Muriel Fung Student Appreciation Award
Please Note: Nominations have closed for the 2023/24 year. Please come back to see when nominations open for the 2024/25 year.
Established in 2001 by the Graduate Students' Association, the Muriel Fung Student Appreciation Award recognizes graduate students who have made outstanding extracurricular contributions to ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½. In naming the award after Muriel Fung, former doctoral candidate in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education (now Social Justice Education, SJE) and former ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Research Officer, the Graduate Students’ Association recognizes her heartfelt commitment to developing the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ community and concern with social justice issues both inside and outside of the institution. The qualities of service, leadership, and generosity of spirit demonstrated by Muriel Fung during her years with ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ include: acting as Vice-President of the ISA (International Student Association) and as Trustee in CUPE 3907 for three years, representing students on the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ computer committee, volunteering with the Comparative, International and Developmental Education Centre (CIDEC), assisting many students and faculty in statistical analysis, coordinating events in SESE (now SJE) and being active in the former (²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½-wide) AntiRacist Network. These qualities are reflected in the efforts of those students who will be chosen to receive this award.
Please note that this award is NOT the Muriel & Danny Fung Graduate Scholarship offered by the Social Justice of Education Department.
Eligibility Criteria:
Eligible Students
- ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ students that are currently enrolled at the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ in either a full-time or part-time graduate capacity.
Ineligible Students
- GSA executives are ineligible for an award in the year that they hold an executive position.
- The Muriel Fung Student Appreciation Award Committee members are also ineligible for nomination
Who can nominate a student for the Muriel Fung Award:
- All members of the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ university community, including students, faculty/staff, and alumni are welcome to submit nominations for the award.
- Students may nominate themselves.
- Students may receive only one Muriel Fung Award during their time at ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½.
What is required for this award:
- Form to be available shortly.
- Nominator Information
- Nominee information
- A list of the nominee’s extracurricular activities
To upload letters of support. Applicants can submit a minimum of one and a maximum of three letters of support from anyone in the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ community (students, staff/faculty, or alumni). Please see below for a template of the letter of support (max. 500 words).
Document- To upload a cover letter from the nominee explaining why they should receive this award (max 500. words)
- Any incomplete forms (including those missing supporting documentation) will not be assessed by the Muriel Fung Award Committee.
Selection Criteria:
- Initiative, leadership and involvement will be considered. The value of the student's contributions, rather than the position held, should be the major criteria considered. All activities throughout a student’s time at ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ will be considered (not limited to an academic year).
A nominee's contribution may take the form of any one, or a combination, of the following:
- Improvement in the quality of life of students
- Leadership on committees or influence on student or university affairs
- Encouragement of fellow students to become involved in extra-curricular activities
- Contribution to the sense of community at ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½
Selection Process:
The nominations are open until Friday, February 23rd, 2024, at noon ET. They must be submitted electronically through this . The award recipients will be selected by the Muriel Fung Award Committee, which is comprised of at least three student representatives and one ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ GSA executive member.
Award Value:
The individual award value is $500.00. The Muriel Fung Award Committee and the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ GSA have made a standing commitment to honour two students this year.
Awards Presentation:
The Award will be presented at the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ Graduate Students’ Research Conference, which will take place on March 22nd- 23rd, 2024.
If you have any questions about this award, please email academic.gsa@utoronto.ca
