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Student awards

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CSUS offers awards and grants to undergraduate students in the American Studies program as well as graduate students in all disciplines across U of T.

FOR UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

The New Associates Award

This award goes to an outstanding CSUS student entering the fourth year of their Major in American Studies. The award is given to an Ontario resident on the basis of need (determined by OSAP), annual GPA, and a one-page letter outlining the applicant’s interests in American Studies. The award is for up to $600 and is available in the Fall term of the fourth year.

Ontario residents

This award goes to an outstanding CSUS student enrolled in the third year of their Major in American Studies. The award is given to an Ontario resident on the basis of need (determined by OSAP), Annual GPA, and a one-page letter outlining the applicant’s interests in American Studies. The award is for up to $6000.00 and is available in the Fall term of the fourth year. Applications are open to third-year students.

Non-Ontario residents

This award goes to an outstanding CSUS student enrolled in the third year of their Major in American Studies. The award is given to an Ontario resident on the basis of need (determined by student loan record or similar documentation), Annual GPA, and a one-page letter outlining the applicant’s interests in American Studies. The award is for at least $3000.00 and is available in the Fall term of the fourth year. Applications are open to third year students.

Recent winners of the New Associates Award

Headshot of Cheryl Cheung
 

Cheryl Cheung

Headshot of Emma Lowenberger
 

Emma Lowenberger

Headshot of Jackie Luo
 

Jackie Luo

The CSUS Undergraduate Writing Award

This award goes to the author of an outstanding essay in American Studies. It is open to third and fourth-year American Studies Majors and Minors. The essay can be a submission to the undergraduate journal or a major paper for a CSUS class. The award is for $250 and is given at the end of the academic year. 

Recent winners of the Undergraduate Writing Award

Headshot of Aisha Assan-Lebbe
 

Aisha Assan-Lebbe

Awarded for her paper titled “Zombie Cinema and Apocalyptic Salvation: A Comparative Analysis of World War Z (2013) and Night of the Living Dead (1968)”

Headshot of Omar Danaf
 

Omar Danaf

Honourable mention for his paper titled “Opposition to the Future: The Tea Party’s Relation to the American Revolution”

FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Graduate Research Grant competition

This competition is open to University of Toronto graduate students who have matriculated into a PhD program, to support research undertaken for their dissertation. Students in all disciplines are encouraged to apply. At least two grants will be awarded in the amount of $1,500 each, to be used primarily for research travel (in limited instances funds may be applied to presentations at major academic conferences.)

Recipients will be expected to present on an aspect of their research in a CSUS graduate student workshop. Awards will be announced within one month of the application deadline, and the grants will be available within one month thereafter. If Covid-19 travel restrictions delay archival research trips, award funds will remain valid until research travel is possible. 

Applications must include: 

  • Summary sheet stating the applicant's name, address, phone, and e-mail; department; year entering department; proposed dissertation title; the name of the faculty committee members (and their departments), if relevant; and proposed use of funds. 

  • A summary (approx. 500 words) of the research project. This statement should explain the project's relationship to either the interdisciplinary field of American Studies and/or to the study of the United States. 

  • A current CV. 

  • A detailed budget describing how the research funds would be spent. 

Graduate student workshops

Graduate Research Grant recipients and other selected applicants are invited to present on an aspect of their research at a graduate student workshop.