2024 SAIT
President's Awards
2024 President's Awards recipients
SAIT is proud to recognize and celebrate transformational community impact, partnership and student leadership through the President's Awards: the President's Medal and the President's Student Leadership Award.
We're excited to introduce you to the 2024 SAIT President's Awards recipients.
Jameela "Jam" Castillo
2024 President's Medal
Business Administration '24, School of Business
Like many students at SAIT, Jameela “Jam” Castillo's journey involves determination, sacrifice, commitment and resilience. Originally from the Philippines, she bravely decided to further her education at SAIT, leaving her support network to pursue her dream. Possessing a strong sense of compassion, community, and enthusiasm for helping others, Castillo dedicates her free time to volunteer in various roles both on and off the SAIT campus while working to support herself and maintain academic excellence. Castillo exemplifies community engagement and leadership, creating opportunities in challenging times and positively impacting her fellow students, SAIT and the surrounding community.
- 2023 — Sanoop Sadique
- 2022 — Liam Hunter
- 2021 — Rigel Raju
- 2020 — Ryan Morstad
- 2020 — Yatendra Solanki
- 2019 — Sara Land
- 2018 — Akhil Sharma
- 2017 — Hamzah Al Hakime
- 2017 — Yekaterina (Kat) Giyasova
Student Petroleum Society (SPS)
2024 President's Student Leadership Award
The Student Petroleum Society (SPS) is a non-profit, student-run club that focuses on creating a supportive and collaborative community with students, alumni and industry partners. Throughout the year, SPS works hard to increase the club’s visibility within the industry through events and speaking engagements. Additionally, SPS dedicates a lot of time to promoting community among its members through unique programming and opportunities, such as discounts to local establishments, educational field trips, technical presentations, industry events and professional development opportunities to supplement their education at SAIT with training and safety courses. They continue to support and assist students and industry professionals within the petroleum sector, ensuring they have access to resources, guidance and opportunities for growth and advancement.
Environmental Technology Students Organization (ETSO)
2024 President's Student Leadership Award
SAIT’s Environmental Technology Students Organization (ETSO) creates professional development opportunities and sustainable activities that impact fellow students and the community. While managing a challenging, full-time course load in the Environmental Technology program, ETSO develops and creates learning and networking opportunities for first- and second-year students. This year’s executive brought students, SAIT alumni, industry partners and community members together for ETSO’s largest Industry Night, where all participated in meaningful sustainability discussions and connected. The student organization has also gone the extra mile, sharing its knowledge with students in the Chemical Laboratory Technology (CLT) and Integrated Water Management (IWM) programs on developing their own student clubs and leveraging connections with SAIT’s alumni, industry partners and community members.
- 2023 — BGIS Student Club
- 2022 — Saitsa Pride+ Club (formerly Saitsa LGBTQ+ Club)
- 2021 — Student Investment Management Trust
- 2020 — Beta Sigma Tau, SAIT's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa
- 2019 — Enactus
- 2018 — 2018 SAIT Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Team
- 2018 — SAIT Accounting Society
- 2017 — Instrumentation Club
- 2016 — Lorie Tran
- 2016 — Student Petroleum Society
- 2015 — Architectural Technologies Student Association
- 2015 — Amanda Siebert
- 2014 — Saitsa
- 2014 — Enactus
Awards categories and criteria
Click on the award category below to view information about the award, including criteria and nomination status.
❗️ Award nominations for 2024 are now closed. Recipients will be announced leading up to the 2024 Spring Convocation.
The President's Medal is an individual award and celebrates outstanding student achievement. The recipient of the President's Medal will have made significant contributions to campus life, demonstrated leadership with industry and achieved excellence in their field of study.
Submissions for this award could include examples of the following:
- Collaboration and connection with industry
- Projects to improve campus life for students
- Projects, activities or volunteer efforts that strengthen SAIT's reputation in the community
This award is open only to graduating students in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
❗️Self-nominations will be accepted but require a letter of support from their Academic Chair or Dean.
The President's Student Leadership Award recognizes a student group or club that has demonstrated innovation and initiative in creating opportunities for SAIT, fellow students, industry and the community.
Submissions for this award could include examples of the following:
- Meaningful collaboration and/or connection with industry
- Projects to improve campus life for students
- Projects, activities or volunteer efforts that strengthen SAIT's reputation in the community
Nominations by a group or club member will be accepted.
Convocation is one of the most important times for SAIT students. They have worked hard to achieve their credential and look forward to the official ceremony that marks this truly special day. Every spring and fall convocation includes a valedictorian address at each of the ceremonies. We're currently looking for four (4) Valedictorians for the 2024 Spring Convocation ceremonies.
Valedictorians are chosen based on the following:
- Must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Must be eligible to graduate
- Must have strong public speaking ability (recipients will deliver a speech at one of the 2024 Spring Convocation ceremonies)
- Have leadership traits and contribute to the SAIT community
❗️ Nominations submitted by someone other than a Dean require a letter of support from the Dean of the nominee’s school. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Questions?
Should you have any additional questions regarding President's Awards nominations, please contact Alyssa Athanasopoulos at alyssa.athanasopoulos@sait.ca.
For questions regarding the valedictorian nominations or process, please contact Danielle Delera at danielle.delera@sait.ca.
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.