UTM Department of Sociology Student Awards
The Department of Sociology is excited to offer a series of awards to recognize the amazing achievements of our students! The awards below are available during the Fall/Winter session, with new awards recently added!
For awards which require an application, the online form and deadline date will be made available here in the Fall.
| Award Name | Description and Criteria | Award Value | Application Required? | Fall/Winter 2024-25 Winners |
| Outstanding First Year Performance in SOC100H5 Prize | Awarded to a full-time student with the highest grade in SOC100H5 for both the Fall/Winter session. Award winner must be a UTM degree student, in their first year of study. | $250 | No | Ashlyn Price |
| Outstanding First Year Performance in SOC109H5 Prize | Awarded to a full-time student with the highest grade in SOC109H5 for both the Fall/Winter session. Award winner must be a UTM degree student, in their first year of study. | $250 | No | Lukas Polyzois |
| SOC221H5 Prize | Awarded to a full-time student with the highest grade in SOC221H5 for both the Fall/Winter session. Award winner must be a UTM degree student. | $250 | No | Payten Chowen |
| SOC222H5 Prize | Awarded to a full-time student with the highest grade in SOC222H5 for both the Fall/Winter session. Award winner must be a UTM degree student. | $250 | No | Oprah Etuke |
| Research Paper Prize | Awarded to a full-time student with the best paper in SOC439Y5 or SOC440Y5. Award winner is selected by the course instructor and must be a UTM degree student. | $250 | No | Jordyn Wood |
| Department of Sociology Internship Prize | Awarded to a full-time student with the most outstanding performance in SOC480Y5. Award winner is selected by the course instructor and must be a UTM degree student. | $250 | No | Maria Eduarda De Alencar |
| Department of Sociology Highest Overall CGPA Prize for Graduating Student | Awarded to a full-time student with the highest overall CGPA upon graduation. Award winner must be completing a Sociology or Criminology, Law and Society program (Specialist and/or Major only) at UTM. | $500 | No | Angelina Jaya Siew |
| Department of Sociology Student Leadership Prize | Awarded to a full-time student who has demonstrated outstanding student engagement efforts and leadership accomplishments. Award winner must be completing a Sociology or Criminology, Law and Society program (Specialist and/or Major only) at UTM. The award winner is selected by the Awards Committee. Submissions should take the form of a personal statement outlining the student's engagement efforts and contributions to student life, with a recommended length of 500 words. Students self-nominate by submitting their statements. | $500 | Yes | Ehab James |
| Sociological Imagination Award | Awarded to a full-time student with the best paper or essay submitted in a 300- or 400- level UTM SOC course during the current academic year. The winning essay will demonstrate a strong sociological imagination—an ability to critically analyze real-world issues using sociological concepts, theories, and methods. Award winner must be completing a Sociology or Criminology, Law and Society program (Specialist and/or Major only) at UTM. The award winner is selected by the Awards Committee. Submissions should have a recommended minimum of 1,000 words. Students can self-nominate or be nominated by faculty. | $250 | Yes | Ayma Raheel |
| Policy Paper Prize | Awarded to a full-time student for the most outstanding policy-oriented paper submitted in a 300- or 400-level UTM SOC course during the current academic year. The winning submission—whether an essay or policy brief—will demonstrate exceptional analytical rigor and the ability to apply sociological insights to real-world policy issues. This award celebrates the work of Professor Emeritus John Kervin, whose research and teaching at UTM emphasized the vital role of sociology in shaping evidence-based policy and addressing pressing social issues. Award winner must be completing a Sociology or Criminology, Law and Society program (Specialist and/or Major only) at UTM. The award winner is selected by the Awards Committee. No required length for submissions; policy briefs and essays of varying lengths are welcome. Students can self-nominate or be nominated by faculty. | $250 | Yes | Mika Macan |
| Academic Journey Award | This award recognizes a full-time student who has demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and intellectual growth in their academic journey. Students who apply for the Academic Journey Award may have overcome personal, social, or economic challenges in their pursuit of higher education. Applicants must submit a reflective essay on their journey that also connects their experiences with key concepts learned in Sociology and/or CLS coursework. The winning essay will demonstrate critical self-reflection, sociological insight, and an ability to link individual struggles to broader social forces, including (but not limited to) barriers related to class, caste, race, gender, disability, migration, or other forms of inequalities. Award winner must be completing a Sociology or Criminology, Law and Society program (Specialist and/or Major only) at UTM. The award winner is selected by the Awards Committee. Submissions will take the form of a reflective essay with a recommended length of 500 words. Students self-nominate by submitting their essays. | $500 | Yes | Sandali Vithanage |
| CSA Outstanding Graduating Sociology Student Award | This award is an initiative of the Canadian Sociological Association, to assist Sociology departments in recognizing their top graduating students. The award winner is selected by the department. Details can be found on the CSA website. | n/a | No | Jordyn Wood |
Explore awards using the University of Toronto Award Explorer!
Learn more about scholarships and awards on the Office of the Registrar website.