Departmental Awards
College of Arts & Sciences Departmental/Program Awards
Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation (ABEC) Program
Animal Consciousness Award recognizes a graduating senior who, in the determination of the faculty, has demonstrated significant personal and professional growth during their time at Canisius.
Excellence in Research Award recognizes a student whose outstanding scholarship helps to advance the understanding of animals.
Exemplar Award recognizes the graduating senior who embodies the Canisius University ideal: excellence in the classroom, outstanding scholarship, and a dedication to making the world a better place by advancing the fields of animal welfare and wildlife conservation.
Transfer Student Award recognizes the transfer student who has embraced the ABEC or Anthrozoology major and taken advantage of opportunities at Canisius.
Excellence in Anthrozoology Award recognizes a graduate student in the Anthrozoology program who demonstrates excellence in the classroom and outstanding commitments to the study and improvement of human-animal relationships.
Biology Department
Alexander Award for Outstanding Research in Biology is given by the Alpha Theta Chapter of Tri Beta, the National Biological Honor Society, to a graduating biology major who has completed a significant independent research project leading to presentation or publication in scientific literature.
Alpha Theta Chapter of Tri Beta Fialkiewicz Award for Academic Excellence in Biology is given by the Alpha Theta Chapter of Tri Beta, the National Biological Honor Society, to the graduating biology major with the highest academic average.
Biology Department Excellence in Research Awards are given to graduating biology majors who have completed substantial research projects leading to presentation or publication in the scientific literature of their discipline.
John Kalb Award for Exemplary Research in Biology is presented to the graduating senior who completed the most substantial, independent research project in biology and who embodies the enthusiasm for scientific research as that displayed by the late Professor John Kalb.
Colleen O’Hara Heart Award is presented to the graduating biology major that best exemplified the selfless sprit of Colleen O’Hara in their contributions to their fellow classmates, the department, and the University .
Nancy Wohlschlag Distinguished Research Award is given to a graduating biology major who has completed a significant research project leading to presentation or publication in the scientific literature.
Chemistry/Biochemistry Department
American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry recognizes undergraduate student excellence in analytical chemistry.
American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry recognizes an outstanding senior undergraduate organic chemistry student.
American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Physical Chemistry recognizes outstanding achievement by an undergraduate student in physical chemistry and to encourage further pursuits in the field.
Gerald Zon Chemistry/Biochemistry Undergraduate Research Award recognizes accomplishments in chemistry/biochemistry research.
Jeffrey M. Rose Award recognizes extraordinary service to the department and the Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society at Canisius, as well as excellence academic achievement.
American Institute of Chemists Award is given in recognition on the basis of a demonstrated record in leadership ability, character, scholastic achievement, and advancement potential in the chemical professions.
Valerian A. Ruskiewicz Award acknowledges superlative academic achievement demonstrated by the highest GPA in the department.
Western New York American Chemical Society Student Excellence Award, the department’s highest awards, acknowledges outstanding achievement and significant research accomplishments.
Environmental Science Program
Environmental Science Award for Academic Excellence is awarded to the graduating Environmental Science major with the highest academic average for his or her college career.
Environmental Science Award for Excellence in Research is awarded to the graduating Environmental Science major who has completed a substantial research project in environmental science leading to presentation and/or publication.
Communication Department
Academic Excellence in Communication Studies Award is given to the graduating Communication Studies senior with the highest GPA in the major.
Academic Excellence in Digital Media Arts Award is given to the graduating Digital Media Arts senior with the highest GPA in the major.
Academic Excellence in Integrated Marketing Communication Award is given to a senior with the highest GPA in integrated marketing communication.
Academic Excellence in Journalism is given to the graduating Journalism senior with the highest GPA in the major.
Digital Media Arts Outstanding Portfolio Award recognizes an exceptional Digital Media Arts capstone project and portfolio. It is given to a student whose portfolio exhibits distinction in creativity, design, technical proficiency and professionalism.
Association of Women in Communication Scholarship Award is given to the graduating senior member of the association who served as an officer and has the highest GPA in the major.
American Advertising Federation Academic Excellence Award is given to the graduating senior member of the federation with the highest GPA in the major.
Public Relations Student Society of America Academic Excellence Award is given to the graduating senior member of the society with the highest GPA in the major.
Gene and Peter Jankowski Award of Excellence is given to a graduating senior in Communication Studies or Digital Media Arts who has demonstrated excellence in academic performance and television production.
Society of Professional Journalists Award is given annually to the graduating Journalism student whose work best exemplifies the ideals of the program.
WGRZ-TV Excellence in Multimedia Journalism Award is presented to a graduating senior Communication Studies major who has demonstrated outstanding skills and a commitment to journalism through the medium of television.
English Department
Charles A. Brady Award for Excellence in English is awarded to the graduating English major whose achievement in English courses and literary extra-curricular involvement has been superior throughout his or her college career.
G. E. Murray Award for Excellence in Creative Writing is awarded by the faculty to the graduating creative writing student whose achievement in writing courses and whose own creative writing have been superior throughout his or her college career.
Leslie C. Warren Award for Academic Excellence is awarded to the graduating English major who has the highest academic average for his or her college career.
History Department
Professor William M. Harrigan Award for Excellence in History was inaugurated in 1971 to commemorate the late Dr. William M. Harrigan, chair of the History Department from 1960 to 1968. To promote excellence in historical scholarship, the award is presented to the senior who best exemplifies the standards of scholarship, interest in history and Christian values which Dr. Harrigan upheld.
The Professor Edwin L. Neville Scholarship in History, which is applied to tuition in the recipient's senior year, is a competitive award based on the recipient's course work in the Department of History and on an essay that students submit to address their interest in the discipline of history both inside and outside of the classroom.
Professor Walter J. Sharrow Award is presented to a graduating senior who shows great promise as a teacher of history at the K-12 level.
The Nicholas J. Sullivan Award for Excellence in Historical Writing is a competitive award that commemorates the late Father Nicholas J. Sullivan, a member of the Department of History from 1953-1989, and is funded by the Kemmer Family. For this award, students submit research papers and theses that exhibit excellence in historical writing.
The J. David Valaik Scholarship in History honors Dr. Valaik and his distinguished career as an American historian, Dean of Continuing Studies, and Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Historical Site. The History Department would like to thank Dr. Valaik’s former students, friends, and colleagues for initiating the J. David Valaik Scholarship Fund, and his wife Maryan and his children Daniel, Mary, and Michael for their generous support of the fund. The scholarship, which is applied to tuition in the recipient's junior year, is a competitive award based on the recipient's course work in the Department of History and on an essay that students submit to address their interest in the discipline of history both inside and outside of the classroom.
Military Science Program
General George C. Marshall Award is given annually by the George C. Marshall Foundation to the outstanding senior ROTC cadet. The award is named after soldier and statesman George C. Marshall, who played a vital role in U.S. and international affairs from 1939-51, the years that shaped the second half of the century. Marshall served as Army Chief of Staff during World War II and as Secretary of State under President Harry Truman, during which time he developed the Marshall Plan, an economic program that helped turn the tide of communism in post-WWII Western Europe. Cadets are selected for the award based on scholarship, leadership, physical fitness and community involvement.
Outstanding Military Graduate Award is given to a distinguished Canisius University cadet who demonstrates exceptional leadership potential, academic achievement and participation in ROTC activities.
Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Classics Book Award is given for outstanding performance in Classics courses.
Nebrija-Bello Award for Distinction in Spanish is bestowed annually on the graduating senior who best exemplifies the qualities of academic excellence in the study of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Spanish speaking world, including in the US.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz for Service is bestowed annually on a graduating senior in recognition of their service and dedication to the department, and in support of the languages, literatures, and cultures of the Spanish speaking world, including in the US.
Fine Arts
Edith DeLuca Memorial Award is given to a graduating senior who has contributed musically to the University and the community through excellence in musicianship, service and leadership. The student exemplifies the high standards and values of Edith DeLuca, the founder of the Buffalo Philharmonic Concert Series at Canisius University.
Thalia Feldman Memorial Award in Art History is awarded to a graduating senior in Art History who has maintained outstanding academic achievement and has demonstrated leadership in furthering an understanding of the importance of the visual arts in our community.
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Art Award is presented to a graduating senior whose visual creativity has contributed to Canisius University and the community through excellence in visual art, service and leadership, thereby exemplifying the high standards of Canisius University and the Fine Art Studio Program.
Philosophy Department
J. Clayton Murray, SJ, Award in Philosophy is presented to a student who has demonstrated exceptional achievement having completed at least five courses in philosophy.
St. Thomas Aquinas Award in Philosophy is presented to a graduating philosophy major who has demonstrated significant achievement or engagement with the discipline.
Political Science Department
Pi Sigma Alpha Award is given to the student who best exemplifies academic excellence and the pursuit of knowledge in political science.
Woodrow Wilson Award is awarded to the Political Science major who combines academic excellence with a demonstrated commitment to public service.
International Relations Program
International Relations Academic Excellence Award is given to the senior with the highest GPA among International Relations majors.
International Relations Award for Global Understanding and Involvement is presented annually to the senior International Relations major demonstrating academic excellence and furthering international understanding.
Psychology Department
Donald L. Tollefson Annual Psychology Award is bestowed annually to the senior who best personifies Donald L. Tollefson’s ideals of intellectual inquiry and professional engagement in the field of psychology.
Outstanding Psychology Student Award is presented annually to graduating seniors with outstanding academic and pre-professional accomplishments in the field of psychology.
Susan K. Putnam Excellence in Behavioral Neuroscience Award is bestowed to a senior who demonstrated outstanding academic and pre-professional accomplishments in the areas of behavioral neuroscience/neuropsychology.
Quantitative Sciences Department
Computer Science Program
Computer Science Excellence in Academics Award is presented to graduating computer science majors who have achieved an outstanding academic performance.
Computer Science Excellence in Research Award is presented to graduating computer science majors who have achieved outstanding results in computer science research.
Data Science Program
Data Science Excellence in Academics Award is presented to the graduating data science major who has achieved the highest academic performance.
Data Science Excellence in Research Award is presented to graduating data science majors who made significant contributions to the field of data science through research.
Mathematics & Statistics Program
Dr. Robert Tidd Award for Distinction in Mathematics is given to an outstanding senior upon recommendation by the Mathematics and Statistics faculty.
Dr. William M. Huebsch Award in Mathematics is given to a senior who combines excellent performance in mathematics with great promise in a career in the application of mathematics to other fields. The award is named in honor of Dr. Huebsch ’43, who was a former chair of the Mathematics department.
Religious Studies
Cyril O. Schommer SJ, Memorial Prize in Religious Studies is awarded to the senior whose written work demonstrates theological insights and mastery of one of the religious studies disciplines.
Dr. James P. McDermott Award in Religion & Life is given to the senior who manifests Dr. Jim McDermott’s love of learning and his application of religious values in his daily life.
Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Environmental Studies Department
Rachel Carson Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Studies is awarded to the graduating student with the highest GPA in the major and shows commitment to promoting environmental awareness in their work and study.
Dr. Jesse Nash, Jr. Sociology Award is given to the senior sociology major for academic excellence in sociology and a commitment to social justice in the legacy of Jesse Nash, Jr.
William H. Jarrett Criminal Justice Award is given to a senior criminal justice major for academic excellence in criminal justice and a commitment to ethics in the legacy of William H. Jarrett.
School of Education and Human Services Departmental/Program Awards
William F. Kean Award of Excellence in Education is given to the graduating major in the School of Education & Human Services with the highest academic average.
Counseling & Human Services Department
National Organization of Human Services Award is bestowed on a student who demonstrates excellence in academic performance, service to others, a commitment to social justice and a promise of a successful career in human services.
Counseling & Human Services Graduate Department
Thomas & Camille Caulfield Award is given to the graduate student counselor of the year.
Teacher Education Department
William D. Bennett Award is given to the graduating senior who demonstrates the hallmark of the late William Bennett’s life: commitment to academic excellence and teaching in multi-cultural settings.
The Dr. Karen Dutt-Doner Award in Urban Education is presented to the education major who shows outstanding dedication to the Canisius University ideals of commitment to urban education, social justice, and the betterment of our local community.
Thomas W. Fitzsimons Award in Adolescence Education is bestowed upon a student who demonstrates excellence in academic performance, service to the University and the promise of a successful career in adolescence teaching.
The Dr. Kimberly A. Leavitt-Noble Award in Special Education is given to the graduating senior who has maintained a high level of scholarship and demonstrates a commitment to teaching children with special needs.
Rev. Edward F. Maloney, SJ, Physical Education Award is given to the graduating senior each year who best displays academic achievement, contributions to university life, participation in the department, including sponsored activities and demonstration of professional qualities.
Dr. Michele A. Marable Award for Excellence in Education is given to a graduate student who demonstrates the hallmarks of the late Dr. Michele A. Marable’s life: a commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.
Donald J. Murphy Award in Childhood Education is bestowed upon a student who demonstrates excellence in academic performance, service to the University and the promise of a successful career in childhood teaching.
Rev. Paul Nochelski, SJ, Award in Adolescence Education recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated the hallmark of Fr. Paul Nochelski’s life: a consistent dedication to academic excellence and to the Jesuit values of cura personalis and social justice.
Dr. Gregory K. Reeds Graduate Physical Education Teacher Education Award is given to an outstanding graduate physical education teacher candidate who best displays academic achievement and commitment to the physical education teaching profession. Honorees will also be recognized by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD).
Kinesiology Department
John T. Gabbey, MD. Award for Excellence in Sports and Exercise Health Care is presented to the graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding skills in all aspects of the Sports Medicine program.
Paul Demartinis Memorial Award in Health & Wellness is presented to an outstanding senior in health and wellness who is committed to service in the profession.
Wehle School of Business Departmental/Program Awards
Academic Excellence in Business Award is given each year to a graduating senior(s) who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in the Richard J. Wehle School of Business.
Accounting Department
Bradley J. Shelp, Jr. Memorial Award represents the most prestigious honor the Department of Accounting can bestow upon an accounting student. This award is given on those occasions when the Department of Accounting identifies a senior accounting student who excels in demonstrated attributes of excellence in scholarship and service to the University.
Accounting Society Award for Excellence in Scholarship in the Accounting Program is awarded annually to the outstanding senior accounting major.
Accounting Society Award for Excellence in Scholarship in the Accounting Systems and Analytics Program recognizes outstanding achievement by a senior AIS major and is given to the senior with the highest GPA in the AIS major courses.
Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International Award for Excellence in Graduate Accounting is awarded to an MBA graduate who is selected by the Committee of the Council on Accountancy at an overall outstanding student with the potential to make contributions to the accounting profession.
Economics/Finance Department
Nelson D. Civello Most Outstanding Graduate Award is given upon the recommendation of the faculty to the outstanding senior in the department.
Economics/Finance Department Best Finance Student Award is given to a graduating senior for academic excellence in finance.
John S. Murphy Award for Academic Excellence in Economics is given to a graduating senior for academic excellence in economics.
Management and Marketing Department
Donald E. Calvert Scholarship is awarded to a senior marketing major who displays superior academic and professional skills.
Thomas J. Schillo Scholarship is awarded to a senior for high standards of academic excellence and personal integrity.
Management Academic Excellence Award is presented annually to the top senior management majors based on overall GPA.
Marketing Academic Excellence Award is presented annually to the top senior marketing majors based on overall GPA.
Sport Management Department
Dr. Paul E. Bieron Sport Administration Award is given to an undergraduate student enrolled in sports management as a concentration. The student will have had overall high academic achievement, participated as a student intern in the sports industry and done significant scholarly work throughout the curriculum.
