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Past Honourees

Denise Hobbins Prize

The Denise Hobbins Prize is awarded to the student who obtains the highest average mark in the first-year physics courses PHYS 1011 and 1012 when taken in the same academic year. The Prize commemorates Denise Hobbins, who was a physics undergraduate at York and went to Cornell University for her PhD studies in physics. She was killed in a hit-and-run car accident shortly before defending her thesis. The prize has been set up by her family and friends.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Tirthrajsinh Chauhan
Mark Gartner
2021/2022Karan Alavi Harati
2020/2021Shannon Fernando
2019/2020Jaskaran Randhawa
2018/2019Katrina Carver
Sarah Powell
2017/2018Craig White
2016/2017Xinglin Qiang
2015/2016Savan Bhanderi
Laura Contreras Nunez
Ghassan Sarrouh
2014/2015Samal Munidasa
2013/2014Amanpreet Walia
2012/2013Justin Kim and
Enghuot Leang
2011/2012Shira Morris
2010/2011Jonathan Lebon
2009/2010Sneha Lohan
2008/2009James Schofield
2007/2008Stephen Leong
2006/2007Scott McClure
2005/2006Guannan Liu
Igor Obotnine
2004/2005David Bernstein
2003/2004Roman Tonkonojenkov
2002/2003Aftabul Haq
Allan Bayntun
Daniel Majonis
2001/2002Tatiana Kachira
2000/2001Raktim Ghatak and
Matthew Lightman
1999/2000Anna Arnadottir
Francisco Kibedi
1998/1999Monika Kelemen
Marci Paskowitz
1997/1998Andrew Boulton
1996/1997Maxim Garber
Ilona Kletskin
1995/1996Tak Chan
1994/1995Justin Sciarretta
1993/1994Willem van Straten
1992/1993Shaul Dwosh
Paul Kogan
1991/1992Maciej Siarkiewicz
1990/1991Ronald Francis
1989/1990Tai Wong
1988/1989Liang-Hng Koh
1987/1988Alain Marsman
1986/1987Jeffrey Lee
1985/1986Noam Eisen

Herschel Prize

The Herschel Prize is given for outstanding achievement in PHYS 1070 3.0 Astronomy to recognize Sir William Herschel, his sister Caroline, and his son John, each of whom has made their own outstanding contributions to astronomy.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Natalie Dean
2021/2022Connor Walsh
2020/2021 Anthony Korepanov
2019/2020Darren Singh
2018/2019Amin Jafarov
2017/2018Nicholas De Marchi
2016/2017Pablo Collados
2015/2016Ghassan Sarrouh
2014/2015Milad Naghizadeh
2013/2014Hassan Chehaitli
2012/2013Emil Noordeh
2011/2012Keavin Moore
2010/2011Liora Naroditsky
2009/2010Gunbir Singh
2008/2009James Schofield
2007/2008Dominik Swierad
2006/2007Tanya Charalambides
2005/2006Silvio Bruni
2004/2005Rachel Ward
2003/2004Daniel Majonis
2002/2003Robert Breault
2001/2002Matthew Lightman
2000/2001Hou Meng Ao
1999/2000Tsoline Mikaelian
1998/1999Katrine Ireland
1997/1998Robert Zlot
1996/1997Stephen Hoffmann
1995/1996Bernard Firanski
1994/1995Willem van Straten
1993/1994Robert Ackerman
1992/1993Stephen Barnes
1991/1992Marcel van Dalfsen

R. M. Hobson Prize

The R. M. Hobson Prize is given for outstanding achievement in PHYS 2010 3.0, PHYS 2020 3.0, PHYS 2040 3.0, and PHYS 2060 3.0 to commemorate the late Robert Hobson who was Chairman of the Department of Physics for ten years. The prize has been set up by family and friends.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Sophia Thompson
2021/2022Connor Walsh
2020/2021 Jaskaran Randhawa
2019/2020Sarah Powell
2018/2019Quinton Weyrich
2017/2018Karin Saltoun
2016/2017Ghassan Sarrouh
2015/2016Samal Munidasa
2014/2015Boris Barron
2013/2014Richard Bloch
2012/2013Emil Noordeh
2011/2012Gary Kaplun
2010/2011Antoine Sarracini
2009/2010Asaf Dror
2008/2009Victor Issac
Yverick Rangom
2007/2008James Cain
2006/2007Matthew Ouellette
2005/2006Rachel Ward
2004/2005Adam Carew
2003/2004Carson Mok
Anjali Sarin
2002/2003Katarzyna Sowka
2001/2002Siddharaj Chudasama
2000/2001Savior Cauchi
1999/2000Monika Keleman
1998/1999Matthew Weel
Andrew Boulton
1997/1998Igor Olejar
1996/1997Sumble Kaukab
1995/1996Justin Sciarretta
1994/1995Jason Clarke
1993/1994Kipp Cannon
1992/1993Michael Chassi
1991/1992Ronald Francis
1990/1991Cody Storry
1989/1990Liang-Hng Koh
1988/1989Eric Rothery
Alain Marsman
1987/1988Michael van Leeuwen
1986/1987Noam Eisen
1985/1986Peter Kovarik
1984/1985Rajendra Persaud
1983/1984Robert Simms
1982/1983William Dykshoorn
1981/1982Akbar Shams
1980/1981Peter Hall
1979/1980Rodney Kyle

W. J. Megaw Prize in Experimental Physics

The W. J. Megaw Prize in Experimental Physics is given for outstanding achievement in PHYS 3220 3.0 Experimental Physics to commemorate the late William (Jim) Megaw who was Chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy for ten years.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Joshua Parsons
2021/2022Jaskaran Randhawa
2020/2021 Benjamin Mendez
Maria Mehmood
2019/2020Quinton Weyrich
2018/2019Bryan Lailey
2017/2018Paviya Navanathan
Kriztina Groe
2016/2017Henry Vu
2015/2016Boris Barron
Michael Palermo
Andrea Zubac
2014/2015Japjeet Toor
2013/2014Shira Morris
2012/2013Jennifer Della Mora
Richard Thai
2011/2012Nima Afkhami Jeddi
Nariman Khazai
Antoine Sarracini
2010/2011Asaf Dror
Arash Salehzadeh
2009/2010Caroline Guimaraes
2008/2009Ariel Sibilia
2007/2008Igor Obotnine
Rachel Ward
2006/2007Arash Akbari
Cecilia Leung
2005/2006Shoshana Winter
2004/2005Carson Mok
2003/2004Katarzyna Sowka
2002/2003Salvatore Paneduro
Patrick Sheese
2001/2002Savior Cauchi
2000/2001Gloria Spirou
1999/2000George Karkas
Matthew Weel
1998/1999Andrew Johnston Raynor
Bernard Firanski
1997/1998Paul Constantinou
1996/1997Teresa Duck
1995/1996Mark Fruman
Robert Ackerman
1994/1995Stefan Myrskog
1993/1994Marcel van Dalfsen
1992/1993Michael Cardy
1991/1992Borys Medicky
1990/1991Eric Rothery
Liang-Hng Koh
1989/1990David Weston
1988/1989Noam Eisen
1987/1988Peter Hircock
1986/1987Peter Kovarik
1985/1986Rajendra Persaud

Embleton Award

The Embleton Award is awarded to one female Engineering student and one female student of Physics, Biophysics, Astronomy, and/or Chemistry (excluding Biochemistry) who have completed 84 credits towards an Honours BSc or BASc and have earned a GPA of 6.0 (B) or better on the most recently earned 30 credits. To be eligible, applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons or have Protected Person status, be Ontario residents and demonstrate financial need.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Zena Khadour
(Physics)
2021/2022Elham Rahimi
(Physics)
2020/2021Tarnem Afify
(Biophysics)
2019/2020Yeehyun Kang
(Chemistry)
2018/2019Shayesteh Sarkheil
(Science)
2017/2018Raghd Imad Georgie
(Chemistry)
2016/2017Raghd Imad Georgie
(Chemistry)
2015/2016Japjeet Kaur Toor
(Physics)
2014/2015Japjeet Kaur Toor
(Physics)
2013/2014Rachel Giblon
(Biophysics)
2012/2013Rachel Giblon
(Biophysics)

Yasmin Hassani
(Chemistry)
2011/2012Yasmin Hassani
(Chemistry)
2010/2011Jaismeen Lambda
(Chemistry)
2009/2010Dana Aljawhary
(Chemistry)
2008/2009Katayoun Mottaghi
(Chemistry)
2007/2008Katayoun Mottaghi
(Chemistry)
2006/2007Tho Hoang
(Chemistry)
Mudita Kundra
(Chemistry)

Iristel Undergraduate Scholarship

The Iristel Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to two recipients enrolled in their 3rd or 4th year of an Honours or Specialized Honours program in the Department of Physics and Astronomy who have demonstrated academic excellence and proficiency in lab work related to physics. Applicants must submit a one-page statement outlining their interest in pursuing a career in experimental physics or biophotonics. Each recipient will receive a $5000 scholarship and will be granted the opportunity to interview for an internship with Iristel, Inc.

Academic YearRecipients
2021/2022Abhinab Mukhpadhyay
Craig White
2020/2021Katrina Carver
Quinton Weyrich

Emeritus Professors' Award

This Emeritus Professors' Award is given to a student (Canadian citizen or permanent resident and Ontario resident) entering the final year of study for an Honours degree with the department, who has achieved an excellent academic record over their entire university career while maintaining a course load of at least 24 credits/year and who has demonstrated financial need.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Parnav Gupta
2021/2022Sarah Powell
2020/2021Coral Hillel
2019/2020Ethan Brooks
2018/2019Karin Soulton
2017/2018Neil McCall
2016/2017Samal Munidasa
2015/2016Boris Barron
Justin Kim
2014/2015Andrei Mouraviev
2013/2014Shira Morris and
Emil Noordeh
2012/2013Anthony Salerno and
Richard Thai
2011/2012Nima Afkhami Jeddi
2010/2011Asaf Dror
2009/2010Caroline Guimaraes
Yverick Rangom
2008/2009Ariel Sibilia
2007/2008Rachel Ward
2006/2007Lijun Zhang
2005/2006Adam Carew
Shoshana Winter
2004/2005Allan Bayntun
Carson Mok
2003/2004Devandra Chudasama
Svetlana Melnichuk
2002/2003Stephanie Conway
Jeffrey Levine
2001/2002Louis-Phillipe Caron
2000/2001Not Awarded
1999/2000Bernard Firanski

Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre

The Gold Medal of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre will be awarded, when warranted, to the top graduating Astronomy major with a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 7.5 who has satisfied the requirements of a 120-credit Honours B.Sc. program in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Darren Singh
2021/2022Benjamin Mendez
2020/2021 Cassandra Withers
2019/2020Ghassan Sarrouh
2018/2019Not Awarded at York
2017/2018Not Awarded at York
2016/2017Not Awarded at York
2015/2016Not Awarded at York
2014/2015Richard Bloch
2013/2014Not Awarded at York
2012/2013Not Awarded at York
2011/2012Not Awarded at York
2010/2011Not Awarded at York
2009/2010Not Awarded at York
2008/2009Not Awarded at York
2007/2008Rachel Ward
2006/2007Sarah Sadavoy

Charlene Anne Heisler Prize

The Charlene Anne Heisler Prize is awarded to a student with at least a B+ average in two or more (science) astronomy courses, and has shown an interest in communicating science while at York University.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Maheen Hemani
Marianna Veltri
2021/2022Not Awarded
2020/2021 Matias Quirola
2019/2020Ariella Kantorowitz-Sapers
2018/2019Not Awarded
2017/2018Not Awarded
2016/2017Not Awarded
2015/2016Not Awarded
2014/2015Richard Bloch
2013/2014Sophia Nasr
2012/2013Amanda Desouza
2011/2012Rahila Amlany
2010/2011Fayruz Huq
2009/2010Not Awarded
2008/2009Lindsay Nolan
2007/2008Theodore Rudyk
2006/2007Rachel Ward
2005/2006Sarah Sadavoy
2004/2005Victor Arora
2003/2004Not Awarded
2002/2003Brenda Shaw
2001/2002Julie Tome

Julie Kim Memorial Award

Justin Kim graduated from York University in 2017 and created this award in loving memory of his mother. The recipient will be a student majoring in Physics or Astronomy who has a minimum grade point average of 6.0 and who demonstrates financial need and a commitment to their peers and community.

Academic YearRecipient
2022/2023Dorsa Ahmadieh
2021/2022Darren Singh
2020/2021 Diego Montalvo
2019/2020Sarah Powell
2018/2019Tarnem Afify
2017/2018Nader Allam