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Notebook and Pen

Lorne Tepperman Prize in Public Writing

Established in 2019, the Lorne Tepperman Prize in Public Writing offers an annual prize of $1,000 for an outstanding paper on a topic of social significance in Canada aimed at a general audience.

Conditions Governing the Tepperman Prize:

  1. This award is open to students enrolled in University College or to students from other colleges who are enrolled in University College-sponsored or affiliated courses or programs.
  2. Entries must not exceed 1,000 words.
  3. Entries must have received a grade of at least 85%.
  4. Students registered at UC must submit work in a U of T course. Non-UC students enrolled in a College program course or a course in an affiliated centre may submit work only from a program course or affiliated centre.
  5. Course instructors may nominate students with the student's consent.
  6. You may revise the course paper before submitting.
  7. Submissions must be in English.
  8. Group entries cannot be accepted.
  9. NEW: The use of AI is prohibited except as an early-stage tool to discover sources. The Writing Awards Committee may, if appropriate, choose to move an entry to a different category.
  10. Winning entries and those of runners up will appear on the UC website.
  11. Entries for the 2027 awards shall be submitted online by May 13.

​​​​​​​Submissions are now closed for the 2025-26. Check back here in fall 2026 for details on next year's competition.