Memorial Prizes

Over the years the Department has lost some of its best members due to tragic events. In memory of loved ones, their families have funded prizes for physics students at StFX. The prizes are:  

David Davis Prize for first-year physics
David Davis' photo. It is colored in sepia style for photos (yelow-ish)

David Richard Davis 
1945 - 1966 
StFX. Class of 1967

David Richard Davis was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine. He was active in outdoor activities, particularly hiking and mountain climbing. He enjoyed building electrical and mechanical devices. He came to StFX in 1963 to study physics. During the summer of 1966 after his third year of study, he worked in the Physics Department for Father Clarke. At the end of the summer, he was on his way home for a short visit before classes started when he was killed in a car accident. The David Davis prizes for first- and third-year physics were established by his parents and uncle and were awarded for the first time in 1982.

Winners to Date

2023-24 Jesse Latter
2022-23 Brodie MacDonald
2021-22 Lydia Taylor
2020-21 Jacob Parker
2019-20 Mallory Long
2018-19 Sara Murrin
2017-18 April Long
2016-17 Samantha Bardwell, Emma Fudge and Megan Fudge
2015-16 Pheerawich Chitnelawong and Liam Farrell
2014-15 Matthew Martell
2013-14 Michael Kinach
2012-13 Taylor Landry and Kira Dube
2011-12 Wyatt Kirkby and Michael Thomson
2010-11 Stephen Deering
2009-10 Christopher van Bommel
2008-09 Shawn Brophy
2007-08 Thea Huard
2006-07 Marielle Lespérance
2005-06 Corrine Dewar
2004-05 Daniel McNeil / Amir Mohareb
2003-04 Louise Brennan / Ryan Brennan
2002-03 Leanne Hinger
2001-02 Christian Petropolis / Johnny Veliath
2000-01 Gillian Ryan
1999-00 Ryan MacDougall
1998-99 Tarryn Kennedy
1997-98 David Cooke
1996-97 Vaughn (V.J.) MacDonald
1995-96 Angela Tate
1994-95 Jeff Smith
1993-94 Derek Knoechel
1992-93 Charlotte Calnen / Geoff MacGillivray
1991-92 Sheri Boyden
1990-91 Chris King
1989-90 Pierre LeBlanc 
1988-89 Chris Bowen 
1987-88 Graham MacNeil
1986-87 Gerald Corsten
1985-86 Karen Kelly / Cliff Liem 
1984-85 Richard Southcott
1983-84 Peter Poole
1982-83 Sylvester Chau / Gerald VanBommel
1981-82 Thanh Nguyen
Charles Jordan Prize for second-year physics 
Charles Jordan's photo in sepia style format

Charles Edward Jordan
1932 - 1970  
B.Sc. Physics, StFX 1952  
M.Sc. Physics, McMaster 1956

Charles Jordan was an American who came to StFX in 1948 to study Physics. While a student here he worked with Father Clarke as a research assistant and lab demonstrator. He designed and built a control board for the lights and curtains in the StFX Auditorium. Upon completion of his graduate degree, Charles returned to New England to work as a microwave antenna design engineer for the Raytheon Company in Bedford, Massachusetts. He was married in 1956 and had three daughters. He died in 1970 at the age of 38. The Charles Jordan Prize was established in his memory by his mother, Mrs. David W. Jordan, and the first prize was awarded in 1981. 

Winners to Date

2023-24 Keely Ralf/Kennedy Lawrence
2022-23 Nevan Keating/Lydia Taylor
2021-22 Lyza Ells
2020-21 Scout McKee
2019-20 Jacob Koep
2018-19 Daniel Winters
2017-18 Thomas Hujon
2016-17 Pheerawich Chitnelawong
2015-16 Matt Martell
2014-15 Michael Kinach
2013-14 Taylor Landry
2012-13 Robyn Latimer
2011-12 Stephen Deering
2010-11 Zachary MacDonald
2009-10 Not Awarded
2008-09 Aaron Farrell
2007-08 Marielle Lespérance / Bethany Loewen
2006-07 Andrew Lim
2005-06 Ron MacEachern
2004-05 Katie Fraser
2003-04 Steve Condran
2002-03 Carmen Hartt
2001-02 Patrick Clancy
2000-01 Ryan MacDougall
1999-00 Laura Filion / Tarryn Kennedy
1998-99 David Cooke 
1997-98 Jeremy Moeller
1996-97 William (B.J.) MacNeil
1995-96 Not Awarded
1994-95 Steward MacNeil 
1993-94 Marcy Lumsden 
1992-93 Patrick Sutton 
1991-92 Chris King 
1990-91 Mark Lumsden 
1989-90 Chris Bowen 
1988-89 Stephen Duncan 
1987-88 Gerald Corsten
1986-87 Cliff Liem 
1985-86 Richard Southcott 
1984-85 Peter Poole 
1983-84 Stephen Kymlicka / Mairi MacDonald 
1982-83 Thanh Nguyen 
1981-82 Andrew Bleau 
1980-81 Ralph Mason / André Weingartshofer 
David Davis Prize for third-year physics
David Davis' photo. It is colored in sepia style for photos (yelow-ish)

David Richard Davis
1945 - 1966 
StFX. Class of 1967

David Richard Davis was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine. He was active in outdoor activities, particularly hiking and mountain climbing. He enjoyed building electrical and mechanical devices. He came to StFX in 1963 to study physics. During the summer of 1966 after his third year of study, he worked in the Physics Department for Father Clarke. At the end of the summer, he was on his way home for a short visit before classes started when he was killed in a car accident. The David Davis prizes for first- and third-year physics were established by his parents and uncle and were awarded for the first time in 1982. 

Winners to Date 

2023-24 Hudson Forance/Nevan Keating
2022-23 Lyza Ells
2021-22 Scout McKee
2020-21 Jacob Koep
2019-20 Daniel Winters
2018-19 Thomas Hujon
2017-18 Liam Farrell
2016-17 Matthew Martell
2015-16 Michael Kinach
2014-15 Taylor Landry
2013-14 Robyn Latimer
2012-13 Stephen Deering
2011-12 Thomas Lee
2010-11 Not Awarded
2009-10 Aaron Farrell
2008-09 Ben Loewen / Marielle Lespérance
2007-08 Andrew Lim
2006-07 Chris Lim
2005-06 Katie Fraser / Melo Need / Patrick Shea
2004-05 Jamie Conrad
2003-04 Amanda Cherpak
2002-03 Shauna Kennedy / Patrick Clancy
2001-02 Ryan MacDougall
2000-01 Tarryn Kennedy
1999-00 David Cooke
1998-99 Jeremy Moeller 
1997-98 John MacAskill 
1996-97 Not Awarded
1995-96 Stewart MacNeil 
1994-95 Marcy Lumsden 
1993-94 Patrick Sutton
1992-93 Chris King 
1991-92 Mark Lumsden 
1990-91 Chris Bowen 
1989-90 Stephan Duncan 
1988-89 Gerald Corsten 
1987-88 Cliff Liem 
1986-87 Marty Corsten / Rick Southcott
1985-86 Peter Poole 
1984-85 Mairi MacDonald
1983-84 Thanh Nguyen 
1982-83 Carolyn MacDonald 
1981-82 André Weingartshofer 
Dr. M.S. Gautam Prize for fourth-year physics 
DR. M. S. GAUTAM's photo

Dr. M. S. Gautam 
1931 -1973  
B.Sc., M.Sc. Agra University, India  
Ph.D. 1966, U.B.C.  

Dr. Gautam was born and raised in India, and after completing his M.Sc. at Agra University remained there as a lecturer for several years. He came to Canada and completed his Ph.D. in plasma physics at U.B.C. in 1966, the same year he joined the St.F.X. Physics Department. He and Dr. Y. N. Joshi established the research laboratory in atomic spectroscopy at St.F.X. They were active research collaborators until Dr. Gautam's tragic death in a highway accident which occurred while he was returning from a research field trip to U.N.B. The Gautam Prize was established in 1980 by his wife. It is awarded to the Honours Physics graduate with the highest average (over 80%) in the senior year.

Winners to Date

2023-24 Sara Sullivan
2022-23 Matthew Penner
2021-22 Not Awarded
2020-21 Daniel Winters
2019-20 Thomas Hujon
2018-19 Liam Farrell
2017-18 Matt Martell
2016-17 Michael Kinach
2015-16 Taylor Landry
2014-15 Robyn Latimer
2013-14 Stephen Deering
2012-13 Zachary MacDonald
2011-12 Not awarded
2010-11 Aaron Farrell
2009-10 Marielle Lespérance
2008-09 Jordan Marsh
2007-08 Ron MacEachern
2006-07 Katie Fraser / Patrick Shea
2005-06 David MacKenzie
2004-05 Not Awarded
2003-04 Patrick Clancy
2002-03 Not Awarded
2001-02 Laura Filion
2000-01 David Cooke
1999-00 Jeremy Moeller
1998-99 John MacAskill 
1997-98 Not Awarded
1996-97 Steward MacNeil 
1995-96 Marcy Lumsden 
1994-95 Patrick Sutton 
1993-94 Malcolm Stevens
1992-93 Mark Lumsden 
1991-92 Chris Bowen 
1990-91 Stephen Duncan
1989-90 Gerald Corsten 
1988-89 Cliff Liem 
1987-88 Martin Corsten 
1986-87 Peter Poole 
1985-86 Stephen Kymlicka 
1984-85 Thanh Nguyen 
1983-84 Not Awarded
1982-83 André Weingartshofer 
1981-82 Richard Valleé 
1980-81 Not Awarded
1979-80 Leo MacDonald
Wallbank-Weingartshofer Prize for Experimental Physics for fourth-year physics 
DR. B. WALLBANK's photo

Dr. B. Wallbank 
1949-2008  
B.Sc. 1970, Lanchester Polytechnic, U.K.  
M.Sc. 1971, Essex University, U.K.  
Ph.D. 1974, Liverpool University, U.K.  

Dr. Tony Weingartshofe's photo

 

Dr. Tony Weingartshofer
1925-2017
D.Sc. 1955, Université Laval
Member of the Department 1954 - 1988

 

The Wallbank-Weingartshofer Prize for Experimental Physics is awarded to a graduating student in physics who, in the judgment of the faculty of the StFX Physics Department, has shown particular aptitude for experimental physics. The value of the prize is $500. The winner of the prize is announced at convocation.  

The department uses the following criteria in determining the prize recipient:  

  1. Experimental skill and aptitude as demonstrated in research in the department as well as in the laboratories associated with course work.  
  2. Students in joint degrees with Physics as "Science A" are eligible.  
  3. The winner is not determined on the basis of course grades, but instead, in the judgment of the department, on the basis of a demonstrated particular flair and skill for experimental physics.  
  4. If the department decides that no student meets the criteria in a particular year, the award will not be given.  
  5. No application on the part of the student is necessary.  

Dr. Denise Wallbank has generously set up the prize to be given in honour of her late husband, Dr. Barry Wallbank, and also to recognize the contribution that Dr. Tony Weingartshofer made to the StFX Physics Department and the physics community.  

Winners to Date

2023-24 Bryanna Smith
2022-23 Roman Fisher
2021-22 Not awarded
2020-21 Noah Tessema
2019-20 Sean Murphy
2018-19 Patrick O'Brien
2017-18 James Kendall
2016-17 Nukhalu Callaghan-Patrachar
2015-16 Not awarded
2014-15 Alex Louli
2013-14 Peter Faour
2012-13 Not awarded
2011-12 Not awarded
2010-11 Alexandra MacDonald
2009-10 Ben Jantzen
Yogi Joshi Prize for Excellence in Physics 
DR. Y. JOSHI's photo

Dr. Y. Joshi 
1938-2008  
M.Sc. 1959, Punjab University, India  
Ph.D. 1964, University of British Columbia 

The Yogi Joshi Prize for Excellence in Physics is to be awarded annually to a StFX B.Sc. physics student at the end of the student's second, third or fourth year of study. Consideration will be given to academic performance, participation in undergraduate research, and community service, as these were areas about which Dr. Joshi was passionate and which characterized his life at StFX.  

Winners to Date

2023-24 Lyza Ells
2022-23 Scout McKee
2021-22 Matthew Penner
2020-21 Catherine Boisvert and Claire MacDougall
2019-20 Dean Eaton
2018-19 Pheerawich Chitnelawong
2017-18 Pheerawich Chitnelawong
2016-17 Thomas Faour
2015-16 Siobhan Morris
2014-15 Wyatt Kirkby
2013-14 Connor Buhariwalla
2012-13 Thomas Lee
2011-12 Zachary MacDonald
2010-11 James Roberts
2009-10 Aaron Farrell
2008-09 Andrew Lim