The 2026 Alumni Achievement Award recipients. Back row from left: John Desjarlais (BE'11, MBA'15), Piya Chattopadyay (BA'95), Bryce Boynton (BSN'17). Front row from left: Dr. Lorne Babiuk (BSA'67, MSc'69, DSc'87, DSc'14), Cianna Murray (BSKI'17, BEd'18), Dr. Tom Warkentin (PhD'92). (Photos by Dave Stobbe)

Take 5: Five things to know about the 2026 USask Alumni Achievement Awards

Six outstanding USask graduates were celebrated during a gala at Remai Modern

By Sean Conroy

The 2026 University of Saskatchewan (USask) Alumni Achievement Awards gala brought alumni, supporters, and university leaders together at Remai Modern on Oct. 26 to celebrate six outstanding graduates whose achievements and contributions are creating meaningful impact in their communities and around the world. 

1. The Alumni Achievement Awards celebrate some of the most accomplished members of the USask alumni community.

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.

Established in 1978, the Alumni Achievement Awards are presented annually and recognize outstanding graduates whose achievements, leadership, community engagement, and service have made a meaningful impact on society.

2. Alumni Achievement Awards are presented in three categories.

USask President Vince Bruni-Bossio speaks during the 2026 Alumni Achievement Awards gala.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour presented by the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association and recognizes a lifetime of achievement and contribution. 

The Outstanding Impact Award honours alumni whose leadership and accomplishments are making a significant difference today. 

The One to Watch Award recognizes emerging alumni whose achievements demonstrate exceptional promise and inspire fellow graduates and future alumni.  

3. And the winners are....

USask graduate Keith Hayward (BSA'82, MS'85), a member of the Alumni Advisory Board and chair of the Alumni Association Awards Committee, speaks during the 2026 gala.

This year's recipients represent a remarkable range of fields and contributions.: 

One to Watch Award recipients 

  • Bryce Boynton (BSN'17): Bryce Boynton is a registered nurse and a leader in Saskatchewan’s health-care system who is passionate about creating positive environments for patients and nurses alike. Since graduating from the College of Nursing at USask in 2017, Boynton has made a difference in urban, rural, and remote communities and has worked in a variety of settings, including in public health, primary care, home care, mental health and addictions, and dental care. 
  • Cianna Murray (BSKI'17, BEd'18): Cianna Murray is an accomplished international ice hockey referee whose career has been defined by excellence, leadership, and a lasting impact on the growth of the game. Beginning her officiating journey at just 12 years old, Murray has since become one of Canada’s top officials, representing the country at multiple Olympic Winter Games and IIHF Women’s World Championships.  

Outstanding Impact Award recipients 

  • Piya Chattopadhyay (BA'95): Award-winning Canadian broadcast journalist Piya Chattopadhyay is known as one of the country’s most trusted voices in public broadcasting. With a career spanning more than two decades in radio and television, she has built a distinguished reputation for thoughtful, probing journalism that brings diverse voices and complex issues to the forefront of public conversation. 
  • John Desjarlais (BE'11, MBA'15): As a professional engineer, John Desjarlais is committed to seeking solutions that address some of the challenges and opportunities faced by society, including Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan and across Canada. A Néhinaw-Métis citizen from Cumberland House, Sask., and a respected leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and business, Desjarlais facilitates sustainable economic development that respects Indigenous sovereignty and advocates for equitable inclusion in the natural resources sector. 

Lifetime Achievement Award recipients 

  • Dr. Lorne Babiuk (BSA'67, MSc'69, DSc'87, DSc'14): Dr. Lorne Babiuk is an internationally recognized leader in Canadian vaccine research who has devoted his career to safeguarding the health of people and animals at home and abroad. His contributions to immunology, virology, and vaccinology have led to the development of vaccines that have significantly impacted global health outcomes by reducing mortality and morbidity. Throughout his career, Babiuk’s work has been global in scope, and he has engaged in research activities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 
  • Dr. Tom Warkentin (PhD'92): A renowned plant breeder, Dr. Tom Warkentin has been instrumental in meeting the evolving needs of the agricultural sector, particularly as demand for plant-based protein continues to rise around the world. Through his breeding program, Warkentin is ensuring farmers have access to plant varieties that are not only productive but aligned with industry standards for food processing and nutrition. His work also addresses major agronomic challenges, such as root rot in peas—a disease that significantly affects crop yields in Western Canada.

4. Every Alumni Achievement Award includes a piece of USask history.

The Alumni Achievement Award is made of glass and greystone, a character-defining element of many buildings at USask.

The award is crafted from glass and greystone. Greystone is one of the defining architectural elements of the USask campus and has been used in university buildings for more than a century. 

Receiving an Alumni Achievement Award is symbolic of receiving a piece of USask itself.

5. The 2026 Alumni Achievement Awards gala brought alumni, supporters, and members of the USask community together at Remai Modern.

Broadcaster and USask alumnus Jeff Rogstad (BA'82, ARTS'85) served as the emcee for the Alumni Achievement Awards gala.

The gala was hosted by Jeff Rogstad (BA’82, ARTS’85), broadcaster and longtime member of the Saskatoon Soaps. USask President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vince Bruni-Bossio (MBA’10, PhD’21) brought greetings, along with Keith Hayward (BSA’82, MSc’85), chair of the Alumni Achievement Awards Committee, and Elder Judy Pelly (BEd’85), who opened the event in a Good Way. 

Held at one of Saskatoon's signature cultural venues, the gala provided an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the recipients while bringing together members of the broader USask alumni community.  

See more photos from the gala. 
 
Nominate a deserving alum for a 2027 Alumni Achievement Award.