Awards
GSA Sustainability Award
Applications/nominations are accepted via email to sustain@ucalgary.ca
Deadline: 11:59 pm MT April 13, 2024
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 15 to 24, 2024
Intake Deadline: January 24, 2024 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
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 2023-2024
- 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 Deadline: February 9, 2024 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 2023-24
- GSA Excellence Award Application Portal
GSA Leadership Award
Intake Period: January 29 to February 9, 2024
Intake Deadline: February 9, 2024 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
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 2023-2024
- 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 2023-24
- GSA Awards Application Portal
GSA Emerging Leader Award
Intake Period: January 29 to February 9, 2024
Intake Deadline: February 9, 2024 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
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 2023-2024
- GSA Awards Application Portal
GSA Graduate Citizenship Award
Purpose
The GSA Graduate Citizenship Award recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and leadership to their community.
Value
$2000 CDN
Eligibility
To be eligible for this award, the applicant must be an Active. member of the GSA as defined by section 4, sub-section 4.2 of the GSA Bylaws during the 2023/2024 academic year.
Application Specifications
1) Summary of Volunteer & Leadership Experience
- Please make sure to fill out all boxes for each activity you list.
- In the Description of Role and Impact section please give a detailed description of the role and impact your role had.
- Please only include activities from September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2023.
- For contributions that extend beyond September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2023 period, pleas only include the dates and hours between September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023. Inclusion of hours and dates outside of this period will deem this application incomplete.
- Please provide the total time (hour for the year) commitment for each contribution.
2)Reference Letter
- One completed reference is required
- Reference can be from the Graduate Supervisor/Volunteer
- Supervisor/Manager/Team lead etc.
- Application deadline is inclusive of receipt of references.
- Ensure your reference knows that this application is a volunteer award and as such reference form should focus on your volunteer contributions over the past year (Sept. 1, 2022 - Aug 31, 2023). This may need to be stressed if you are using a professor who is used to writing you academic reference letters
Inclusion of any extra documents or material will render the application incomplete.
Intake Deadline: Thursday, October 12, 2023 4:00 pm MT
Submit applications online.
Applications and/or letter of reference received outside of the intake period will NOT be evaluated. Late applications will NOT be evaluated. Incomplete applications (unanswered questions or additional information) will NOT be evaluated. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure completeness of the application.
Documents Required
Applications should be completed online at the GSA awards website (click "submit Application" to access the application portal) and consist of:
- A complete application
- Confirmation of enrollment
- One reference letter
- Incomplete applications (missing information, extra information/documents and incorrectly filled out) or applications received after the intake deadline will NOT be considered.
Click herehere to read more about the Adjudication Criteria and Additional Regulations.
If you have any questions, please Review the Terms of Reference before contacting awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca.
GSA/FGS Graduate Student Inclusion Scholarship
Purpose
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.
Value
One (1) $2,500 CDN award (course-based students only).
Eligibilty
To be eligible for this award:
- Applicants must be in a course-based graduate degree program at the University of Calgary and self -identify as having a visible or invisible disability;
- Applicant must not have received this award previously during any degree at the University of Calgary;
- Applicant must be an Active Member of the Association as defined by Section 4, sub-section 4.2 of the Association's Bylaws Association's Bylaws during the 2023/2024 academic year;
- Applicant must be in Good Standing with the GSA, and;
- Applicant must be in Good Academic Standing with the University of Calgary.
Intake Deadline: Monday, October 2, 2023 4:00 pm MT
Submit applications online.
Applications and/or letter of reference received outside of the intake period will NOT be evaluated. Late applications will NOT be evaluated. Incomplete applications (unanswered questions or additional information) will NOT be evaluated. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure completeness of the application.
Documents Required
- A CV highlighting academic background and relevant work experience/career trajectory
- A statement of how this award will allow you to excel in your academics and pursue your desired career trajectory. This statement must not exceed 800 words.
- Incomplete applications (missing information, extra information/documents and incorrectly filled out) or applications received after the intake deadline will NOT b considered.
Click here to read more about the Adjudication Criteria and Additional Regulations.
Questions regarding this application should be directed to the GSA Awards Committee Chair or Vice Chair at can be sent to awards.gsa@ucalgary.ca.
