Department of Sociology Celebrates Fall/Winter 2024–25 Award Winners

On November 27, 2025, the Department of Sociology hosted its Student Awards Night, a special event recognizing the achievements of students completing courses and programs in Sociology and Criminology, Law & Society at UTM during the Fall/Winter 2024–2025 academic year. Our student award recipients, along with their family and friends, and Department of Sociology faculty and staff, gathered in the Collaborative Digital Research Space in Maanjiwe nendamowinan to celebrate their hard work and outstanding accomplishments.

Each of these students was among the very best in our department this past year, a select group chosen from over a thousand students enrolled in our programs and courses. This makes their achievements especially noteworthy. Read on to learn more about our exceptional award recipients.

Outstanding First Year Performance in SOC100H5

2024-25 Winner - Ashlyn Price

This is awarded to the student who received the highest grade in our first-year course, Introduction to Sociology. In the 2024–25 academic session, Ashlyn took SOC100 as a first-year student in the Social Sciences stream. We are excited that she is now pursuing a double major in Criminology, Law and Society and Sociology, along with a minor in Ethics, Law and Society.

Outstanding First Year Performance in SOC109H5

2024-25 Winner - Lukas Polyzois

This is awarded to Lukas, the recipient of the Outstanding First Year Performance in SOC109H5 award, given to the student who achieved the highest grade in our first-year course, Introduction to Criminology, Law & Society. The award is presented to a full-time student pursuing a UTM degree who is in their first year of study while taking the course. In the 2024–25 academic session, Lukas was in his first year in the Social Sciences stream. We are excited that in his second year, he is now pursuing a double major in Criminology, Law & Society and Sociology, along with a minor in Philosophy.

SOC221H5 Prize

2024-25 Winner - Payten Chowen

This is awarded to Payten, the recipient of the SOC221H5 Prize, given to the student who achieved the highest grade in our second-year course, The Logic of Social Inquiry. Payten is pursuing double majors in Criminology, Law and Society, and Psychology. In the 2024–25 academic session, she completed SOC221H5 as one of the required courses for the Criminology major. Payten shared that her favorite course so far has been SOC303H5, White-Collar and Corporate Crime, taught by Professor Innocente, because of its unique and engaging content.

SOC222H5 Prize

2024-25 Winner - Oprah Etuke

This is awarded to Oprah, the recipient of the SOC222H5 Prize, given to the student who achieved the highest grade in our second-year statistics course, Measuring the Social World. Oprah is pursuing a major in Criminology, Law & Society, with minors in Political Science and Anthropology. In the 2024–25 academic session, she completed SOC222H5 as one of the required courses for the Criminology major. 

Sociological Imagination Award

2024-25 Winner - Ayma Raheel

This award is presented to Ayma, the winner of the Sociological Imagination Award, the first of our new awards. The Sociological Imagination Award is given to a full-time student who submits the best paper or essay in one of our 300- or 400-level courses during the current academic year. Selected by the Student Awards Committee, the winning essay must showcase a strong sociological imagination and demonstrate the ability to critically analyze real-world issues through sociological concepts, theories, and methods. Currently in her fourth year, Ayma is pursuing double majors in Criminology, Law and Society, and Psychology. She won the award for her paper “The Consequences of Border Violence: The Erosion of Human Rights and Dignity,” submitted for SOC353 (Border and Human Rights).

Policy Paper Prize

2024-25 Winner - Mika Macan

Mika is the winner of the newly established Policy Paper Prize. This award recognizes a full-time student for the most outstanding policy-oriented paper submitted in one of the department’s 300- or 400-level courses during the current academic year. Mika is currently in her fourth year, pursuing a major in Criminology, Law and Society with double minors in Education Studies and French Studies. She plans to attend law school after graduation. Mika submitted her paper, “A Comparative Analysis of Drug Decriminalization and Regulated Safe Supply: Lessons from Portugal, Switzerland, and Policy Implications for Canada,” for SOC378H5 (Law, Crime and Justice) in the Fall 2024 term. Passionate about the subject, she researched Portugal’s decriminalization framework and Switzerland’s Heroin-Assisted Treatment (HAT) program, comparing their legal, economic, and political environments to Canada’s context to assess potential benefits for Canadian policy.

Research Paper Prize

2024-25 Winner - Jordyn Wood

The award for the best paper from either SOC439Y5 (Research Project in Sociology) or SOC440Y5 (Research Project in Criminology, Law & Society) is presented annually to a full-time student pursuing a UTM degree. Selection is made by the course instructors in 2025, Professors Julius Haag and Zach Richer. Jordyn was this year’s recipient for her paper, “Tacitly Acquiesced Occupational Deviance in The Canadian Tree Planting Industry,” completed in SOC440Y5 during the 2024–25 academic session as part of the Criminology, Law & Society specialist program. A four-time Dean’s List Scholar, Jordyn was also the 2025 recipient of the Canadian Sociological Association Graduating Student Award. She graduated from UTM in June 2025 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts, High Distinction, and is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto. 

Internship Prize

2024-25 Winner - Maria Eduarda De Alencar

The SOC480Y5 Award is awarded to Maria, recognizing the student with the most outstanding performance in our fourth-year course, Internship in Sociology, Criminology, Law & Society. This award is presented to a full-time student pursuing a UTM degree, nominated by the course instructor, Professor Nathan Innocente. Maria completed SOC480Y5 in the 2024–25 academic session, undertaking her placement at Inter-Varsity. She is now taking a fifth year while pursuing double majors in Sociology and Psychology and plans to pursue a Master’s program in Occupational Therapy. Maria shares that she feels honoured to have had the privilege of working on projects that are both impactful and deeply meaningful. Even during a busy term, her internship courses, mentoring of high school students, conducting research, and contributing to social programs that once positively impacted her in high school made every assignment and reading feel purposeful.

Academic Journey Award

2024-25 Winner - Sandali Vithanage

The Academic Journey Award is awarded to Sandali, the recipient of a new award introduced this year. This award recognizes a full-time student who has demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and intellectual growth in their academic journey. The Awards Committee reviewed reflective essays submitted by applicants, who may have overcome personal, social, or economic challenges in their pursuit of higher education. Sandali graduated from UTM in June 2025 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction, having completed a Sociology Specialist with our department. She is now pursuing graduate-level studies at the University of Toronto, undertaking a Master of Arts with the Department of Sociology.

Student Leadership Prize

2024-25 Winner - Ehab James

This is awarded to Ehab, the recipient of the Student Leadership Prize, given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding engagement and leadership accomplishments. The award is presented to a full-time UTM student completing one of our major or specialist programs. Winners submit an application and are selected by the departmental Awards Committee. Ehab graduated from UTM in June of this year with an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction, completing double majors in Sociology and Political Science. He is currently working as a Field Organizer for the Liberal Party of Canada while also engaging in Democratic politics in the United States. After a gap year, he plans to attend law school beginning in August 2026. One of Ehab’s favorite memories from his time at UTM was receiving an email from a city councillor confirming that a bus line he had advocated for, along with another student representative, would be implemented. Seeing the MiWay Route 126 in operation was a tangible example of his advocacy and the impact of his efforts on the community.

Highest CGPA for a Graduating Student

2024-25 Winner - Angelina Siew

This is awarded to Angelina, the graduating student with the highest CGPA. It is presented to a full-time UTM student who completes one of our major or specialist programs with the highest overall CGPA upon graduation. Angelina graduated from UTM in June of this year, earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction. She completed a major in Criminology, Law and Society, and double minors in Sociology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Angelina is now completing her first semester at law school while simultaneously pursuing a Master’s in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies, a joint program at the University of Toronto.