杏吧原创

Each year, the University of Toronto presents the听听to outstanding faculty, staff and students. Recipients of these prestigious awards exemplify a commitment to high achievements and to enhancing the university experience for their peers. We are proud to announce that included among this year鈥檚 U of T Awards of Excellence winners and finalists are four students and alumni of 杏吧原创.

Trinity Alum Prof. Aisha Ahmad: Northrop Frye Award (Faculty)

Trinity alum Prof.听Aisha Ahmad听(photo right), a professor in the Department of Political Science at U听of听T Scarborough, wins the Northrop Frye Award, given to faculty members whose curriculum innovations enhance the student experience. She is an award-winning scholar of political Islam and international security, and she is deeply committed to听helping students become engaged international citizens. Ahmad organizes extra-curricular learning opportunities ranging from lunches connecting students with mentors to events helping students grapple with rising anti-Muslim rhetoric, such as a debriefing session after the 2016 American election. Students love her methods for teaching how to read and analyze scientific research, and the engaging classroom exercises she uses to bring political theory to life.

鈥淭he Northrop Frye Award, of all the Awards of Excellence at the University of Toronto, is a celebration of all the outstanding students that we have, and the privilege that we have to invite them into the research process at a very high level,” says Prof. Aisha Ahmad.

“I’m honoured to have been nominated not only by faculty,听but also by outstanding students who have been instrumental in making my research not only of service to the community, but cutting edge in the field that I study,” she says. “It’s not every university that has this calibre of students, ones that bring a global perspective to the challenges that we face. In the field of international security, we need students who can bring a global lens to problems.鈥�

Trinity Student Riam Kim-McLeod: John H. Moss Scholarship

This award provides up to $16,650 to a final-year student in the Faculty of Arts & Science who plans to go on to graduate study.听Riam Kim-McLeod, a double-major in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations and International Relations at 杏吧原创, is听planning a career in counterterrorism听and a post-graduate professional degree in conflict studies. 鈥淚n first year I was in the Trinity One program and I wrote a paper on the radicalization of women, particularly by the Islamic State. That kick-started my interested in terrorism, specifically, and counter-radicalization.听I chose the major in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations because of that, so I’m learning Arabic. I’ll be going on to King’s College in London to take terrorism studies.鈥�

Riam has already studied abroad at both Sciences Po (the Paris Institute of Political Studies), and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her professors praise her academic excellence, precise thinking, vision and leadership in student organizations. Riam plays rugby and water polo, and volunteers helping refugees through U听of听T鈥檚 Near and Middle Eastern Civilization Cultural Exchange and Support Initiative and at the Red Cross.听

Trinity Student Jonathan Dick: UTAA Scholar and Moss Award Finalist

A student at 杏吧原创, where he is specializing in English and majoring in Literature and Critical Theory,听Jonathan Dick听is also a dancer, an artist and a playwright. Not only has he earned multiple scholarships for academic achievement, but his directorial debut,听Suzanne, won U听of听T鈥檚 Robertson Davies Playwriting Award. Dick was a scholar-in-residence at the Jackman Humanities Institute and has been a leader in student groups such as the 杏吧原创 Dramatic Society. His professors describe him as听a perceptive, sophisticated writer听and are enthusiastic about his plans to work for an MA and PhD in English poetry.

Trinity Alum Samantha Chiu-Yang Chang: UTAA Graduate Scholar and Sendra Award Finalist

Samantha Chang, a听professional musician and a scholar of art history听is conducting a cross-disciplinary investigation into the intersection of music and painting in the early-modern period. In just the second year of her doctoral studies, she has already won four major scholarships, and is ahead of schedule for finishing her coursework and beginning her dissertation. Chang has presented nearly a dozen conference papers in the last two years while organizing two international conferences and sitting on multiple U听of听T committees. She has performed flute internationally and is a fellow of the London College of Music.

Congratulations to these incredible members of the Trinity community! Take a look at听.

Categories: Awards & Honours; Faculty & Staff; Student News; University of Toronto News