Indigenous Graduate Award spotlights student excellence at UCalgary

For more than a decade, the Indigenous Graduate Award Competition (IGA) has supported Canadian Indigenous students (First Nations Status/Non-Status, Métis and Inuit) pursuing graduate studies at the University of Calgary. 

Above image: Keeta Gladue a PhD student in Educational Research is a 2024 recipient of the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) – Indigenous and the ii' taa'poh'to'p Graduate Scholarship.

Administered through the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the competition brings together five donor- and university-funded awards: the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) – Indigenous; the Anne and Armando Pradella Graduate Scholarship in Public Health; the ii’ taa’poh’to’p Graduate Scholarship; the ii' taa'poh'to'p Ahead of Tomorrow Graduate Scholarship; and the Métis Scholar Graduate Award. 

Together, these awards provide a total of $941,400 in funding each year. Held each fall, the competition runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

This past year’s competition drew a record 76 applications, with 61 students offered funding. The strong response highlights the growing impact of the program and sets the stage for another successful year in 2025.

“UCalgary is honoured to fund Indigenous graduate students through the Indigenous Graduate Award Competition, fostering their research, leadership and contributions to their communities,” says Dr. Tara Beattie, PhD, vice-provost and dean of Graduate Studies.

“These awards recognize the excellence of Indigenous scholars while strengthening the diverse perspectives that enrich our graduate community. Their success reflects UCalgary’s commitment to an inclusive and empowering research environment where Indigenous voices and knowledge make vital contributions to society.”

2024 IGA recipients

The recipients of the 2024 University of Calgary Indigenous Graduate Award Competition (IGA) are:

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES)

• Chantelle Anderson, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
• Evan Anderson, PhD student, Educational Research
• Chantal Barber, Master’s student, Management
• Lindy Beauchamp, Master’s student, Social Work
• Danielle Bernier, Master’s student, Management
• Bobbi Boyce, Post-Degree Diploma, Data Science and Analytics
• Justine Calliou, Master’s student, Social Work
• Terri Cardinal, PhD student, Social Work
• Dana Chaulk, PhD student, Educational Research
• Shea Coburn, Master’s student, Management
• Ashley Cornect-Benoit, PhD student, Community Health Sciences
• Geordie Cowan, Master’s student, Drama
• Ryan Crosschild, PhD student, Political Science
• Erin Creegan-Dougherty, Master’s student, Management
• Zanne Cunningham, Master’s student, Social Work
• Mick Elliott, PhD student, Management
• Melissa Eastveld, PhD student, Nursing
• Asher Friedland, PhD student, Educational Psychology
• Keeta Gladue, PhD student, Educational Research
• Kass Green, Master’s student, Social Work
• Brianna Henry, Master’s student, Educational Psychology
• Tyler Hiltermann, PhD student, Chemistry
• Kourtney Horseman, Master’s student, Social Work
• Jeffrey Horvath, PhD student, Educational Research
• Riley Howard, Master’s student, Pathologists' Assistant
• Shea Iles, Master’s student, Music
• Norma Jeremick'ca Gresl
• Kristina Kopp, PhD student, Social Work
• Zoe Kreutzer, Master’s student, Educational Psychology
• Jaiden Kuchinka, Master’s student, Community Health Sciences
• Deedra Ladouceur, Master’s student, Drama
• Savannah Lightfoot, PhD student, Neuroscience
• Jeri-Lee Lomond, Post-Degree Certificate, Clinical Social Work Practice
• Jasmine McDermott, Master’s student, Mechanical Engineering
• Valerie McDougall, PhD student, Educational Research
• Matthew McConnell, Master’s student, Computer Science
• Gayle McKenzie, PhD student, Educational Research
• Angelina McLean, Master’s student, Community Health Sciences
• Hugh Pambrun, Master’s student, Management
• Ben Pearman, Master’s student, Computer Science
• Jillian Philpott, Master’s student, Management
• Angela Roesel, Post-Degree Certificate, Clinical Social Work Practice
• Devon Ruscheinski, Master’s student, Environmental Design
• Alyssa Savoury, Post-Degree Certificate, Clinical Social Work Practice
• Jared Schlechte, PhD student, Immunology
• Donovan Seidel, Master’s student, Community Health Sciences
• Natasha Skyrpan, Master’s student, Social Work
• Jonas Stadfeld, PhD student, Biological Sciences
• Lee Stevens, PhD student, Social Work
• James Tetreau, Master’s student, Anthropology
• Raela Thiemann, Master’s student, Clinical Psychology
• Stephanie Tipple, PhD student, Educational Psychology
• Erica Van Vugt, Master’s student, Archaeology
• Chelsie Wampler, Master’s student, Social Work
• Aubrey Watson, Master’s student, Social Work
• Tori Wilde, Master’s student, Clinical Psychology
• Kienan Williams, PhD student, Community Health Sciences
• Leroy Wolf Collar, PhD student, Educational Research
• Gavin Woodburn, Master’s student, Geoscience

Anne and Armando Pradella Graduate Scholarship in Public Health

• Angelina Mclean, Master’s student, Community Health Sciences

ii' taa'poh'to'p Ahead of Tomorrow Graduate Scholarship

• Ryan Crosschild, PhD student, Political Science
• Sarah Green, PhD student, Educational Research
• Kristina Kopp, PhD student, Social Work 

ii’ taa’poh’to’p Graduate Scholarship

• Chantelle Anderson, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
• Terri Cardinal, PhD student, Social Work
• Melissa Eastveld, PhD student, Nursing
• Asher Friedland, PhD student, Educational Psychology
• Keeta Gladue, PhD student, Educational Research
• Jaiden Kuchinka, Master’s student, Community Health Sciences
• Jani Lambert-Thomas, PhD student, Educational Research
• Stephanie Tipple, PhD student, Educational Psychology
• Tori Wilde, Master’s student, Clinical Psychology
• Kienan Williams, PhD student, Community Health Sciences
• Leroy Wolf Collar, PhD student, Educational Research

Métis Scholar Graduate Award

• Zanne Cunningham, Master’s student, Social Work
• Kass Green, Master’s student, Social Work
• Savannah Lightfoot, PhD student, Neuroscience
• Jonas Stadfeld, PhD student, Biological Sciences
• Chelsie Wampler, Master’s student, Social Work

Peer-to-peer supports and mentorship

Graduate students at UCalgary have access to a wide range of supports to strengthen their award applications and set themselves up for success. 

Through workshops, scholarship cafés and one-on-one mentoring sessions, the Graduate Leaders Circle connects students with peers who have earned some of Canada’s most prestigious graduate awards, including the Vanier, Killam and tri-agency doctoral scholarships. These mentors share their experiences and strategies, helping fellow students navigate the competitive funding landscape with greater confidence.

For Indigenous graduate students, the Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement (SAGE) program offers a student-led community that fosters mentorship, cultural engagement and connection. SAGE UCalgary is a space where Indigenous scholars can support one another and thrive in their academic journeys.

This year's IGA Competition runs to Oct. 15. All Indigenous graduate students are encouraged to apply. 

More information on application details can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.