Awards

dinosaurs in party hats

Gender & Social Justice Awards

Every year in April, the Department hosts an awards ceremony celebrating the best and the brightest students and their accomplishments. There are three prizes given out, one for the most outstanding first-year student, one for the most outstanding upper-year student, and finally, the Sandra Burt Research Award which goes to an upper-year student with an outstanding essay or project.

We are so proud of our students and their accomplishments this event gives us a chance to celebrate and connect with them.


GSJ Awards Ceremony 2025

a progam from the ceremony with an image of a pink dinosaur wearing a party hat

Welcome

Department chair Mathieu Doucet gives opening remarks and a land acknowledgement, followed by GSJ advisor Carla Fehr, who warmly welcomes award winners and their guests.

Matt Doucet and Carla Fehr speaking at the ceremony

First-year prize winners

This year's first-year prize winners, awarded for their outstanding accomplishments in first-year GSJ courses, are:

Clare Jacob- presented by Madeleine Kenyon and Katy Fulfer

Jay McDonald Lee- presented by Madeleine Kenyon and Katy Fulfer

Yara Reynolds Lopes- presented by Madeleine Kenyon and Katy Fulfer

Bridget Coleman- presented by Carla Fehr on behalf of Carol Acton

Katy and Maddie speaking at the ceremony

Madeleine Kenyon and Katy Fulfer recognizing first-year prize winners

first-year prize winners group shot

(L to R) Madeleine Kenyon, Clare Jacob, Yara Reynolds, Jay McDonald Lee, Bridget Coleman and Katy Fulfer


Upper-year prize winners

This year's Upper-year prize winners for outstanding achievement in upper-level GSJ courses are:

Sofia Sinopoli- presented by Madeleine Kenyon and Katy Fulfer

Mouse Scherbinsky- presented by Katy Fulfer

Emily Wybenga- presented by Carla Fehr on behalf of Adrienne Lo

Olivia Muriithi- presented by Kim Nguyen

Alison Baird- presented by Kim Nguyen

Kim Hong Nguyen

Kim Hong Nguyen recognizing upper-year prize winners

upper year prize winners group shot

(L to R) Madeleine Kenyon, Sofia Sinopoli, Katy Fulfer, Mouse Scherbinsky, Olivia Muriithi, Kim Hong Nguyen, Emily Wybenga, and Alison Baird


Special Prize winners

The Sandra Burt Research Awardwasestablished to honour the first Co-ordinator of Women’s Studies (now Gender and Social Justice), Dr. Sandra Burt. It is given to a student who demonstratesexcellent research, analytical and communication skills, as well as,insightful, thoughtful and provocative arguments that seek to inspire our thinking on Gender & Social Justice related issues. This year's Sandra Burt Research Award goes to Gabriella Beram.

The Mapara Scholarship is awarded to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in courses offered by the Department of Philosophy, which is the 'home' of the Gender and Social Justice program. Selection is based on academic excellence (minimum 80% cumulative average) combined with coursework in multidisciplinary studies, which demonstrates the student’s holistic approach to learning. GSJ is thrilled that this year's scholarship is also awarded to Gabriella Beram, a GSJ major.

Katy Fulfer and Gabriella Beam

Katy Fulfer presenting the Sandra Burt Research Award and the Mapara Scholarship to Gabriella Beram


Previous years awards winners

2024 GSJ STUDIES AWARDS

2024 GSJ Awards

Opening Remarks and Welcomes from Matt Doucet and Carla Fehr

Mathieu Doucet speaking at podium Carla Fehr at podium

Special Thanks

The GSJ Program Committee

Jenny Saul, Rashmee Singh, Laura Mae Lindo, Greta Kroeker, and Joanne Atlee

Urgency of Social Justice Speakers

Joanne Atlee (Cheriton School of Computer Science), Andrea Collins (School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability), Lai-Tze Fan (Sociology and Legal Studies), Meg Gibson (Social Development Studies), Laura Mae Lindo (Philosophy and GSJ), and Charity Oga-Omenka (School of Public Health Sciences)

Pedagogy Workshops

Greta Koeker, Rebecca MacAlpine, and The Center for Teaching Excellence

Job Well Done

Heather Eustace and Madeleine Kenyon

Friend of GSJ

Kyle Adams


First Year Prize

Isabella (Izzy)Treacy and Harshvir Chahal, presented by Madeleine Kenyon on behalf of Katy Fulfer

Madeleine Kenyon Madeleine Kenyon, Isabella (Izzy) Treacy, and Harshvir Chahal

Upper Year Prize

Alana Matsuo, presented by Rebecca MacAlpine

Rebecca MacAlpine Rebecca and Alana


Sandra Burt Research Award

Lauren Tweed (absent) for "Witches: The 1965 Essex Witch Trails", and Ellen Marguerite Siebel-Achenbach for "Sisters of Wisdom: Female Hymnists of the Middle Ages", presented by Maisie Sum

Maisie Sum Maisie and Ellen

Mapara Scholarship

Remy Leigh, presented by Carla Fehr

Carla and Remy Carla and Remy

2023 GSJ Awards

2023 GSJ Awards

katy Fulfer congratulating Chloe Naila Chamredon

First year prize

awarded to Chole Naila Chamredon
award presented by Katy Fulfer

Jennifer Saul and Dylan Cyr congratulating Kate Bradley

Upper year prize

awarded to Kate Bradley
award presented by Jenny Saul and Dylan Cyr

Katy Fulfer congratulating Remy Leigh

Sandra Burt Research Award

award presented to Remy Leigh for their workK9
award presented by Katy Fulfer

2022 GSJ AWARDS

2022 Awards

First Year:

Jointly awarded to: Jenna Porter and Elly Schyven

Elly performed at a consistently high level throughout the course. I was tremendously impressed by how they embraced feedback and excelled in their coursework through notable dedication and commitment. Based on their performance in this class, I'm excited to see Elly's future contributions to the GSJ program and the University of ݮƵ more broadly. —Shannon Stettner

Jennaperformed at a consistently high level throughout the course. For their major project, Jenna produced a graphic research poster on the 504 sit-in, showing a lot of perseverance and creativity in pursuing this subject. She produced a phenomenal final project that was engaging and sophisticated.Jenna is well-situated to excel in future GSJ offerings and I'm excited to follow her student career. — Shannon Stettner


Sandra Burt Research Award

Joint award winner Callum Mac Rempel

Callum Mac Rempel

Callumfor “Sexual Violence Against Women Within The Mennonite Community” (GSJ 472, Sex and Gender in Early Modern Europe withDr. Greta Kroeker)

Congratulations, Callum! Your outstanding digital museum exhibit and accompanying report, “Sexual Violence Against Women Within the Mennonite Community” provided a nuanced and detailed overview into the history of sexual violence in the Mennonite community from the early modern period to the present. Your innovative approach to presenting the well-researched project made your project both accessible and informative (through Prezi) and provided a sensitive introduction to a challenging and important subject. Well done! —Greta Kroeker


Sandra Burt Research Award

Joint award winner Care Rummer

Carefor “Burden” (for GSJ 472: Health, Punishment and Carceral Medicine taught by Dr. Andrea Pitts) Watch the video to see what Andrea Pitts has to say about Care Rummer's "Burden".


Remote video URL

Upper Year:


Jointly awarded to Chinye Obiago and Sophia Amstutz

Please watch the below videos of Alicia Batten and Katy Fulfer congratulating the awards winners, Chinye Obiago and Sophia Amstutz.

Remote video URL
Remote video URL

2021 GSJ AWARDS

Usually, at the end of an academic year, we gather together for the Department Awards Ceremony. We are very sorry to miss doing so this year! In place of that, we are celebrating our students through aseries of videos and text.

These awards are made possible by generous donors. We are deeply appreciative of their support. In particular, for years Bob Ewen, a valued Philosophy alumnus, has donated toward making the classprizes and essay prizes possible, and recently Bob gifted to our Department an endowed fund that will support these awards for years to come. These awards make such a difference not only to ourstudents, but also to our broader community, which benefits so much from the supportive message of the gifts themselves -- that in these difficult times, what we are doing has meaning beyond theclassroom. Thank you, Bob Ewen, for making these awards possible.

First Year Prize in Gender & Social Justice -Isobel Flindall

"In a course with an impressive number of engaged students, Isobel Flindall was a leader in GSJ 102, Winter 2021. She took very seriously the discussion boards in each of five modules, contributing textbook-informed, thoughtful replies in multiple threads -- many more than the required single reply in each thread. Isobel always asked astute questions in office hour drop-ins while making intellectually generous space for others in every interaction (discussion boards and drop-ins). She stretched herself by working with another student using a new platform to both of them for the final Centering Voices project, even though it would have been easier and permissible to work alone like most of the class. Isobel is critically self-reflective, exhibiting an intellectual and ethical maturity rarely seen in first year — she even submitted an extra reflection not for marks but for the learning experience. Her thoughtful self-positioning throughout the course was an example for others, including more senior students." (Trevor Holmes)

Upper Year Prize in Gender & Social Justice - Olivia Kelly

Shannon Stettner shares that "It is my honour to congratulate Oliva Kelly for winning the GSJ Upper Year Prize; it is well deserved. Very early in my first course with Olivia, she stood out because of her thoughtful, smart, and earnest contributions to class discussions. Olivia has been an engaged student, seeking to understand and apply what she has learned in class in her daily world and broader community. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know and teach Olivia throughout her undergraduate degree and I look forward to hearing about post-graduate adventures."

Sandra Burt Research Award - Gillian Wagenaar

"Congratulations on the Sandra Burt Award to Gillian Wagenaar! Gillian’s final project for History 422 (Early Modern Sex and Gender), highlights the diverse experiences of early modern women. The project explores women’s lives through an original role playing game called1649,in which a player takes on theidentity of a woman living inEdinburgh, Scotland in 1649. Grounded in excellent historical research, the game takes playersthrough many of the challenges,opportunities, and life stages of early modern women, and as Gillian explains in the introduction, enables“a player to step back into history and view the past from a different, more tangible, and ultimately moreengaging point of view.”The game guides players through both the seasons of life and the historical setting of seventeenth century Edinburgh and offers players the opportunity to reflect on the experiences ofearly modern women through a creative and engaging game. Congratulations, Gillian, on this outstanding work!" (Greta Kroeker)

2020 GSJ AWARDS (FORMERLY THE WOMEN'S STUDIES AWARDS)

Usually we would gather at the end of Winter term for our Department Awards Ceremony. The ceremony had to be cancelled this year, but we still have deserving prize winners to celebrate!

With these gifts, not only does the money make such an important difference to the students, but in addition our community benefits so much from the supportive message of the gifts themselves -- that in these difficult times, what we are doing has meaningbeyond the classroom. The awards also allow us to come together, even if only in virtual space!

First Year Prize in Gender & Social Justice -Quinn Andres

Upper Year Prize in Gender & Social Justice - Jillian Barlow and Lauren Pazzano

Sandra Burt Research Award - Madison Van Es