SAMU Awards
January 13 @ 8:00 am - February 24 @ 4:00 pm
Nominations are now open for the 2025 SAMU Awards! Nominate yourself or a deserving individual through the form below.
2025 SAMU Awards Nomination Form
2025 SAMU Awards Nominations
Each year, we recognize the contributions of students, student groups, MacEwan employees, SAMU staff members, and volunteers toward making our campus a vibrant, thriving community.
Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their contributions to campus life? Are you an active and engaged member of our community? Learn more about each of our awards below and nominate yourself or a deserving individual today!
Nominations close: February 24, 2025 @ 4:00 PM
Award Categories
Campus Champion
This award is presented to a student who has made an outstanding contribution to student life at their campus through academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, and/or participation in leadership or student advocacy efforts. One award is available for MacEwan University. Presentation of the awards occurs at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $250 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be members of the Students’ Association of MacEwan University.
- Nominees should have a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.7 or higher.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active involvement on their campuses. Nominee involvement may be expressed through involvement in SAMU, its clubs, MacEwan University, independently, or a combination of any of the former.
Student Group of the Year
This award is presented to a club that has demonstrated outstanding performance in its membership, campus activities, and overall contributions to student life at MacEwan University. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful club receives $400 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be in good standing with SAMU.
- Nominees must have been active student groups for at least two consecutive years.
- Nominee eligibility is verified by the Student Groups Department.
- Nominees have had success in achieving their mandate as demonstrated by their activities and annual reports.
- Nominees show a high level of student involvement.
- Nominees offer opportunities for students who are not student group members to engage in and benefit from their activities.
- Nominees collaborate with other student groups.
New Student Group of the Year
This award is presented to a student group that has been active for less than two years from their formation and has demonstrated positive strides in their membership, campus activities, and contribution to student life at MacEwan University. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful student group receives $250 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be in good standing with SAMU.
- Nominees must have been active for less than two consecutive years.
- Nominee eligibility is verified by the Student Groups Department.
- Nominees have had success in achieving their mandates as demonstrated by their activities.
- Nominees show an increasing level of student involvement.
- Nominees offer opportunities for students who are not student group members to engage in and benefit from their activities.
- Nominees collaborate with other student groups.
Student Group Member of the Year
This award is presented to a student group member who has shown an outstanding contribution to their student group(s) through the various initiatives, campaigns etc. that this student group(s) has undertaken. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $250 and a certificate of acheivement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominee must be a SAMU member and in good academic standing with MacEwan University.
- The student group(s) that the nominee is a part of must be in good standing with SAMU
- The Student Groups department at SAMU will verify the nominee’s eligibility
- Nominees show active and ongoing involvement in one or more student group(s).
- Nominees have helped to increase their student group(s) engagement and visibility on campus.
- Nominees interact with other student group leaders and show good teamwork skills.
Student of the Year
This award is presented to a student who, while maintaining a strong GPA, has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to student life at MacEwan University through extracurricular, voluntary pursuits, leadership, and advocacy initiatives. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $500 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be full- time members of the Students’ Assocation of MacEwan University.
- Nominees have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their most recent semester.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active involvement in extracurricular and voluntary pursuits, and leadership and advocacy initiatives. Nominee involvement may be expressed through involvement in SAMU, its clubs, MacEwan University, independently, or a combination of any of the former.
Dorothy Gray Award
This award is presented to a current or past MacEwan University employee who has demonstrated service and support to SAMU above and beyond their job requirements. The award is presented in honour of Dorothy Gray, who was a MacEwan University employee and a strong supporter of and volunteer for SAMU. One award is available each year. The recipient is invited to and will be acknowledged at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives a certificate of achievement and SAMU makes a $300 donation to the recipient’s charity of choice.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be current or past employees of MacEwan University. Staff, faculty, and administrators are all eligible.
- Nominees demonstrate involvement in SAMU above and beyond their job requirements.
- Both ongoing, active support and significant one-time support is considered.
- Preference is given to employees who have volunteered with SAMU.
SAMU Volunteer of the Year
This award is presented to a student volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to SAMU through their volunteerism and philanthropic efforts. One award is available each year. Presentation of the awards occurs at the SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $250 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be a SAMU member.
- Nominees must accumulate at least 75 hours as a SAMU volunteer.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active volunteer involvement in SAMU.
SAMU Safe Walk Volunteer of the Year
This award is presented to a student volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the SAMU Safe Walk service through their volunteerism and philanthropic efforts. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at the SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $50 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be a SAMU member.
- Nominees must accumulate at least 25 hours as a Safe Walk volunteer.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active involvement with SAMU’s Safe Walk service.
SAMU Peer Support Volunteer of the Year
This award is presented to a student volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the SAMU Peer Support service through their volunteerism and philanthropic efforts. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at the SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $50 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be a SAMU member.
- Nominees must accumulate at least 30 hours, excluding training, as a Peer Support volunteer.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active involvement with SAMU’s Peer Support service.
SAMU Food Support Volunteer of the Year
This award is presented to a student volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the SAMU Food Support service through their volunteerism and philanthropic efforts. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at the SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $50 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be a SAMU member.
- Nominees must accumulate at least 25 hours as a Food Support volunteer.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active involvement with SAMU’s Food Support service, which includes Breakfast Club.
SAMU Promo Squad Volunteer of the Year
This award is presented to a student volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the SAMU Promo Squad program through their volunteerism and philanthropic efforts. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at the SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives $50 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be a SAMU member.
- Nominees must accumulate at least 25 hours as a Promo Squad volunteer.
- Nominees should demonstrate ongoing, active involvement with SAMU’s Promo Squad program.
The Griff Volunteer of the Year
This award is presented to a student volunteer at the griff who offers a significant contribution to student life at MacEwan University through their published work. One award is available each year. Presentation of the award occurs at SAMU’s annual recognition event. The successful nominee receives a $50 and a certificate of achievement.
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Nominees must be a SAMU member.
- Nominees must have had at least one composition published in the griff during the current academic year.
- the griff editors are not eligible.
- The Managing Editor and staff of the griff are responsible for establishing further criteria.
Nominate yourself or a deserving individual today!
For further details regarding award eligibility, criteria, and the nomination and selection process, download the detailed awards information document below.
Nominations close: February 24, 2025 @ 4:00 PM
Detailed Awards Information
Download the Awards procedure document below for a detailed description of each award, the selection process and guiding principles: