London, ON - The G. Howard Ferguson Award is awarded to a senior student in any faculty of the University who is considered to have attained the highest achievement during a university career encompassing athletics, scholarship and college life. It is awarded annually to a student who has shown the highest achievement during his or her university career in athletics, scholarship and university life.

Recipient receives a replica of the G. Howard Ferguson Trophy and scroll of past winners.

Selection Criteria:

1. Demonstrated excellence within the intercollegiate athletic program at Western.
2. Registration as a full-time student, with at least a "B" average in the previous year's work, and completion of at least three years of full-time study at Western or at one of the affiliated colleges by May of the academic year of the award. Preference will be given to a graduating student.
3. Contributions to university life.

The successful candidate will have established a fairly prominent position in each of the three areas listed.

Nominations MUST include not more than three letters of reference. Each referee should provide comment and factual information on the candidate's achievements in each of the three areas cited above.

Nominations can be made online at: https://westernmustangs.ca/sb_output.aspx?form=409

Deadline: February 1, to be considered for the current year.

History of the Award:

Born in 1870 in Kemptville, Ontario, Howard Ferguson entered the University of Toronto in 1887. After completing his Bachelor of Arts and his Bachelor of Laws, in 1894 he was called to the bar.

After becoming a lawyer, Howard Ferguson returned to Kemptville where he married in 1896 and began his political career by being elected to the town council. From 1900 to 1902 served as the Reeve of Kemptville. He was elected to a seat in the provincial legislature in 1906.

By 1923, Howard Ferguson was leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and in that year became Premier of Ontario. As Premier, he retained the education portfolio for himself as he believed it to be the most fundamental priority of the provincial government. In this role he was responsible for developments in education which include the increase of rural education and of vocational and technical training, and the early development of the Ontario College for Technical Teachers, the Northern Education Railway School Car Program, and universities in Ontario.

At that time there were only three universities in Ontario: University of Toronto, Queen's, and The University of Western Ontario and the present university program structure was developed and the three-year BA program was instituted as separate from the four year honors BA program during this period.

Howard Ferguson retired from the office of Premier in 1930 and was named High Commissioner to England by Prime Minister Bennett. In 1932 he moved into the offices of Canada House and, while in England, he did a great deal for Canada's relationship with England. Shortly after the election of Mackenzie King as Liberal Prime Minister in 1933, Howard Ferguson was recalled to Canada. Upon returning to Canada he became greatly involved in charitable work and accepted numerous positions on a wide range of directorial boards. In May of 1945 he was appointed Chancellor of The University of Western Ontario in May of 1945. He held this post until his death on February 21, 1946.

On September 25, 1931, when Howard Ferguson was High Commissioner to England, Western presented him with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. At the same time, he was approached with regard to offering a trophy for competition. He welcomed the idea and the proposal was presented to the Athletic Directorate Committee. In a statement he said: "I'd like to be identified with your sporting organizations and various University activities in some way or other. If some of your sports organizers can suggest where I can properly donate a trophy for competition it would more closely identify me with the University." In 1932, it was decided that the trophy bear the wording: "Hon. G. Howard Ferguson Trophy presented to The University of Western Ontario Athletic Association -- To be awarded annually to the Senior Student who has shown the highest achievement during his University career in Athletics, Scholarship, College Life."

The first award was presented on May 27, 1932.