Department of Political Science

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Prizes and Awards

Students admitted to the political science undergraduate program are considered eligible for the following prizes, awards, and scholarships:

The Department of Political Science Bursary for Black/African Canadian or Indigenous Students

About the Bursary:
This fund was created through the generosity of the faculty and staff in the Department of Political Science. The bursary is intended to alleviate financial difficulties for Black/African Canadian and Indigenous students who have declared themselves as Political Science majors or honours students. The bursary is also intended to help retention and encourage student success in the program, and to support the Department’s commitment to expand the diversity of the program, in line with the Senate report on Indigenous and Black/African Canadian Student Access and Retention. The bursary will allow faculty to address the need for greater diversity concretely, alongside their efforts to address these issues in curriculum and research.

Criteria:
The fund will provide an in-course bursary to one or more Black/African Canadian and/or Indigenous student enrolled as a Political Science major at Dalhousie University. The student(s) will have demonstrated financial need.

How to apply for the bursary:
Students apply for this bursary by completing the Dalhousie Undergraduate In-Course Bursary application through their DalOnline access. The application is made through the student awards and financial aid tab. The application opened on August 17th and will close on October 15th each year. Final award decisions by the Dalhousie Registrar’s Awards Office will be made after October 15th. The application will then reopen again for the winter term in mid-December and will close February 15th each year.

Rear-Admiral F.W. Crickard Award

This award valued at $500 will be offered once a year to the Undergraduate student who has been nominated by a faculty member for the best IR paper in a Political Science course.

The James H. Aitchison Award

In 1979 colleagues of Dr. J.H. Aitchison established a fund from which an annual prize would be awarded in recognition of the best undergraduate honours essay. The fund was established to honour Professor Aitchison who was instrumental in founding the Department.  

The Eric Dennis Gold Medal

Founded by Senator William Dennis and Mrs. Dennis, this medal will be awarded on graduation to the student who stands first among those taking First Class Honours in Government and Political Science.

The H.B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science

This prize will be 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.  

Commonwealth Political Philosophy Prize

Established by John W. Beveridge (BA, Honours 1971) for students who demonstrate interest and achievement in the field of political philosophy.  The prize name derives from Commonweal, understood as society and government that endeavours to serve and represent community, without tending towards a totalitarian system.  This prize is 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).

Women in Politics Scholarship

The Department of Political Science at Dalhousie University is pleased to invite applications to the 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 will be given out annually for $1,000 per award while sufficient funds are available in the fund. Applicants must apply in writing to this scholarship by May 1 to psadmin@dal.ca. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence, identify as female, preference will be given to applicants who have voluntarily self-identified as belonging to a designated group as defined by the University, and  have declared a major in Political Science.

 

2022-23 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners

  

Alex Macnab
Olivia Paul

The James H. Aitchison Award

Olivia Paul

The 2019-20 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Murugakrishnan R R

The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

George Arnott

The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science

Patrick Lyons

The Rear Admiral Crickard Essay Prize in Political Science
Alisha Bari
Isobel Cameron

Women in Politics Scholarship
 

 

2021-22 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners

  

Emilie Quinn

The James H. Aitchison Award

Nick Harris

The 2019-20 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award

Kate Walker

The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

Grace Catton

The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science

Not awarded in 2021-22

The Rear Admiral Crickard Essay Prize in Political Science
Isobel Cameron
Sophia Lindfield

Women in Politics Scholarship
 

 

2020-21 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners
Poppy Jackson
 The James H. Aitchison Award
Poppy Jackson
 The 2019-20 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Olumayowa Oluwasanmi
 The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy
Joe Van Wonderen
 The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Dave Heintzman The Rear Admiral Crickard Essay Prize in Political Science
Charlotte Bourke
Claire Belliveau		 Women in Politics Scholarship

2019-20 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners
Lukas Pahapill-Osostowics
 The James H. Aitchison Award
Taline Selman
 The 2019-20 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Nick Harris
 The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy
Hannah Pletz
 The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Noah Davis The Rear Admiral Crickard Essay Prize in Political Science

2018-19 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners
Christopher Wieczorek
 The James H. Aitchison Award
Lydia MacKay Swiatkowska
 The 2018-19 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Isabella Flack
 The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy
Joanna Lund
 The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science

2017-18 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners
Jaan Islam The James H. Aitchison Award
Jaan Islam
 The 2017-18 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Daniel Mallov
 The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy
Sarah Barnett The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science

2016-17 Award Winners

Undergraduate Student Award/Prize Winners
Rebecca Steele
 The James H. Aitchison Award
Rebecca Steele
 The 2015-16 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Haruka Aoyama
 The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Mary Innes The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

2015-16 Award Winners

Undergraduate Student Award/Prize Winners
Jeremy Ryant The James H. Aitchison Award
Jeremy Ryant The 2015-16 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Victor Lee
 The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Abigail McLatchy The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

2014-15 Award Winners

Undergraduate Student Award/Prize Winners
Ellen Fowler The James H. Aitchison Award
Ellen Fowler The 2014-15 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Rebecca Steele The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

2013-14 Award Winners

Undergraduate Student Award/Prize Winners                                    
Madison Veinotte The James H. Aitchison Award
Ashley Mulrooney The 2013-14 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Ayat Noori The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Jeremy Ryant The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

 

2012-13 Award Winners

Undergraduate Student Award/Prize Winners
Michael Murphy The James H. Aitchison Award
Michael Murphy The 2012-13 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Kelti Munroe The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Political Science
Rachel Vickerson The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

2011-12 Award Winners

Undergraduate Student Award/Prize Winners
Kieth Lehwald The James H. Aitchison Award
Kieth Lehwald The 2011-12 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Molly Lowson The H. B. McCulloch Memorial Prize in Poitical Science
Daniel Bergman The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy

2010-11 Award Winners

Undergraduate Students Award/Prize Winners
Gavin Charles The James H. Aitchison Award
Gavin Charles The 2010-11 Eric Dennis Gold Medal Award
Michael Murphy The Commonwealth Prize in Political Philosophy
Conor Noseworthy Mushkat Memorial Essay Prize