Secondary Education Doctoral Students receive Alberta Citizenship Awards

The Alberta Graduate Citizenship Award recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their fellow students and/or Alberta communities through public service and volunteer activities. Successful candidates show a strong record of student service and community engagement; demonstrated through active involvement in non-profit organizations at any level, which include but are not limited to: student government and/or societies; clubs or organizations; community charitable and non-profit organizations. This year the Department of Secondary Education had two recipients of this award: Monica Chahal and Mandy Krahn.

Monica Chahal is a PhD candidate currently in her third year. Not only is she dedicated to her studies but she also believes in the power and necessity of volunteer work. Within Edmonton/Alberta she is an active board member of the Edmonton Science Outreach Network/ Alberta Science Literacy Association, the Scona Gardens Board of Directors and is the Mentorship Award Chair for The Canadian Committee of Graduate Students in Education (CCGSE), the graduate student caucus within Canada's national network of education researchers as part of CSSE. At the University of Alberta she is the Graduate Student Representative of the University of Alberta Sustainability committee and the Graduate Student Representative of the Faculty of Education Diversity and Equity Committee.

Mandy Krahn is a second year doctoral student who sincerely values the importance of community-building and relationships in her life and work. She is a co-president of the Secondary Education Graduate Students' Association in our department, a key role of hers including the organization of the 5th Annual Graduate Research Showcase. She volunteers at her local community centre and school in various capacities and is the New Scholar's Fund Advisor for The Canadian Committee of Graduate Students in Education (CCGSE). Mandy also volunteers her time as the Chair of the Hosting, Venue, & Guests Committee of The Jung Forum of Edmonton.

In addition, Mandy and Monica were both volunteers for Habitat for Humanity International. They worked alongside recipient families in the construction of their new homes in Edmonton and El Salvador in spring 2012.

They are both very honoured to have been selected as recipients of this award.