USask honours outstanding graduates with achievement awards
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is announcing the 2024 winners of the Alumni Achievement Awards, one of the university’s highest honours. This year’s six recipients embody the university’s aspiration to be what the world needs because of their significant accomplishments and contributions since graduating from USask.
“The recipients of this year’s Alumni Achievement Awards personify the many ways our graduates make the world a better place,” said Anthony Bidulka, (BA’83, BEd’91, BComm’91), chair of USask’s Alumni Advisory Board awards committee. “They have excelled in their respective fields of advocacy, agriculture, business, education, infectious disease treatment and prevention, tech, and more.”
Each year, Alumni Achievement Awards are presented to notable USask alumni for their accomplishments and impact on their communities and the world. Award recipients are nominated by their peers and chosen based on their achievements, commitment to excellence, community engagement, leadership, and contributions to the well-being of society.
“Our more than 175,000 graduates in more than 120 countries are influential wherever they call home,” said USask President Peter Stoicheff. “The outstanding accomplishments of these six alumni achievement award winners deserve distinct recognition from their university. Congratulations to this year’s recipients.”
ALUMNI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
As the highest honour presented by the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association, this award recognizes an alumnus/alumna for an outstanding lifetime of accomplishments.
- Murad Al-Katib (BComm’94) is the founder, president, and CEO of AGT Foods. Al-Katib has helped revolutionize the province’s agricultural industry by connecting local producers to global markets. Widely known as the “Lentil King of Saskatchewan” and internationally recognized for his work, Al-Katib has worked with farmers to grow alternate crops, such as the hearty lentil varieties developed by USask researchers.
- Dr. Jim Dosman (BA’59, MD’63, MA’69) is considered the “Father of Agricultural Medicine” in Canada. A highly regarded clinician-scientist, he led efforts to raise awareness and develop programs to prevent and treat agricultural-related health conditions. Dr. Dosman has led or been involved in the founding of numerous research centres, associations, and societies dedicated to agricultural safety and rural health, including Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, now the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health.
- Judy Pelly (BEd’85) is a lifelong advocate and educator. Retiring from the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies as dean of community and health studies after 21 years of service, Pelly continues working with organizations to provide cultural guidance on Truth and Reconciliation. She also played a pivotal role in establishing National Ribbon Skirt Day held every January 4 in Canada.
OUTSTANDING IMPACT ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award recognizes an extraordinary alumnus/alumna who is currently making significant personal and professional contributions in society and demonstrating exceptional leadership in their field(s) of endeavour.
- Andrew Chau (BComm’09) is a visionary tech entrepreneur who co-founded SkipTheDishes and Neo Financial—two of the most successful tech startups to come out of the Prairies. During a time when there was less activity in tech innovation in Saskatchewan, SkipTheDishes became emblematic of the innovation and outstanding entrepreneurial ideas with international impact that can be built, and blossom, right here at home.
- Neal Kewistep (MPA’11) is highly respected throughout Saskatchewan for his work in Indigenous governance and economic development. He co-founded the Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference, which aimed to honour residential school survivors and survivors of the Sixties Scoop. Among several other organizations and community groups, Kewistep’s leadership has supported the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and Yellow Quill First Nation.
“ONE TO WATCH” ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award recognizes young alumni who are making significant contributions to society at large and setting an example for fellow and future alumni to follow.
- Dr. Arinjay Banerjee (PhD’18) is a rising star in the field of virus-host interactions and coronavirus biology at USask’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). Dr. Banerjee has received multiple prestigious scholarships, fellowships, and awards, including academic and society-level awards. He has previously been honoured for his work to shed light on the novel pandemic-causing coronavirus and in enabling a Canadian rapid response to curb the impacts of COVID-19.