Award Nominations
Graduate students and members of faculty, please consider nominating individuals for the following awards.
- Advising Excellence
- Excellence in Community Service
- Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award
- Professional Excellence
- Research Excellence in Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Law or Education
- Research Excellence in Indigenous Studies
- Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Research Excellence in STEM
- STEM Medical Science and Public Health
- STEM Natural Sciences
- STEM Technology and Engineering
The purpose of the GSA Awards is to celebrate graduate students as well as honour faculty that have generously supported graduate students in research, scholarly and artistic pursuits.
Note: Those awarded previously with a GSA Award are ineligible to be nominated. Candidates cannot nominate themselves for an award.
- Those awarded at a previous GSA Awards Gala, for one of the GSA Annual Awards as described below, are ineligible to be nominated. A list of previous Award winners shall be maintained on the Association's website.
- Candidates can nominate themselves for an award except for the advisory excellence category.
- The nomination period is from Jan 31, 2024, to March 10, 2024.
- Applications will only be accepted in electronic form through SurveyMonkey. Neither physical nor email applications will be considered.
- Applications must include:
- A cover page with the name of the award and contact information (email addresses) for the nominee, nominator(s) and all referees.
- A nomination letter (maximum two (2) pages).
- Two (2) reference letters (maximum two (2) pages each).
- A maximum of three (3) pages of supporting documents, to provide further evidence of why the candidate is deserving of the award. Supporting documents cannot include further letters of reference. Examples include an updated CV (Maximum 5 pages) a teaching philosophy statement etc.
- Letter of Enrolment (Except for Advising Excellence)
- REMARKS:Depending on the application form and criteria, you need to upload some specific documents. Please check each category's criteria before submission.
You can download the full Nomination Package HERE
Award Categories and Terms of Reference
This award shall honor a graduate student advisor who has shown excellent supervisory and mentoring skills as well as exceptional support for their advisees’ ideas, scholarly work, and financial needs. The honored advisor shall embody the capacity to stimulate graduate students to think critically and creatively, while enhancing their graduate student learning experience.
Nominations shall be accepted from any graduate student enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan or an alumni graduate student of the University of Saskatchewan.
Eligibility: A current University of Saskatchewan faculty member that is advising a graduate student enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan during the corresponding Fiscal Year. This award shall honor a graduate student who has made significant impacts and positive contributions to the local community in Saskatoon and beyond. This shall be awarded to a student who has shown extensive initiative and significant achievements in serving the community in addition to excelling in their academic studies. This shall be awarded to a student who has contributed a minimum of seventy-five (75) hours of volunteer work during the corresponding Fiscal Year.
Nominations shall be accepted from any graduate student enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan, any current faculty or staff member at the University of Saskatchewan or alumni of the University of Saskatchewan.
We encourage letters of reference for this category from community organizations in which the nominee has volunteered with.
Eligibility: Any graduate student enrolled, during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
This award honors a graduate student who has shown strong leadership and exceptional initiatives at the University of Saskatchewan, going above and beyond their call of duty, whilst carrying out the mission of the GSA. This student shall have shown outstanding involvement and collaboration with graduate students in their unit of study, as part of an Academic Council, or the GSA Council.
This award does not involve community service in the local community and places greater emphasis on leadership within the University campus. Candidates should show readiness to take charge, an apt for creating new initiatives, and opportunities for their graduate student peers.
Nominations shall be accepted from any graduate student enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan, any current faculty or staff member at the University of Saskatchewan or alumni of the University of Saskatchewan.
Eligibility: Any graduate student, enrolled during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
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Mark Kroeker was born in Loma Linda, California on September 21, 1989 with a fatal condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and underwent a cardiac transplant when he was just one week old. After recovering from transplant surgery in California for eleven months, Mark moved with his family to British Columbia where he insisted on living a completely normal life.
Mark loved school. He was always a strong student leader, and was highly involved with his community. During his final year he was a student representative on the Vancouver School Board. In high school he was very involved with the drama club and won several awards from his school and a city-wide annual event known as Vancouver Drama-Rama.
After graduating from high school, Mark went to study at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B. where he completed a B.A. in Geography. Mark served as VP External on the Mount Allison Students’ Advisory Council for three years, and was well respected by the community as a leader.
Mark enrolled in a Masters program at the University of Saskatchewan in the department of Geography and Planning, exploring urban Aboriginal attitudes regarding city planning in Saskatoon under the supervision of Dr. Ryan Walker. As per usual, he immediately became engaged in his community, serving as President of the Geography and Planning Students’ Association, and Chair of Course Council for the GSA.
Many of us who knew Mark personally are still struggling to come to terms with the enormous void in our hearts and lives left by his sudden and unexpected death in May, 2014. The award in his name to acknowledge exceptional student leadership is a very fitting and meaningful tribute to the Mark Kroeker we all remember.
This award shall honor a non-thesis based graduate student who has made significant academic achievements in their field of study and who has made outstanding non-academic contributions to their department of studies. The awarded graduate student shall be a favorable member exemplifying scholarly achievements and community involvement.
Nominations shall be accepted from any current University of Saskatchewan faculty member.
Eligibility: Any graduate student enrolled, during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a course-based/project-based graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
This award shall honor a graduate student who has made significant impacts in the field of humanities, arts, social sciences, law or education and who has produced outstanding research results throughout their course of study. The awarded graduate student shall be a favorable member in the research community, shall exemplify scholarly achievements and shall have contributed to positive collaborations amongst researchers and the community.
Nominations shall be accepted from any current University of Saskatchewan faculty member.
Eligibility: Any graduate student enrolled, during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a thesis-based graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
This award shall honor an Indigenous graduate student who has made significant impacts in Indigenous study and research while positively contributing to the Indigenous community. The awarded graduate student shall be held in high regard by the Indigenous and research community, shall exemplify scholarly achievements, and shall have participated in positive collaboration between researchers and the Indigenous community.
Nominations shall be accepted from any current University of Saskatchewan faculty member.
Eligibility: An Indigenous graduate student enrolled, during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a thesis-based graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
This award shall honor a graduate student who has made significant impacts in two or more separate, but related, fields of study and who has produced outstanding research results throughout their course of study. The awarded graduate student shall be a favorable member in the research community, shall exemplify scholarly achievements and shall have contributed to positive collaborations amongst researchers and the community.
Nominations shall be accepted from any current University of Saskatchewan faculty member.
Eligibility: Any graduate student enrolled, during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a thesis-based graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
Please note the graduate student does not have to be enrolled in Interdisciplinary Studies to be considered for this award.
This award shall honor a graduate student who has made significant impacts in the field of science, technology, engineering or math and who has produced outstanding research results throughout their course of study. The awarded graduate student shall be a favorable member in the research community, shall exemplify scholarly achievements and shall have contributed to positive collaborations amongst researchers and the community.
Nominations shall be accepted from any current University of Saskatchewan faculty member.
Eligibility: Any graduate student enrolled, during the corresponding Fiscal Year, in a thesis-based graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan.
Past Winners
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Lori Bradford
Excellence in Community Service Award - Maryellen Gibson
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award - Debasish Chakroborti
Research Excellence in Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Law, or Education - Kayla Arisman
Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Studies Award - Harini Aiyer
Research Excellence in STEM Award Technology and Engineering - Shahabodin Afrasiabi
Research Excellence in STEM Award Natural Sciences - Bernd Steiger
Research Excellence in STEM Award Medical Science and Public Health - Paras Ahmed
Advising Excellence: Dr. Jane Alcorn
Excellence in Community Service: Mahesh Rachamalla
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award: Shahab Minaei
Professional Excellence: Zoher Rafid-Hamed
Research Excellence in Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Law or Education: Emma Chen
Research Excellence in STEM: Saikat Mondal
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence - Dr. Chanchal Roy & Dr. Debbie Pushor
Excellence in Community Service - Amara Zuhaib
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award - Khaled Zoroufchi Benis
Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Studies - Henry K. Agbovi
Research Excellence in STEM - Dr. Scott Adams
To view the program please click here.
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Punam Pahwa
Excellence in Community Service Award - Ajaypal Kahlon
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award - Mostofa Kamal
Professional Excellence Award - Yazmin Ramos
Professional Excellence Award - Allap Judge
Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Studies Award - Saman Naghieh
Research Excellence in STEM Award - Asghar Dolatkhah
Research Excellence in Humanities, Arts, Social Science, Law or Education - Britanie Thomas
Leadership Excellence Award (Executive Choice) - Naheda Sahtout (For her dedication and commitment towards the GSA.)
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Catherine Trask
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Nathaniel Osgood
Excellence in Community Service Award - Reggie Nyamekye
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award - Mona Hamada
Professional Excellence Award: Palash R. Sanyal
Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Studies Award - Joelena Leader
Research Excellence in STEM Award - Gurcharn S. Brar
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Regan Mandryk
Excellence in Community Service Award - Abigail Zita Seshie
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award - Jillian Kusch
Research Excellence in Interdisciplinary Studies Award - Thilina Bandara
Research Excellence in STEM Award - Adesola Oluwasijibomi Olufade
Leadership Excellence Award (Executive Choice) - Ziad Ghaith (For his dedication and commitment towards the GSA).
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Bev Brenna
Excellence in Community Service Award - Jebunessa Chopola
Excellence in Indigenous Research Award - Mylan Tootoosis
Innovative Research Award - Inimfon Abner Udoetok
Interdisciplinary Research Excellence Award - Arnjay Banerjee
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award - Jaylene Murray
Professional Excellence Award - Arathi Arun
Research Excellence in the Sciences Award - Adam Crane
Teaching Excellence Award - Dr. Carey Simonson
5-year Service Award (Executive Choice) - Sherri-Lynn Rohovich
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award -Dr. M. Louise Humbert
Excellence in Aboriginal Research Award -Ranjan Datta
Excellence in Community Service Award -Kayla Madder
Interdisciplinary Research Excellence Award -Farhad Fathieh
Mark Kroeker Exceptional Student Leadership Award -Isaac Pratt
Research Excellence in Social Sciences Award -Jan M. Gelesh
Research Excellence in Sciences Award -Max V. Birk
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award - Dr. Alexander Moewes
Exceptional Academic Councillor Award - Annie Battiste
Excellence in Aboriginal Research Award - Belinda C. Daniels
Interdisciplinary Research Excellence Award - Zohreh Izadifar
Professional Excellence Award - Keshini Madara Marasinghe
Outstanding GSA Partner Award - studentcare.net/works
Outstanding Past GSA Executive Award - Omeasoo Butt
Research Excellence in the Sciences Award - Ahmed Abdel-Salam
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award – Dr. Nazmi Sari
Excellence in Aboriginal Research Award - Janna Schurer
Exceptional Course Councillor Award - Cinnati Loi
Excellence in Community Service Award - Sarah Crawford
Interdisciplinary Research Excellence Award - Albert Ifeanyi Ugochukwu
Outstanding GSA Partner Award - Alumni Association
Outstanding Past GSA Executive Award - Nicole Callihoo
Professional Excellence Award - Mengna Lu
Research Excellence in the Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Law or Education Award - Rim Lassoued
Research Excellence in the Sciences Award - Abdallah Karoyo
To view the program, please click here.
Advising Excellence Award – Dr. Julita Vassileva
Excellence in Aboriginal Research Award - Maya Basdeo
Exceptional Course Councillor Award - Sarah Purdy
Excellence in Community Service Award - Tracy MacDonald
Outstanding GSA Partner Award - Student Employment and Career Centre
Research Excellence in the Humanities Award - Adam Pottle
Research Excellence in the Sciences Award - Rita Orji
GSA Champion Award - Dr. Jay Kalra
To view the program, please click here.