in French who have demonstrated above average academic ability. 
Lorelai Collings

French Department Scholarship  
Awarded to a student(s) entering the third or fourth year of a Major or an Honours program in French, and who has spent or will spend a year studying in France. The award is based on meritorious performance in French courses. At the discretion of the Department, the scholarship may also be awarded to outstanding students who have not studied abroad.
Fiona Turmel and Lily Orlando

Sabah Metlej French Scholarship
This fund provides an annual prize for a Major or Honours student in the Department of French who is raising a family. Students must show enthusiasm toward the study of French and exemplary effort in their studies. In the event no student fit these criteria, the scholarship may be awarded to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence and enthusiasm towards the study of French.
Jana Ramia

Prize of the Consul General of Switzerland in Montreal/ Prix de la Consule générale de Suisse à Montréal.  
Awarded to a graduating student who has won distinction by their work in the French language.   
Viola Bolik

Prix des Alliances Françaises dans les Provinces atlantiques
This award is open to students who have demonstrated excellence in their studies while showing interest in both French and Francophone language and culture.
Fiona Turmel

German Department

University Medal in German
Rao Yao

Marjorie Mader Study Abroad Award recipients:
$1500 each awarded towards a for-credit study abroad experience in Germany.
Tasha Moller, Delphi LeBlanc and Em Cooper

Students selected as participants in the Kiel University International Summer course
An intensive for-credit language course, with tuition, accommodation and half-board paid.
Lawrence Jordan and Ryan Cain

2023/24 DAAD Young Ambassador
Promoting scholarships for study and research opportunities in Germany to Dalhousie and King's students - she'll be travelling to New York for the (all expenses paid) training in August.
Delphi Leblanc

History Department

University Medal in History
Josephine Blenkhorn

George E. Wilson Scholarships:
Prize for the most meritorious essay by a first-year student.
Ev Ross
First year scholarship, for a student with high standing in an introductory History class.
Thet No No Hilary
Scholarship for students completing an honours or major in History with high standing.
Matthew Heard

Edith and Rose Goodman Prizes for Canadian History
For students with the highest marks in Canadian history courses.
Sophie Keddy
Matthew Heard 

Tom and Ada Jennex Undergraduate Scholarship
For a History major finishing third year who demonstrates academic excellence in the study of the Atlantic World.
Alice Twa

Susan Buggey Atlantic World History Scholarship
Awarded to a History major in recognition of the importance of studies in history that connect Atlantic Canada and its people to a multicultural world outside its region, nation and continent.
Matthew Hamilton

LVK Scholarship
For students who excel specifically in History. 
Liam Alabiso-Cahill

Commonwealth History Prizes
To facilitate and encourage the study of Commonwealth or British history. This prize is awarded annually for the best undergraduate essay on a topic relating to the history of Britain and/or the Commonwealth countries and is funded by a gift from Dr. David Jessop and Dr. Karen Ostergaard.
Justin Mager and Tristan Dinneen

Michael S. Cross Memorial Undergraduate Essay Prize
For the best essay in Canadian or labour history.
Danny Englehutt

International Development Studies Department

University Medal in International Development Studies
Faith Saar

Honours Thesis award
Veronika Kemperman

Philosophy Department

University Medal in Philosophy
Callahan Laing

F. Hilton Page Memorial Prize
Awarded to a graduating student whose thesis is judged to be outstanding. 
Callahan Laing

Roland Puccetti Memorial Award
For the best essay submitted by a student in a 3000- or 4000-level class. 
Alexis Amero

Political Science Department

Eric Dennis Gold Medal in Political Science 
This medal is awarded on graduation to the student who stands first among those taking First Class Honours in Government and Political Science.
Olivia Paul

Commonwealth Political Science Prize
Awarded annually to the student who has achieved the highest grade in a course on political philosophy/the Foundations of Political Thought (currently POLI 2410.03/2420.03).
Murugakrishnan R R

Doris Boyle Graduate Prize
Awarded annually to the best essay written by a graduate student in the area of international relations.
Caira Mohamed

H.B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Awarded annually to the student who, among all the first and second year students registered in introductory classes in Political Science, is judged to have written the best essay in the second term.
George Arnott

James H. Aitchison Award
This award is awarded annually in recognition of the best undergraduate honours essay. This year, it was decided that two students were equally deserving of this award.
Alexander Macnab
Olivia Paul

Rear Admiral F.W. Crickard Prize in Political Science
This award has been given annually to the undergraduate student who has been nominated by a faculty member for the best IR paper in a Political Science course.
Patrick Lyons

Women in Politics Scholarship
The Women in Politics Scholarship is meant to encourage and inspire female Political Science students as they aspire towards their career in the field. Two scholarships are given out annually for $1,000 per award.
Alisha Bari
Isobel Cameron

The Political Science department’s award winners will also be announced in their upcoming newsletter scheduled to be released some time in June. Check out their newsletter webpage next month to find the Spring 2023 edition!

Russian Studies Department

University Medal in Russian Studies
Maya Schluter-MacLean

Sociology and Social Anthropology Department

SOCIOLOGY

University Medal in Sociology
Beau Block

Reverend H. S. Prince Prize
A monetary prize awarded to the “extraordinary undergraduate student” who shows the highest level of mastery of and commitment to sociological research, as reflected in both their GPA and their Honours thesis
Bridgette Norwood

Canadian Sociological Association’s (CSA) Outstanding Graduating Sociology Student Award (Bachelor Honours Student, Dalhousie University)
Recognizes the strength of the student’s sociological research
Bridgette Norwood

SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY

University Medal in Social Anthropology
Althea Pilapil

Social Anthropology Prize
A monetary prize awarded to the student who has submitted the best thesis among those graduating with Honours in Social Anthropology
Althea Pilapil

Canadian Anthropology Society’s (CASCA) Outstanding Graduating Anthropology Student Award (Bachelor’s level, Dalhousie University)
Recognizes the strength of the student’s anthropological research
Althea Pilapil

Spanish and Latin American Studies Department

University Medal in Spanish
Marcus Taylor

Multidisciplinary Centre Programs

University Medal in Law, Justice  Society
Francesca Sivilotti

University Medal in Gender & Women's Studies
Lucy Fox 

College of Sustainability

University Medal in Sustainability
Sasha Mines, BA Combined Honours with Co-op in Environment, Sustainability & Society and Law, Justice & Society. Minor in French. Certificate in Indigenous Studies. 

Deborah Buszard Prize
For significant contributions to academic life in the College of Sustainability.
Justin Andrews, BA Double Major in Environment, Sustainability & Society and Sociology and Social Anthropology.

ESS Star Prize
For achieving the highest GPA in all SUST courses.
Sasha Mines, BA Combined Honours with Co-op in Environment, Sustainability & Society and Law, Justice & Society. Minor in French. Certificate in Indigenous Studies.

ESS Thesis Prize
For the best Honours Thesis in Environment, Sustainability & Society.
Sophia DeBruin, BA Combined Honours in Environment, Sustainability & Society and Contemporary Studies.

ESS Academic Improvement Award
For greatest academic improvement throughout the Environment, Sustainability & Society undergraduate degree.
Franco Medioli-Fitzgerald, BSc Double Major in Marine Biology and Environment, Sustainability & Society.
Dalhousie University