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Concordia University Concordia celebrates 50 years!
Concordia University Concordia celebrates 50 years!

Graduation & convocation

Graduation & convocation

Awards, medals and nominations

About medals and awards

Graduating students are honoured with awards and medals, recognizing their exceptional academic achievements, leadership qualities and contributions to the Concordia community. 

Non-academic medals

Non-Academic Medals and Awards are awarded each spring to graduates from the academic calendar year. They are open to both the fall and spring graduates from the academic year. Fall graduates may apply for non-academic medals that will be awarded the following spring. 

The Concordia Medal

Presented by the Concordia University Alumni Association to an undergraduate graduating student who has displayed distinctive leadership ability through both academic and non-academic achievements.

The Concordia Medal nomination form

The Malone Medal

Presented in honour of Rev. Patrick G. Malone, s.j., this medal is awarded to the undergraduate graduating student whose efforts and dedication best exemplify the values of the University within the internal Concordia community.

The Concordia Medal nomination form

The O'Brien Medal

Presented in honour of Dr. J.W. O'Brien, this medal is awarded to the undergraduate graduating student whose efforts and dedication best exemplify the values of the University within the larger external community.

The O'Brien Medal nomination form

The Provost's Medal for Outstanding Achievement

Presented by the Office of the Provost, this medal is awarded to the undergraduate graduating student whose commitment and spirit towards academic excellence, leadership, athleticism, and civic responsibility reflect the values exemplified by Concordia University and the Office of the Provost.

The Provost's Medal for Outstanding Achievement nomination form

The Dean of Students Medal

Presented by the Dean of Students to a graduating student in an undergraduate or graduate program who has demonstrated a high level of engagement in student or community life under exceptional circumstances and maintained academic excellence.

The Dean of Students Medal

The Stanley G. French Medal

Presented in honour of Dr. Stanley G. French, this medal is awarded to a graduating student in a graduate program with high academic standing for outstanding contributions to student life.

The Stanley G. French Medal

How to submit a nomination

The nomination deadline is April 7 each year. 

Nominations must be submitted to Enrolment Services via email as follows:

  • Merge into ONE FILE all documents in the following order:
    1. Nomination Form signed by each nominator
    2. Covering letter - written by the nominee
    3. Curriculum vitae
    4. Co-curricular record (optional, but recommended)
    5. The document must be saved with file names that include the name of the medal FOLLOWED by the name of the last and first name of the student. Ex: Concordia_Medal_LAST_First.pdf
  • Reference letters must be sent directly from the referrer. If internal, please use your Concordia email. The sender must include the student's name in their email.
  • Files must be saved in PDF format
  • Files must not exceed 5 MB (avoid graphics unless pertinent to the nomination)

Considerations for nominations

  • Failure to submit the required documents, as well as failure to submit the nomination in the requested format, will result in an automatic disqualification of the nomination. 
  • Three (3) nominators must be submitted for each medal. Do not exceed three nominators. 
  • Students may be nominated for more than one medal. Nominations may come from the entire Concordia community (professors, staff, coaches, students, etc.). If a graduate feels they meet the eligibility requirements for the Non-Academic Awards, they must find individuals to be listed as nominators to provide reference letters. Graduates may not list themselves as a nominator. 
  • Co-curricular records are not a requirement for the nominations, but are encouraged as they provide details on a student’s engagement with the Concordia community. 
  • The external community refers to any organization that is not related to Concordia.
  • The selection is made by the Special Graduation Awards Committee comprised of Senate members. See the list of standing committee members. The committee reviews each nomination on a case-by-case basis and will not exclude an application due to a pass/fail notation.

Academic awards and prizes

Academic awards and prizes are awarded each spring to graduates from the academic calendar year. They are open to both the fall and spring graduates from the academic year. Winners of the awards are selected on a merit basis.

Graduate awards

Graduate awards are are administered by the respective Faculty or Department or School of Graduate Studies.

Undergraduate awards

There is no application process for undergraduate academic awards and prizes.

Conferred by Her Excellency, the Governor General of Canada, and awarded to the highest-ranking undergraduate student graduating from Concordia University.

  • The Rytsa Tobias Memorial Medal: Presented by the Tobias Family, and awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BA degree.
  • The Anne Stokes Medal: Awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BEd degree in Teaching English as a Second Language.
  • The Mappin Medal: Donated by the Mappin Family, and awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BSc degree.
  • The Administration Medal: Awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BAdmin degree.
  • The Commerce Medal: Awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BComm degree.
  • The Computer Science Medal: Awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BCompSc degree.
  • The Chait Medal: Awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BEng degree.
  • The Alfred Pinsky Medal: Awarded to the highest-ranking student graduating with a BFA degree.

The prizes listed in this section are awarded to the most outstanding graduating student in a department (or unit). Candidates are selected by the departments or units for consideration and approved by the appropriate Faculty Council and the Provost. The departments or units in making their selection may include, in addition to a high grade point average, other criteria such as number and/or level of the courses taken, outstanding results on a project or essay, or a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the department.

In the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, only courses which are part of the degree are used to calculate the GPA and determine the prize winner.

Faculty of Arts and Science
  • The Biology Prize
  • The Chemistry Medal
  • The Classics Book Prize
  • The John E. O’Brien, s.j., Medal for Communication Studies
  • The Economics Prize
  • The Balbir Sahni Outstanding International Award in Economics
  • The Education Book Prize
  • The Medal for English
  • Le prix Paul d’Hollander pour les Études françaises
  • The Exercise Science Plaque
  • The Bogdan Zaborski Medal in Geography
  • The Martin Lewis Memorial Book Prize in History
  • The Robert C. Rae Book Prize in Human Relations
  • The Interdisciplinary Studies Medal
  • The Gordon Fisher Prize for Journalism
  • The Randy B. Swedburg Medal for Leisure Sciences and Therapeutic Recreation
  • The Liberal Arts College Prize
  • The Eric O’Connor Mathematics Medal
  • The Modern Languages and Linguistics Plaque
  • The W.R. Fraser Medal for Philosophy
  • The Walter Raudorf Medal for Physics
  • The Renée Vautelet Prize for Political Science
  • The J.W. Bridges Medal for Psychology
  • The Boyd Sinyard Prize for Religion
  • The Vince Sirois Prize (School of Community and Public Affairs)
  • The Science College Prize
  • The Everett C. Hughes Medal for Sociology and Anthropology
  • The Thérèse F. Casgrain Medal for Women’s Studies
John Molson School of Business
  • The Ross Medal for Accountancy
  • The Finance Medal
  • The International Business Medal
  • The Management Medal
  • The Marketing Medal
  • The Supply Chain and Business Technology Management Medal
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • The Aerospace Engineering Medal
  • The Building Engineering Medal
  • The Matthew Douglass Medal for Civil Engineering
  • The Computer Engineering Medal
  • The Phoïvos Ziogas Medal for Electrical Engineering
  • The Jaan Saber Medal for Industrial Engineering
  • The Mechanical Engineering Medal
  • The Software Engineering Medal
Faculty of Fine Arts
  • The Art Education Prize
  • The R. Bella Rabinovitch Art History Prize
  • The Cinema Prize
  • The Contemporary Dance Prize
  • The Computation Arts Prize
  • The Design Prize
  • The Lydia Sharman Award
  • The Music Prize
  • The Yves Gaucher Prize in Studio Arts
  • The Betty Goodwin Prize in Studio Arts
  • The Guido Molinari Prize in Studio Arts
  • The Gabor Szilasi Prize in Studio Arts
  • The Irene F. Whittome Prize in Studio Arts
  • The Theatre Prize

Nominations for honorary degree recipients

  1. Review the selection criteria, eligibility and exclusions as outlined in the Policy on the Awarding of Honorary Degrees
  2. Complete a nomination form
  3. Send the form to Karan Singh, the Honorary Degree and Convocation Committee secretary.
 
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