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Awards, Scholarships & Bursaries

From supporting those with financial need, to celebrating academic achievement and community engagement, we are committed to recognizing the unique ways in which you contribute to university life.


COMN Awards

The Department of Communication & Media Studies hosted their annual Student Awards Ceremony virtually in February to celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding students. Faculty, family, friends, and staff joined the presenters and winners for the online event.

Watch the latest ceremony!

Department Awards


Arthur Siegel Memorial Award

The Arthur Siegel Memorial Award is awarded to a student who is a double-major in Communication & Media Studies and a Social Science program, who has completed at least 60 credits, and who holds the highest cumulative grade point average among the qualified candidates. If there are no eligible double-majors then the recipient will be a Communication & Media Studies major. The recipient must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person and an Ontario resident who demonstrates financial need.

Past Winners

Wendy Joyce Millen

Wendy Millen 

Clara Salehi

Bradley Ferns

Keshra Hines


Dalton Kehoe Scholarship

The Dalton Kehoe Scholarship will be given annually to a second year undergrad who has achieved the highest GPA in the "Communication in Everyday Life" course and is continuing on as a major in the Department of Communication & Media Studies at the recommendation of the department chair (with advice from the course tutorial leaders). This award honours Professor Dalton Kehoe who retired in 2008.

Past Winners

Viki Posidis

Melissa Dadone 

Manya Thakur

Christopher Zikos

Jade Robertson

Madelle De Leon


Eric Koch Award

The Eric Koch Award is given to a student in the second-year "Politics, Policy and the Media" course for the Communication & Media Studies Program who has achieved top academic standing as recommended by the Course Director and is continuing into the third-year (minimum 54 earned credits) of the program. The Eric Koch Award honours Professor Eric Koch, a long-time member of the Communication & Media Studies Program who retired in 2003.

No application is required. Recipients are selected based on academic merit.

Past Winners

Breton Severin

Arissa Melfi

Sophie Argyle

Hailey Sarsam

Bradley Ferns


Fokus Media Award #1

This $1,125 award was established by Fokus Mediato provide support to a Communication & Media Studies Major who is interested in pursuing a career in advertising, marketing or media. The award is given to a past student in COMN 3700 "The Emergence of Advertising", or COMN 3701 "Advertising, Culture and Society", who has achieved a high GPA in either one, or both of these courses, demonstrates financial need, and is continuing as a Communication & Media Studies Major. 

Past Winners

Priya Saha

Sin Ying Denise Cheung


Fokus Media Award #2

This $1,125 award was established by Fokus Mediato to support a current Communication & Media Studies Major interested in pursuing a career in advertising, marketing or media. The award is given to a student who has earned 84 credits, who has a high overall GPA, and demonstrates financial need.

Past Winners

Breagh MacDonald

Cheyenne Alexander-Legerton


The Jerry Durlak Prize

The prize is given to a student in the second-year "Information and Technology" course who has achieved top academic standing as recommended by the Course Director and is continuing on into third-year (minimum 54 earned credits) of the program. 

Past Winners

Francesca Cuda

Christine Cooling

Photo of Reccia Mandelcorn & student Christine Cooling

Tran Cao

Yordel Jackson

Cassandra Popescu

Nicole Otieno


Penny Jolliffe Scholarship

The Penny Jolliffe Scholarship is intended to honour the Communication & Media Studies major who has compiled the most outstanding record in their second year. The recipient must be returning for their third year. (Min completed credits: 48).

Past Winners

Maria Cedrone

Kevin Diep

Christine Cooling

Ira Famarin & Olivia Graham (co-recipients)

Hailey Sarsam

Sophia Goshulak


Reva Orlicky Memorial & Founding Friends Award

This award was established by York alumni and friends to provide a bursary to a deserving upper year Communication & Media Studies student. Priority will be given to those interested in or taking courses in context and condition for radio broadcasting in Canada or affiliate courses. Recipients must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, residents of Ontario and demonstrate financial need.

Past Winners

Christine Cooling

Eytan Tobin

Photo of student Eytan Tobin & professor Anne MacLennan

Devin Stroink

Bahlelisiwe Ngeti Luhlanga & Miri Vinitski (co-recipients)

Cheyenne Alexander-Legerton

Bradley Ferns


York International Exchange Award

The Department of Communication & Media Studies York International Exchange Award ($500 annually) is given to a Communication & Media Studies major who has successfully completed a York University International Exchange and is currently completing their Honours degree, who has a high overall GPA, and demonstrates financial need. 

Past Winners

Phuc Nguyen

Alesha Sterling-Lobban

External Awards


BBM Canada Scholarship

This annual scholarship [worth $4000] is offered to a 4th year student going on to graduate work in measurement of electronic media and related consumer behaviours.

Learn more


Jim Allard Broadcast Journalism Scholarship

This annual scholarship [worth $1500] is offered to the student who best combines academic achievement with natural talent. The applicant needs to be jointly enrolled in our program and in a Community College studying broadcast journalism.

Learn more


Ruth Hancock Scholarships

These annual scholarships [worth $1500 each] are designed to encourage talented, hard-working students to pursue careers in Canadian broadcasting or broadcast sales/marketing.

Learn more

Looking for more?

The Faculty of LA&PS also provides a number of scholarships, awards and bursaries. Use the award search and fill our your student financial profile today.