USask Engineering Spring 2026 Convocation Award Winners

Your hometown: Saskatoon, SK
Discipline: Chemical Engineering

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
I wanted to enter engineering because I liked math and science in high school and enjoy analytical thinking and problem solving. Also, my dad is an engineer and thought the career would be a good fit for me. I specifically decided to go to USask because I heard good things about the engineering program and was also interested in the new Re-Engineered program. Plus, I didn’t have to leave home, which was a nice bonus!

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
An experience I’ll never forget is the bridge course design class at the end of first year. Our class got the opportunity to design a solution to prevent cracks in the ice at the Saskatoon Speed Skating Oval, which I thought was cool because it was my first glimpse of a real-world engineering design problem. The Oval decided to try out the class’s solution and there was a CBC article written about it, which made the experience even more memorable.

What are your plans following convocation?
I’m planning to take a little time off to travel and hang out with friends and family. After, I’ll look to work towards earning my P.Eng designation.

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
I’m most proud to show the degree to my family because of how much they supported me through my degree and my whole life in general. I think the degree is a good representation of the culmination of that support up to this point in my life, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunities my family has given me in life.

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
I think I’d be most excited to tell my first-year self about the friends I made and the experiences I shared with them during my time in university. Whether it was working on group projects together, chilling in the engineering building in between classes, or hanging out outside of school, I’m grateful for how much better my friends made my university experience. I couldn’t have done it without them!

 

Your hometown: Swift Current
Discipline: Mechanical Engineering

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
I really enjoyed math and science in high school, I liked working with my hands and taking things apart to figure out how they work, and my parents always told me I had a good brain and that I should use it, so I figured mechanical engineering would be a great way to bring that all together while making good money.

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
MESA karaoke night with the profs when J.D. pulled off the performance of a lifetime singing Can’t Hold Us, second only to Macklemore himself. You had to be there.

What are your plans following convocation?
I am going to enjoy some time off to relax, travel, motorbike, game, play sports, and relearn a little piano and guitar before getting out into the workforce to make some money.

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
Definitely my grandparents. They are very hardworking people and they passed that trait down to my parents, so I hope I can keep making them proud of the work I do. I look up to them and they were a huge help with getting through my degree.

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
You’re going to meet a lot of really great people who will inspire and push you to be better, and even engineering gym rats who make excellent training partners. Shout out Brenden, Jared, Davis, Ryann

 

Your hometown: Annaheim, Saskatchewan
Discipline: Engineering Physics

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
Initially, I chose Engineering because I had heard it was difficult, and I just wanted to see if I could do it. I’ve always loved math and enjoyed challenging myself, and Engineering seemed to be the perfect fit. Along the way, I developed a passion for physics, which ultimately led me to Engineering Physics. This degree has given me practical technical experience to prepare me for my future, while also satisfying my curiosity and allowing me to explore how the world works through physics.

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
What I’ll remember most from this degree is the incredible people I completed it with, and the teamwork and perseverance it took to get here. Some of my favourite memories came from late nights in the lab, or hunkering down in an empty classroom working through assignments. Even the most daunting challenge could always be solved with a group of engineering students, smooth jazz playing in the background, a nice crisp chalkboard, and a sandwich from the Arts cafe.

What are your plans following convocation?
I am currently working at Environmental Instruments Canada working on radiation detector development.

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
My parents, who never had a single doubt that I could do it.

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
I would be most excited to tell my first-year self about all of the wonderful people I would meet throughout my degree. I remember feeling nervous and uncertain about entering the engineering world, and wondering whether I truly belonged. I would tell myself that everyone is figuring things out as they go, and that the friendships and shared experiences would become one of the most meaningful parts of the journey.

 

Your hometown: Saskatoon
Discipline:  Computer Engineering

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
Ever since I was young, I remember being fascinated by computers. I am also the kind of person who always wonders “why?” and “how?” something works, so studying Computer Engineering made a lot of sense.

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
I will never forget all the time I spent in the Doc Wood DSP lab. From hanging out with my fellow engineering peers and professors to staying until 4 AM trying to complete my homework, I have made many memories in that space!

What are your plans following convocation?
I will be returning to USask to pursue a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, working under Dr. Li Chen on radiation-hardened microchips! I look forward to this next chapter in my education!

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
I am very proud to show my degree to my family. They have seen me at my highs and lows and have always supported me on my academic journey!

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
All the hard work pays off! Also, once you get into your upper years and specialize in your degree, you get to learn really cool things. My first-year self will not regret choosing Computer Engineering and the DSP stream.

 

Your hometown:  Prince Albert
Discipline:  Computer Engineering

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
USask was a natural choice for me as it is close to home, allowing me to lean on my family as a support system. To be perfectly honest, the choice to study engineering came down to a coin flip between engineering and physics. As luck would have it, I am now a USask Engineering graduate. When I entered the program as a first year, I did not think that I would choose Civil Engineering. As I worked through my first year of studies, I became drawn to the sheer scale that the Civil Engineering field works at. I wanted to become part of something bigger than myself and contribute to large projects that help to better the world around me.

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
The most memorable part about studying engineering at USask was not necessarily one moment or course. I think that when I look back at my time at USask I will remember the people I met along the way. So many students and professors have touched my life in a positive way and helped to shape me into who I am today.

What are your plans following convocation?
I am working as a Junior Structural Engineer at Associated Engineering here in Saskatoon.

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
I am incredibly proud to show my degree to my parents, who have always encouraged and believed in me throughout my childhood and into my post-secondary education.

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
I would be most excited to tell my first-year self about all the friends I made along the way. I only knew a couple of other people entering the program with me and have made so many meaningful connections throughout my academic journey.

 

Your hometown:  Santa Tecla, San Salvador, El Salvador
Discipline: Environmental Engineering

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
I wanted to start a career where I could have the impact I wanted in the world around me. I know we spend a lot of hours doing our jobs, and I wanted to make sure I dedicate that time to protecting and improving the environment that we depend on for our daily lives.

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
When I worked at the Nutrien Cory Potash mine and was able to apply the technical knowledge I gained throughout my studies. This made me even more eager to gain as much knowledge as possible to try and improve processes and policies related to the natural and built environments. It also made me want to collaborate with other professions who have the skills needed to innovate and keep improving human quality of life while reducing the burden our lifestyles place on natural resources.

What are your plans following convocation?
University has taught me that often we plan our lives one way and things turn out to be quite different. So my plan after graduation is simply to be the best professional I can be wherever I am needed. Always approaching new challenges with knowing that I, as an individual, have much more to learn from those around me than vice-versa. And embracing collaboration to solve the problems that currently exist in our society.

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
Definitely my family and friends. All of my achievements in university are shared with the people who were always willing to support me. Maybe just listening to my complains about how tired I was, or congratulating me for achieving small goals throughout school. As an international student, there are several hoops one has to jump through to earn a university degree, be it legal, economical, emotional or really just a matter of language. And getting through them is something that you always need help with. Me being able to earn this degree is the fruit of the work that my grandparents, parents, sister, and friends did. It might be my name on the medal, but the achievement is shared among many people who I admire immensely.

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
I'd tell my first-year self that we've made it through; That all those fears that ran through my mind were valid, but facing them and refusing, rather  stubbornly, to give up paid off. I'd tell myself that once I'm done school I'd be looking at other life projects and challenges to keep growing as a person, and that failure, as intimidating and heartbreaking as it may be, makes me grow a lot. But most of all, I'd tell my first-year self to be observant, silent, and realize how much I can learn from those around me. I'd tell myself to be grateful for the incredibly smart and kind people that surround me.

 

Your hometown: Purdue, Saskatchewan
Discipline: Electrical Engineering

What inspired you to pursue engineering at USask?
A revolutionary piece of healthcare technology changed the life of one of my family members. Seeing what engineers could build, and how it changed the lives of people I love, made me want to be one of those people.

What is a moment or experience at USask Engineering you’ll never forget?
Flying down to Florida with a bunch of my friends to watch the launch of RADSAT-SK. After all the late nights that go into a project like that, watching something we built head into space was surreal.

What are your plans following convocation?
I'm joining USask's SIGMA program to learn the business side of engineering. My degree gave me the technical skills to build things, and now I want to learn how to turn those ideas into real products that make it out into the world.

Who are you most proud to show your degree to?
My family. They were behind me every step of the way, and getting to share this with them means a lot.

If you could talk to your first-year self, what would you be most excited to tell them about?
The robots. I'd tell them about building systems that can see, and make decisions on their own, and navigate the world. The coding that felt impossible in first-year became awesome projects with real a.