2020 William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award: Jaime Hicks

It wasn’t a big revelation that drove Jaime Hicks to study environmental engineering but an accumulation of experiences that showed her the possibilities of a career in STEM.

When she was 15, Hicks met her first STEM role model — a math tutor — who was pursuing a master’s degree in earth and atmospheric sciences.

“She was smart, funny, and an expert at math,” says Hicks. “I was astonished to discover that fun and science could mix!”

Supplementing her formal education in the Faculty of Engineering with coding and computer science activities and programs, Hicks has kept all doors open academically, but she is also deeply engaged in uplifting women and girls in the broader community through a robust schedule of volunteerism.

Finding few role models in engineering, Hicks volunteered with WISEST (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology) in 2019 to help empower women to succeed in STEM education and careers. As a WISEST intern, Hicks launched the first ever Summer Research Program Alumni Event for participants from the 2014-2019 programs. Other innovative initiatives, says Fervone Goings, Team Lead at WISEST, have helped to move the organization forward.

“Lack of role models, unconscious bias, lack of mentorship and cultural norms can prevent young women from succeeding,” says Goings. “Whether at the front of the classroom teaching workshops or creating inspiring activities and curriculum, Jaime is there.”

From 2018 on, Hicks has volunteered as a Canada Learning Code Chapter Coordinator, where she serves as on-site technical support and mentor to participants from all across Alberta at the Kids, Girls and Teens coding workshops. As a mentor, Hicks received several volunteer recognition awards for her willingness to go over and above the expectations of her role.

In 2019, she also worked with the DiscoverE Engineering Camps as a Girl’s Club volunteer, Summer Camp Instructor, Resource Coordinator, and Saturday Camp Instructor, and is a long-standing mentor with the Female Engineering Mentorship (FEM+) Program. As an ambassador for female high school students who plan to enter engineering at the U of A, Hicks created Everything you need to know for your first day at university, providing useful tips to make students’ transition to university smoother.

As FEM program supervisor Nicole Dyck notes, Hicks is unwavering in her commitment to the empowerment and mentorship of underrepresented demographics in STEM fields.

“A true leader already, Jaime demonstrates a humble passion for the betterment of engineering grounded in a genuine regard for equity, inclusion, and diversity,” says Dyck. 

In receiving the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award, Hicks says that she doesn’t volunteer for recognition but because she is passionate about her impact on society.

“I see myself as a role model for young girls because I am committed to the empowerment of women,” says Hicks. “I want to follow in the footsteps of my tutor and be a role model for others.”

Named in honour of the Faculty of Engineering’s founding professor, the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award recognizes Engineering at Alberta undergraduate students who have made exceptional contributions to society. It’s a celebration of citizenship and of engineering students who go to extraordinary lengths to make our world a better place. Special thanks to the David Morris Family Foundation for supporting our students and making the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Awards possible.