The awards were established in memory of Professor Edward Appathurai, a former Ceylonese diplomat who joined York University in 1968, taught courses in international relations and diplomacy, and created Glendon’s International Studies Program, which has since become the Department of International Studies. As Prof. Kirschbaum has pointed out at the Holmes lecture, “…John Holmes enjoyed immensely interacting with university students and he was particularly enthusiastic to teach those who were highly motivated and hard-working. Without a doubt, he would have found it totally appropriate to use an event like this one to reward students who have achieved excellence in the Department of International Studies.” The scholarships are thus traditionally disbursed each year at the John Holmes Lecture, to the two students who achieved the highest averages in their third year, and who are completing the final year in the international studies program.