Claudette Upton Scholarship

A graduation cap and rolled diploma
© grgroup, 123RF.com

The Claudette Upton Scholarship is an annual, national award that recognizes a promising student editor from among Editors Canada’s student affiliates. It was awarded for the first time in 2010.

About the scholarship

This is a $1,000 scholarship to help support continuing professional development in editing.

The recipient is encouraged to use the scholarship to attend our national conference, purchase Editors Canada publications or attend association seminars and webinars

The scholarship will be presented during Editors Canada’s online awards ceremony in spring 2025.

How to apply

Applicants must be current student affiliates of Editors Canada. The application package is to be submitted in digital format and must include:

  • a reference letter from an instructor in the applicant’s course or program, or from a professional mentor;
  • a resumé (two pages maximum) describing the applicant’s education and work history; and
  • a 300-word statement that answers the following question:
    Editing is a journey of life-long education and could include areas such as accessibility, the proliferation of misinformation, collaboration and more. How do you envision this statement applying to the unfolding of your career as an editor?

Submit your application by email to claudetteuptonscholarship@editors.ca.

Deadline

The application package must reach the national office by Friday, April 4, 2025.

Evaluation process

The applications will be evaluated by the scholarship selection committee. The recipient will be the applicant who best demonstrates the following qualities:

  • qualities reminiscent of honorary life member Claudette Upton as described below.
  • aptitude for editing;
  • commitment to pursuing a career as an editor; and

Recipients of the Claudette Upton Scholarship

2024

Helena Ramsaroop

2023

Georgia Atkin

2022

Madison Taylor

2021

Lindsay Hobbs

2020

Naomi Racz

2019

Margo LaPierre

2018

Letitia Henville

2017

Prior to 2018, the application process for the scholarship began the year before the scholarship was awarded. The scholarship’s current schedule has the entire process (from applications to awarding) taking place in the same calendar year. We have shifted the year of the scholarship to reflect this updated schedule. So, aside from the year indicator, nothing has really changed. There was no 2017 scholarship, but we awarded the 2018 Claudette Upton Scholarship in 2018.

2016

Irina Malakhova

2015

Lindsay Vermeulen

2014

Andrea Hatley

2013

Daniel Polowin

2012

Catharine Chen

2011

Heidi Waechtler

2010

Kathryn White

2009

Helen Clay

Remembering Claudette Upton

Headshot of Claudette Reed Upton-Keeley

Established in 2009 by West Coast Editorial Associates, the editorial partnership she helped found, this award is named after Editors Canada honorary life member Claudette Reed Upton-Keeley, a gifted editor who loved the English language and was actively involved in social justice and environmental causes throughout her life.

Claudette was born in North Carolina in 1948 and lived in Alaska, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia and the Caribbean before her death in 2008. She worked freelance and in-house, specializing in scientific, medical and historical materials. Claudette also taught editing courses and was a much-loved mentor to many. She is remembered for both her wonderful sense of humour and her sharp mind.

Support the Claudette Upton Scholarship

Help to support Editors Canada awards! We invite you to contribute to these awards that honour the outstanding editors and students in our midst.

We also welcome donations by cheque. Please make your donation payable to “Editors’ Association of Canada” with “Claudette Upton Scholarship” written on the memo line.

Send your donation to

Editors Canada
2967 Dundas Street West, #1449
Toronto, Ontario M6P 1Z2

Founding donors

Martin Keeley
West Coast Editorial Associates

Annual donors

Simon Fraser University, Continuing Studies
West Coast Editorial Associates

To top