Take 5: Five things to know about USask’s Alumni Achievement Awards
Nominate a USask graduate for a 2025 award by April 15, 2025
1. The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Alumni Achievement Awards are presented at a gala event each fall to honour outstanding USask graduates.
Established in 1978, the Alumni Achievement Awards are presented annually to USask graduates who advance the reputation of the University of Saskatchewan and the Alumni Association. Award recipients are chosen for their outstanding achievements and innovation; commitment to excellence; community engagement and leadership; and contributions to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of society.
2. USask graduates are honoured with Alumni Achievement Awards in three categories.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour presented by the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association and recognizes an alumnus/alumna for an outstanding lifetime of personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to the social, cultural, and economic well-being of society in their field(s) of endeavor. The Outstanding Impact Alumni Achievement 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. The “One to Watch” Alumni Achievement Award recognizes young alumni who are making significant contributions to society at large and setting an example for fellow and future alumni to follow.
3. The Alumni Achievement Award is made of glass and greystone.
Greystone is a character-defining element of many buildings at USask. It has been used through more than 100 years of building as a material local to the area. Greystone can be found in historical campus buildings, such as the Peter McKinnon Building (1919), as well as in the newest sections of the Health Sciences Building (2013). When Alumni Achievement Award recipients receive their awards, it is symbolic of receiving a “piece” of the university.
4. The 2024 Alumni Achievement Awards Gala was held on Oct. 21 at Remai Modern.
USask has more than 175,000 alumni living in more than 120 countries around the world. In 2024, six outstanding USask graduates were recognized with Alumni Achievement Awards: Murad Al-Katib (BComm’94), the founder, president, and CEO of AGT Foods; Dr. Jim Dosman (BA’59, MD’63, MA’69), a clinician-scientist who is considered the “Father of Agricultural Medicine” in Canada; Judy Pelly (BEd’85), a lifelong advocate and educator; Andrew Chau (BComm’09), a visionary tech entrepreneur who co-founded SkipTheDishes and Neo Financial; Neal Kewistep (MPA’11), a co-founder of the Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference known for his work in Indigenous governance and economic development; and Dr. Arinjay Banerjee (PhD’18), a rising star in the field of virus-host interactions and coronavirus biology at USask’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).
5. Nominations are now open for the 2025 Alumni Achievement Awards.
Do you know a fellow USask graduate deserving of this prestigious award? Nominate them before the deadline of April 15, 2025. The Alumni Achievement Award nomination form is available online. Please review the terms of reference before submitting a nomination. For questions, please contact the Advancement Office by emailing awards@usask.caor by calling 1-800-699-1907 / 306-966-5186.
