UBC Faculty of Education created the Alumni Educator of the Year Award in 2012 to recognize the outstanding achievements by our alumni who are making exceptional impacts in the lives of their students and learning communities.
Award Description
The Alumni Educator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievements by UBC Faculty of Education alumni who are making exceptional impacts in the lives of their students and learning communities.
Award Criteria
Nominees are UBC Faculty of Education graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, and who are currently working as educators in schools, educational institutions or community organizations. They are individuals who have a record of outstanding teaching practice, which can include evidence of the following:
- student engagement and empowerment;
- incorporation of equity, diversity and inclusion into teaching; and/or
- leadership within their school/organization and, if applicable, in the community.
Nominees must have a minimum of five years’ teaching experience. While previous award winners are not eligible, previous nominees may be re-nominated.
Nominations
Letters and references of support can be included in the nomination package from students, parents, and/or colleagues. Nominators do not have to be alumni from UBC.
Recipients are awarded $1,000 and an event celebrating their achievements.
Questions
Questions? Please contact education.alumni@ubc.ca or (604) 827-2221.
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View previous recipients
Nominations
Nominate Now. Submission deadline is March 31st, 2025.
Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Alumni Teacher of the Year Award. Nominations are now closed, but we encourage you to keep an eye out for next year's Alumni Teacher of the Year Award nominations.
2024 Recipient
Winner of the 2024 UBC Faculty of Education Alumni Educator of the Year Award! Read more.
Zuhra Teja, BEd’96, MA’03
Past Recipients
2023: Carol Todd, BEd’84
2022: Ashwani Kumar, PhD’11
2022: Janis Sawatzky, BEd’14, Dip Ed’17
2021: Erica Mohan, MEd’ 03, PhD’10
2020: Lynn Wainwright, BEd’ 95
2019: John Nanson, BEd ’02, MEd ’12
2018: Dr. David Beare, MA ’03, PhD ’12
2017: Bonnie Sutherland, BEd ’69, MEd ’83
2015: Dr. M.J. Moran, BEd ’90, MEd ’02, EdD ’08
2015: John David Nicks, BEd ’98, MEd ‘02
2014: Cheryl Sebastian, BEd ’80, Dip (Ed)’94
2014: Scott Ormiston, BEd ’82
2013: Harpreet Dhillon, BEd ’00, Dip (Ed)’06
2012: Justin Borsato, BHK’99, BEd ’00
