William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award

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. 

Recipients of the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award are compassionate catalysts for positive change, problem solvers, imaginative thinkers, and doers dedicated to serving their communities for years to come.

Students must be nominated and then selected by a diverse committee of faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners. Up to five students will be inducted into the William Muir Edwards Society and receive a $10,000 award.

Nominations will be open from February 1 - March 30.

Nomination Eligibility

• Enrolled full-time in a University of Alberta undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Engineering.
• Returning to full-time undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Engineering (students currently in their final year of study are not eligible).
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a full-time course load in the previous two academic terms.
• Co-op students are eligible for this award.
• Are able to receive the full value of the award, if selected.
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Evaluation Criteria

Students will be evaluated on:

• Volunteerism, public service, contributions and initiatives that make the world a better place through selfless efforts. This may include humanitarian, entrepreneurial, social, scientific, or technical pursuits, and can include both on- and off-campus contributions.
• Breadth of citizenship: Breadth refers to how wide-ranging, diverse and comprehensive one’s efforts are toward making a significant positive change in their community.
• Impact of citizenship: Impact refers to having a strong and tangible effect on the community or cause; it reflects the quality of work and volunteer activities that result in long-term benefits and an overall lasting change.

Please note that contributions made as part of a paid position will not be considered and that the contributions and activities must be current. Details about past activities can be provided, but students, nominees, and references must demonstrate how the student is still actively engaged in citizenship. Applicants should also demonstrate that their activities are beyond the normal expectations, scope, or requirements of the institutions/organizations they are a part of.

What is Citizenship?

Citizenship, in our view, is service above self and playing a role in improving the lives of others. This can be seen through volunteerism, public service, community or societal engagement, innovation, or any efforts that enrich the lives of others and impact our environment or communities.

For answers to frequently asked questions, please see our William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award FAQ.

How to Nominate

Step 3

In their application, students will be required to provide contact information for a reference. Be sure to choose someone who can speak, from their own experience, about one or more of the points that you have included in your scholarship application. Your reference will automatically be contacted to provide a letter of reference.