Student Feature: Darrion Singh, Winner of the E.A. Robinson Medal for Humanities
The Department of Historical Studies is thrilled to recognize Darrion Singh as the 2025-2026 recipient of the UTM E.A. Robinson Medal in the Humanities. Darrion completed a Specialist in History and is continuing his studies this fall pursuing a Master of Arts in history. Read below to hear about Darrion's time in the department and at UTM, including getting involved on campus and advice for incoming students.
1. What were some of the most impactful courses and experiences during your time at UTM?
HIS105H5: A Brief History of Capitalism with Professor Caleb Wellum helped remind me of my academic interests. I really enjoyed studying the history of capitalism, and the course helped me establish a foundation in economic history that I will be continuing to develop as I move to graduate studies.
HIS489Y5: History Honours Thesis with Professor Mairi Cowan was an excellent opportunity to put all of my historical training into practice, as I wrote an independent research project of about 21,000 words. It was challenging, but I appreciated the support and guidance. The paper is also one of my greatest accomplishments at university.
2. What student groups were you involved in and how did they contribute to your time at UTM?
I've sat on the Historical Studies Society (HSS) executive team for two years. It was a great opportunity to get to know faculty and students within the department, and I think that it helped improve my university experience overall. It was through the work I did in the society that I met our Department Chair, Professor Chrubasik, and I recognize that having experiences and conversations with professors and administrators makes opportunities like the E.A. Robinson medal attainable.
Beyond clubs, I was also a staff member at the Centre for Student Engagement, first for social innovation and then for the LAUNCH transition program. Being involved in campus departments helped me learn more about myself as a student, as a leader, and as a professional, and several unique opportunities, like participating in a committee for UofT's bicentennial, appeared only because of my involvement.
A bit of a tip on the campus life side of things, I was once told that getting involved is a great way to get free food, and while it is not my first priority, it is a nice bonus!
3. What are your future plans post-graduation?
I will be pursuing my Master of Arts in history this fall at York University. I received a Canada Graduate Scholarship from SSHRC, and will be using that money to help fund some time abroad to access different archives. Currently, I'm also studying for the LSAT, and I plan to pursue a law degree or PhD afterward.
4. Do you have any advice for students beginning their studies at UTM?
Don't be afraid to experiment with the courses you take, or if you choose to pursue a program completely different than what you intended. One of my biggest regrets was not pursuing more history courses in my first year. I came to UTM to study accounting, but did not see myself in that environment. Even though I enjoyed history in high school, I thought that I "needed" to study business, though I found more opportunities aligned with my interests through history. I also wish I had spent more time exploring opportunities in research, as it was not something I became fully immersed in until my final year. There are certainly numerous opportunities at UTM and UofT as a whole, though the biggest challenge was sometimes finding the time to write an application or search for something that interested me.
