Celebrating Exceptional Leadership: The 2024 GSA Gala Award Recipients

On April 24^th, the GSA honoured 21 remarkable individuals from various fields for their unwavering dedication and support. These exceptional individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the graduate student community.

Amongst the recipients was Colin MacKenzie, a PhD candidate in Biological Sciences and the Chair of the Mental Health and Wellness Subcommittee who received the Leadership Award. Colin’s efforts and passionate advocacy for mental health awareness on campus have been truly commendable. Since joining the GSA Committees in 2021, Colin has demonstrated unparalleled commitment, spearheading initiatives to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for graduate students. Notably, Colin played a pivotal role in organizing the first intersectionality Symposium, a collaborative effort aimed at raising awareness of mental health, gender, sexual health, and other EDIA subjects within the university community.

Another standout leader honored at the Gala was Garima Mehta from the Haskayne School of Business, who received the Emerging Leader Award. As the Chair of the Newcomers and International Students Subcommittee, Garima has played a crucial role in welcoming international students into a new country and environment. Their efforts have not only facilitated a smooth transition for newcomers but have also raised thousands of dollars for the Canadian Mental Health Association, underscoring their commitment to making a positive impact both locally and globally.

The Awards Gala also recognized a host of other exceptional individuals who have demonstrated exemplary support for UCalgary graduate students. From excellence in administrative support and research to teaching and sustainability, each award recipient has left an indelible mark on the graduate student community through their dedication and service.

Below are the recipients of the 2023-24 GSA Awards:

Excellence in Administrative Support – Support Staff 

Brian Baillie, Lab technician at the department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Excellence in Administrative Support – Senior Admin 

Dr. Gopal Achari, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at Schulich School of Engineering

Excellence in Research – Graduate Students 

Chantal Rytz, PhD student in Medical Sciences at the Cumming School of Medicine

Excellence in Research – Research Affiliate 

Barbara Waddell, Department of Microbiology

Excellence in Supervision 

Dr. W. Brent Edwards, Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology

Excellence in Teaching – Graduate Student 

Amanda Seyler, Masters student in Department of Anthropology and Archaeology

Excellence in Teaching – Senior Instructor 

Dr. Raafat El-Hacha, Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering

Leadership Award 

Colin MacKenzie, PhD candidate in Biological Sciences and Chair of the Mental Health and Wellness Subcommittee

Emerging Leader Award 

Garima Mehta, from the Haskayne School of Business and Chair of the Newcomers and International Students Subcommittee

GSA Champion Award 

Taruneesh Sachdeva, GSA Executive Coordinator 

Lifetime Achievement Award 

Allan Lyons

Graduate Representative Council Distinguished Service Award 

Kristaps Balodis,

Volunteer Excellence Awards 

• Lauren Bowron, Chair of the GSA Awards Committee
• Samantha McIntosh, Commissioner to the Vice President Academic  
• Parth Pandya, Member of the Finance Standing and Health and Dental Search Committees  
• Jessica Revington, abGPAC 3^rd Director
• Caroline Luszawski, Vice-chair of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Sub-committee

Graduate Student Sustainability Award 

Holly Basiuk

Graduate Representative Council Initiative Awards 

• STEM Together Project : Leonie O’Sullivan
• Calgary Persian Library Project: Nazanin Mousavi
• Anthropology and Archaelogy Community Pantry Project: Pamela Narvaez,

The GSA extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Awards Committee and GSA Vice President Academic, Kirsten Neprily, for their meticulous work in the selection process. Their dedication ensured that the recipients of the 2023-2024 GSA Awards were truly deserving of recognition for their outstanding contributions.

Join the GSA in celebrating their excellence and reaffirming our commitment to supporting and uplifting the graduate student community at the University of Calgary.