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Entering into its 11th year, the , through the  (FGS), has supported Indigenous students of Canada, including First Nations Status and Non‑Status, MĂ©tis and Inuit learners, as they pursue graduate education at the University of Calgary.

Each year, the call for applications opens in the fall, with submissions accepted from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The 2025 competition, which brings together five awards funded through both donors and the university, provided a combined total of $924,666 in annual support to Indigenous graduate scholars. Awards included in the competition are as follows:

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This past year’s competition was another record year, drawing 79 applications, with 70 students offered funding. The strong response reflects an expanding awareness of the program’s value, with growing anticipation for the 2026 competition.

“Through the Indigenous Graduate Award Competition, UCalgary is honoured to support the academic journeys and community‑driven research of Indigenous graduate students,” says , PhD, vice-provost and dean of graduate studies.

“These awards acknowledge the remarkable achievements of Indigenous scholars while reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive graduate community where Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and leadership continue to enrich and strengthen our university.”

2025 IGA recipients

The 2025 University of Calgary Indigenous Graduate Award Competition recipients include:

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) – Indigenous

• Alex Spence, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Alexis Osorio de Barros, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Aly Ledene, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Amanda Fox, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
• Andrew Crawford, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Angela Roesel, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
• Angelina McLean, master’s student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Asher Friedland, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
• Ashley Cornect-Benoit, PhD student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Ben Charbonneau, master’s student, Faculty of Science
• Blair Yoxall, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
• Brandon Eggleston, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
• Breanna Schneider, master’s student, Schulich School of Engineering
• Carson Ell, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Chantal Barber, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Chantelle Anderson, PhD student, Schulich School of Engineering
• Chase Giesbrecht, master’s student, Faculty of Science
• Chelsie Wampler, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Cindy Chartrand, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Conor Bogstie, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Dana Chaulk, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Deedra Ladouceur, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Desi Lindstrom, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Erica Van Vugt, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Gavin Woodburn, PhD student, Faculty of Science
• Gayle McKenzie, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
• Geordie Cowan, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Harmony Bright-Doucette, master’s student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Jacob Beaudoin, master’s student, Schulich School of Engineering
• James Tetreau, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Jayden Case, master’s student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Jayden Halls, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Jeffrey Horvath, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Jonathan Kaiswatum, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
• Jordan Joseph, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
• Justine Calliou, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Keeta Gladue, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
• Kourtney Horseman, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Kristina Kopp, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work
• Kourtney Horseman, master’s student, Faculty of Science
• Leroy Wolf Collar, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Lindsay Weller, master’s student, Faculty of Science
• Mandy Mercredi, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Mary Ann Forbes, master’s student, School of Public Policy
• Melissa Eastveld, PhD student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Mick Elliott, PhD student, Haskayne School of Business
• Norma Jeremick'ca Gresl, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Onyx Shelton, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Raela Thiemann, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
• Rebecca Morin, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Sarah Cardinal, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Sarah Fuhriman, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Shannon Genest, graduate certificate student, Faculty of Social Work
• Shelly Eli, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
• Simone Cormier, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Suzanne Cunningham, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Tamara Sunshine, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Tanya Ripley, master’s student, Haskayne School of Business
• Terri Cardinal, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work
• Tori Wilde, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Ursula Filis, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Valerie McDougall, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Wendy Henshaw, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work

Anne and Armando Pradella Graduate Scholarship in Public Health

• Harmony Bright-Doucette, master’s student, Cumming School of Medicine

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

• Gavin Woodburn, PhD student, Faculty of Science
• Keeta Gladue, PhD student, Werklund School of Education
• Kienan Williams, PhD student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Kristina Kopp, PhD student, Faculty of Social Work
• Matthew McConnell, PhD student, Faculty of Science
• Melissa Eastveld, PhD student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Sarah Green, PhD student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Ursula Filis, EdD student, Werklund School of Education

ii’ taa’poh’to’p Graduate Scholarship

• Angelina McLean, master’s student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Ashley Cornect-Benoit, PhD student, Cumming School of Medicine
• Chantelle Anderson, PhD student, Schulich School of Engineering
• Erica Van Vugt, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Gavin John, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• James Tetreau, master’s student, Faculty of Arts
• Jonas Stadfeld, PhD student, Faculty of Science
• Landon Odishaw-Dyck Master of Science Faculty of Science
• Leroy Wolf Collar, EdD student, Werklund School of Education
• Raela Thiemann, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
• Zoe Kreutzer, master’s student, Werklund School of Education

MĂ©tis Scholar Graduate Award

• Alice Hartley, master’s student, Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Blair Yoxall, PhD student, Faculty of Arts
• Chelsie Wampler, master’s student, Faculty of Social Work
• Cindy Chartrand, EdD student, Werklund School of Education

Strengthening Indigenous graduate mentorship

UCalgary offers a variety of resources to help graduate students strengthen their award applications and build the skills they need to succeed. The  provides workshops, scholarship cafĂ©s, and individualized guidance from peers who have secured some of Canada’s top graduate awards, including Killam and tri-agency doctoral funding. By sharing practical strategies and personal experience, GLC mentors help students approach competitive scholarships with greater clarity and confidence.

Indigenous graduate students can also access support through the  program. Led by Indigenous graduate students, SAGE creates a community grounded in mentorship, cultural connection and shared learning. It offers a welcoming environment where Indigenous scholars can build relationships, engage in meaningful discussions and support one another throughout their academic journeys.

The Indigenous Graduate Award (IGA) Competition opens annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. All Indigenous graduate students are encouraged to submit an application. Full eligibility details and application instructions are available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies .