MOOSE JAW — Students who take electrical engineering technology at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus and are in the final year of their program are now eligible for a new financial award.
The Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation recently donated $200,004 to establish an endowment for student awards that recognizes outstanding graduating students in programs for which each campus is historically renowned.
Samit Sharma believes in the importance of post-secondary education, the power of knowledge and the value of excellence. Those key values led Sharma, an engineer and entrepreneur, to invest in Sask. Polytech and its students. He attended graduate school in Saskatchewan and met many accomplished alumni throughout his career.
“Our goal with the foundation is to celebrate excellence —excellence in education and in student achievement,” Sharma said.
“By establishing this endowment, we want to recognize the high quality of Sask. Polytech programming and reward students who have excelled academically and demonstrated exceptional leadership and community involvement."
The newly established Samit and Reshma Sharma Excellence Awards are available for eligible students who are enrolled full-time in their final year in:
- Moose Jaw campus: Electrical Engineering Technology
- Regina campus: Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Saskatoon campus: Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology
- Prince Albert campus: Integrated Resource Management
To be considered for these awards, students must exhibit strong academic performance, leadership skills and community engagement. While each award is worth $2,500 initially, the value will increase over time as the endowment grows. The inaugural student awards — $10,000 in total — will be granted next spring through a nomination process within the four programs.
“In Canada, I find that people are shy talking about what they excel at. With these awards, I want to put a spotlight on some of Sask. Polytech’s excellent programs. We can achieve great heights when we talk about our success,” said Sharma. “Sharing what we excel at can become a lightning rod for others to follow suit.”
Erin Werner, director of development at Sask. Polytech, thanked the Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation “for its generous and enduring support” of the educational institution’s students and their pursuit of excellence.
“Excellence is also one of Sask. Polytech’s values. This gift from the Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation highlights this important value we have in common and will provide financial assistance to students for many years to come,” Werner added.
Sharma recognizes education’s critical role in generating new knowledge to benefit people and communities. His positive experiences in post-secondary education inspired him to support universities, colleges, polytechnics and high schools through his foundation.
The Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation is committed to have a meaningful effect in Saskatchewan and Canada by empowering students to reach their full potential. Through its generous donation, the foundation aims to inspire students to strive for excellence and contribute to their respective fields.
Endowments play a vital role in providing ongoing financial support to students, as award endowments offer long-term financial support for student awards, Sask. Polytech said. The principal amount is invested and the earnings generated are used to fund the ongoing awards.
Anyone interested in giving to Sask. Polytech students or investing in an endowment can visit alumni.saskpolytech.ca.
