Graduate Student Leadership Award

• About

  A maximum of one award will be presented annually. The winner will represent excellence in leadership in graduate education at Ontario Tech.

• Eligibility

  The nominee should be enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at Ontario Tech. Nominees not selected to receive an award may be nominated in a subsequent year.

  Previous recipients are not eligible to be nominated for a period of 2 years following the year in which they received the award.

• Nomination Process and Deadline

  Nomination packages may be submitted by any faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellow or currently enrolled graduate student. Nominations may not be completed by the nominee.

  A complete nomination package will contain:

  • Completed nomination form
  • Supporting documentation*:

  1. Letter from the nominator(s) describing the leadership attributes of the graduate student as they pertain to the criteria outlined below (maximum 2 pages).
  2. Two letters of support from Ontario Tech students, colleagues or other community members who have closely interacted with the nominees in the past year (maximum 2 pages).
  3. Letter of support from the graduate supervisor/advisor, if different from the nominator, including a rationale as to why the nominee qualifies for the award. If the supervisor is the nominator, another faculty member may complete the letter of support (maximum 2 pages).
  4. The nominee's abbreviated CV including a summary of relevant accomplishments, their academic qualifications and any awards or special recognitions (maximum 3 pages).

  *Supporting documentation may be submitted in one of two ways:

  • Upload the required documentation as one PDF document using the online form
  • Email the required documentation to gradexcellenceawards@ontariotechu.ca

  NOMINATION DEADLINE

  The award will normally be given out annually and will typically correspond to the SGPS Excellence Awards cycle. As such, the submission deadline for nomination packages will normally be the last week of May. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will announce the submission dates as part of the call for nominations.

  The 2023 nominations will open on April 17, 2023 and will close on June 1, 2023. 

  Proceed to Nomination Form

• Selection Process and Award Criteria

  Excellence is broadly defined and judged on the quality of the nominee’s contribution and commitment to the Ontario Tech community. Nominees should demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following areas:

  1. Mentorship and guidance of undergraduate and graduate students;
  2. Inspirational leadership that contributes to the prosperity and well-being of the University and the broader community;
  3. Distinguished academic record;
  4. Contributions and initiatives that enhance the Ontario Tech mission as it pertains to graduate education;
  5. Significant community participation and volunteering.

  The selection committee will be chaired by the Dean of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies or designate. The committee will consist of at least three members, including one graduate faculty member, one graduate student (which may be the Graduate Studies Committee representative) and one full-time continuing staff member from outside SGPS. A member of SGPS will participate at committee meetings as a resource. Committee membership should include at least one of the previous award winners when available. The committee will review the nomination packages and recommend the recipient to the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

  All nominees will be notified of their nomination and invited to the SGPS Excellence Awards event for the announcement of the winner.
• Public Recognition and Value of the Award

  A maximum of one award will be presented annually. Each award consists of a recognition plaque from the Dean of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The award will be publicly announced during the annual SGPS Excellence Awards ceremony.

• Winners and Nominees

  2022

  • Mohammed Alziadeh, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Anindita Golder,  Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Alvin Huynh, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Heather McCracken, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHSc)
  • Urvi Pajankar, Faculty of Science (FSc)
  • Akash Samanta, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Niranjan Shrestha, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Erin Smith, Faculty of Science (FSc)*

  Learn more about the 2022 SGPS Excellence Awards.

  2021

  • Amna Hassan, Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science (FESNS)
  • Marta Kocemba, Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science (FESNS)
  • Parag Patel, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Sara Sharifi, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)* 

  Learn more about the 2021 SGPS Excellence Awards.

  2020

  • Sandra Aragon Aviles, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Yashwanth Dasari, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Keisha Deoraj, Faculty of Education (FEd)
  • Stacey Hawkins, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHSc)
  • Apoorva Kelkar, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Phuoc Huynh Sang, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)
  • Delana Theiventhiran, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHSc)
  • Deepa Vincent, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)*
  • Susan Yousufzai, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHSc)

  Learn more about the 2020 SGPS Excellence Awards.

  *denotes winner