Awards

Every year, the GSA recognizes volunteers, graduate students, administration staff, supervisors, research assistants and teaching assistants who have gone above and beyond their job descriptions to help and support UCalgary graduate students. Review the terms of reference and application details below.
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GSA Sustainability Award

Applications/nominations are accepted via email to sustain@ucalgary.ca
Deadline: 11:59 pm MT April 13, 2023

The Graduate Student Sustainability Award recognizes exceptional graduate students who are leading initiatives that make positive contributions towards the sustainable future of UCalgary and our world. These initiative(s) may be curricular or co‐curricular in nature, but must make a measurable impact on environmental, economic and/or social wellbeing.

This award is a joint initiative with the University of Calgary. The winner will be announced at the Sustainability Awards and recognized at the GSA Awards.

The $1,500 award value is funded by the GSA ($1,250) and the Sustainability Office ($250). The winner will receive a joint-award from the GSA and the Sustainability Office.

Questions can be sent to vpfs.gsa@ucalgary.ca

Eligibility
  • Nominees must be full- or part-time students in good standing and currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at UCalgary.
  • Individuals and groups are both eligible to receive this award.
  • Self-nominations are accepted.
Criteria

1. Impact: (max. ~800 words)
Describe the impact of the nominee’s initiative.
We are looking for responses that include answers to the following questions:
a) What is the nominee’s initiative and the issue(s) it is addressing?
b) How is the initiative aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (please identify the specific goals)? Were the SDGs used to frame or develop the idea? If so, explain how.
c) What outcomes have been achieved by this initiative, including changes at a local, regional, national and/or international scale? Please include quantitative and qualitative data. d) What are the plans for this initiative in the future?

2. Innovation: (max. ~600 words)
Describe how the nominee’s initiative is creative and precedent-setting. We are looking for responses that include:
a) What new, innovative idea, approach, process or technology was used in this initiative? Or, if this is an old idea applied in a new way, please describe how.
b) How does the project, approach or process set a precedent that could enable even greater positive impact elsewhere on campus or in the broader community?

3. Engagement and Community: (max. ~600 words)
Describe how the nominee’s initiative engaged with stakeholders and the community and how the initiative was shared or promoted. We are looking for responses that include:
a) Who (students, faculty or staff; local, regional or global community, industry, government or non-governmental organizations; etc.) did the nominee engage through their initiative and how did the nominee engage with them (i.e., consult, involve, educate, serve, etc.)?
b) How did the nominee promote or share this initiative?

Requirements

Required documentation to include in your application/nomination:

  • PDF document emailed to: sustain@ucalgary.ca which includes:
    • Name, email, phone number, faculty, year of study of nominee/applicant
    • Name and contact information of two references: The two requested references should be able to provide insight into the validity of the candidate’s submission, particularly regarding the impacts. References could include a supervisor, instructor, partner, stakeholder, beneficiary of the project, etc. 
    • Answers to the three questions included within the Criteria section, following max word count

Graduate Representative Council Initiative Award

Intake Period: January 16 to 27, 2023

Intake Deadline: January 27, 2023 4:00 pm MT

This award was established by the Graduate Representative Council and funded by the Graduate Students’ Association of the University of Calgary (GSA) in recognition of students who have demonstrated initiative in improving the graduate student experience for graduate students at the University of Calgary. This award is not meant to fund an initiative, but rather recognize individuals who have created an initiative which benefits the graduate community at the University of Calgary.

Open to students registered in a graduate program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies who are in good standing in their program. GSA Committee Chairs who completed an initiative under the purview of their role as a committee chair are not eligible.

Questions can be sent to awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

Intake PeriodJanuary 16 to 27, 2023
Questions?
Contact Awards Committee at awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

NEW! To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

  • Graduate Representative Council Initiative Award Terms of Reference 2022-2023
  • GSA Awards Application Portal

GSA Excellence Awards

Every year, the GSA presents Excellence awards to support administration staff, supervisors, research assistants and teaching assistants who have gone above and beyond their job descriptions to help and support graduate students.

If you have questions, please contact awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

7 Categories of Excellence Awards

  • Excellence in Research - Graduate Student
  • Excellence in Research - Senior Researcher
  • Excellence in Teaching - Teaching Assistant
  • Excellence in Teaching - Senior Instructor
  • Excellence in Administrative Support - Senior Administrator
  • Excellence in Administrative Support - Support Staff
  • Excellence in Supervision
Intake PeriodFebruary 13 to 24, 2023
Questions?
Contact Awards Committee at awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

Intake Deadline: February 24, 2023 4:00 pm MT

NEW! To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

Please submit only when your application is complete and submit your application only ONCE. Any subsequent applications received will not be accepted for review. No exceptions.

  • GSA Excellence Award Terms of Reference 2022-23
  • GSA Excellence Award Application Portal

GSA Leadership Award

Intake Period: February 13 to 24, 2023

Intake Deadline: February 24, 2023 4:00 pm MT

The GSA will be awarding one GSA Leadership Scholarship (valued at $5000) to a graduate student (registered full-time in a graduate program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and involvement in the university community.

If you have questions, please contact the Vice President Academic at vpa.gsa@ucalgary.ca

Intake PeriodFebruary 13 to 24, 2023
Questions?
Contact Awards Committee at awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

NEW! To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

  • GSA Leadership Award Terms of Reference 2022-2023
  • GSA Awards Application Portal

NEW! To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

  • GSA Leadership Award Terms of Reference 2022-2023
  • GSA Awards Application Portal

GSA Emerging Leader Award

Intake Period: February 13 to 24, 2023

Intake Deadline: February 24, 2023 4:00 pm MT

This scholarship, valued at $2000 and awarded to one student, was established by the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) of the University of Calgary in recognition of newly-admitted students who have demonstrated outstanding academic and leadership potential, and involvement in the University of Calgary community within the 18 months of their studies.

If you have questions please contact the Vice President Academic at vpa.gsa@ucalgary.ca

Intake PeriodFebruary 13 to 24, 2023
Questions?
Contact Awards Committee at awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

NEW! To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

  • GSA Emerging Leader Award Terms of Reference 2022-2023
  • GSA Awards Application Portal

GSA Graduate Citizenship Award

Note: This award is provided by the GSA as a replacement to the Alberta Graduate Citizenship Award.

The GSA Graduate Citizenship Award recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and leadership to their community.

Please note that all graduate students are eligible to apply regardless of citizenship status (citizens, permanent residents, students on a study permit etc.). Individual awards are granted in the amount of $2,000 and 20 such awards are available to the UCalgary graduate students.

The GSA Awards Committee will choose the 20 top applications. These applications will then be sent to the GSA Board of Directors for final approval.

Intake PeriodSept. 12 - 23, 2022
Questions?
Contact Awards Committee at awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

NEW! To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

  • GSA Awards Application Portal 2022
  • GSA Terms of Reference

Late (past 4:00 PM MT on the intake deadline), partial, or incomplete applications will NOT be be reviewed. Submit only when your application is COMPLETE. Please review the Terms of Reference document before applying for full requirements.

If you have any questions, please Review the Terms of Reference before contacting awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca.

GSA/FGS Graduate Student Inclusion Scholarship

Course-based students should apply to this award through the GSA Awards portal.

Thesis-based students should apply through the Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards Competition (GAC). Competition opens November 1. Deadlines vary by program.

The University of Calgary and the Graduate Students' Association are committed to removing barriers encountered by persons with disabilities and to providing an inclusive and supportive environment with a focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). This scholarship supports graduate students with disabilities. There will be two awards given out each year, one to a thesis-based student with a disability for $2,500 through the FGS's GAC and one to a course-based graduate student with a disability for $2,500 through the GSA Awards program.

Questions can be sent to vpa.gsa@ucalgary.ca

Intake PeriodFor Course-based Stream Sept. 13 to 30, 2022
Questions?
Contact Awards Committee at awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca

To apply for GSA awards, please follow the application link to create an account and complete the application during the intake period:

  • GSA/FGS Graduate Student Inclusion Scholarship Information
  • GSA Awards Application Portal
  • 2022 GSA/FGS Inclusion Scholarship Terms of Reference (for Course-based Stream)