Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Distinguished Alumni Awards (DAA) recognize UM graduates who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their professional and personal lives, and who have been an inspiration to fellow alumni, current students, and the community, both close to home and around the world.

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  • On behalf of UM, congratulations to this year's DAA recipients

    The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize our most exceptional alumni whose achievements, gained through years of passionate dedication, have directly benefitted people living in Manitoba and around the world.

    It is suiting we refer to this year's recipients as "agents of change." You see it on our young alumni being honoured—Ashley Richard, Nirvani Umadat and Chris Voth—who create spaces for underrepresented groups to stand proud and to access resources. You see it in our community service recipients—Zofia de Witt, Lita Fontaine and Doug Harvey—who selflessly build others up and build cultures of giving.

  • And in our professional achievement recipients—Dwayne Miller, Norma Ramsay and Helen Robinson-Settee—whose bold ideas continue to transform communities and disciplines. You see it with our Lifetime Achievement recipient, Myra Laramee, a profound thinker whose wisdom enlightens public discourse and inspires one to be the very agent of change needed for the times.

    They have each used their University of Manitoba education and experience to make their mark. On behalf of their alma mater, it is my pleasure to congratulate them and to thank them for all they have done and continue to do. They make us proud.

    -Michael Benarroch, President and Vice-Chancellor at UM

  • President & Vice Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch

2021 Distinguished Alumni Awards recipients

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Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes graduates who have shown personal and professional achievements throughout their lifetime and continue to make significant contributions to their profession, their community and the University of Manitoba.

2021 recipient:

  • Dr. Myra Laramee [MEd/92, PhD/13]
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Professional Achievement Award

This award recognizes graduates who have reached the pinnacle of their professional career, demonstrated a standard of professional excellence that inspires their colleagues and peers and have been recognized by their professional community for their exceptional leadership and outstanding achievements.

2021 recipients:

  • Dr. Dwayne Miller [BSc(Hons)/78]
  • Dr. Norma Ramsay [MD/68]
  • Helen Robinson-Settee [BEd/87, MEd/14]
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Community Service Award

This award recognizes graduates who have had a transformative impact on those in their community, either on the local, national or international stage.

2021 recipients:

  • Zofia De Witt [CertEd/71, BEd/73]
  • Lita Fontaine [DipArt/97]
  • Doug Harvey [BComm(Hons)/75]
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Outstanding Young Alumni Award Watch Video

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

This award recognizes graduates who are under the age of 35 before the close of nominations who have demonstrated significant contributions and leadership to their field of endeavour, their community and the University of Manitoba.

2021 recipients:

  • Ashley Richard [BComm(Hons)/17]
  • Dr. Nirvani Umadat [BSc/07, BSc/11, DMD/11]
  • Chris Voth [BPE/20]

2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards nominations now closed

Celebrate UM graduates who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their professional and personal lives, are inspiring fellow alumni, current students and the broader community, and have made significant, transformative contributions to society.

Nominations are closed as of March 28. For more information, please contact Roslyn Dally.

Eligibility requirements

Alumni who have received an honorary degree bestowed by the University of Manitoba have received the institution’s highest honour and therefore are not eligible for nomination. In addition, the following alumni cannot be nominated:

  • Those who currently hold political office at a local, provincial/state, national, or Indigenous government level
  • Members of the Distinguished Alumni Awards Selection Panel or Award Category Pre-Selection Subcommittees
  • Members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors
  • Members of the University of Manitoba Board of Governors
  • Members of the University of Manitoba's senior leadership team, specifically for the Academic Innovation Award, including Deans, Associate Deans, Vice-Presidents and Vice-Provosts

Award categories

DAA nominations open annually and mark an excellent opportunity to recognize UM alumni who are an inspiration to fellow alumni, current students and the community, both close to home and around the globe.

Deadline: Nominations are now closed

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes graduates who have shown personal and professional achievements and leadership throughout their lifetime and continue to make significant and transformative contributions to their profession, their community and the University of Manitoba.

Nominees must demonstrate a lifetime of:

  • outstanding contributions that made a transformative impact within their community
  • exemplary achievement throughout their lifetime
  • service to the University of Manitoba as an alum

Professional Achievement Award

This award recognizes graduates who have reached the pinnacle of and are at the top of their professional career, and have previously received recognition from within their discipline. The focus of this award is professional achievement that is non-academic in nature.

Nominees must demonstrate:

  • a standard of professional excellence throughout their career that has inspired their colleagues and peers with an emphasis on their professional achievements in the last three to five years
  • exceptional leadership in his/her profession
  • outstanding and transformative achievements recognized by the nominee’s professional community

Academic Innovation Award

This award recognizes graduates who have reached the pinnacle of and are at the top of their academic career and have previously received recognition for their innovation and research excellence in academia.

Nominees must demonstrate:

  • outstanding innovation and research achievements and excellence in academia that have had a major, transformative impact on the community and society to help make for a better world
  • at least 51% of their current or past employment (if retired / emeritus) in academia at a recognized post-secondary institution(s) anywhere around the world

Community Service Award

This award recognizes graduates who have had a transformative impact on those in their community, either on the local, national or international level.

Nominees must demonstrate:

  • extraordinary efforts that have made a positive impact on their community
  • community service or volunteer work that has engaged and inspired others
  • community service that is clearly outside of or above and beyond their professional discipline in a voluntary, charitable and non-paid capacity

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

This award recognizes graduates who are under the age of 35 before the close of nominations (March 28, 2022) who have demonstrated significant contributions and leadership to their field of endeavour, their community and the University of Manitoba.

Nominees must demonstrate:

  • inspiring achievements in their field
  • contributions that have had a transformative impact in their community
  • service to the University of Manitoba, both while as a student and ongoing as an alum

About the Distinguished Alumni Awards

Over six decades, the Distinguished Alumni Awards have celebrated outstanding University of Manitoba alumni including Olympians, Nobel prize winners, and world-renowned advocates of human rights.

Our province and community thrive on the service of volunteers. University of Manitoba alumni participate on boards, connect with students through career and mentorship programs, and have a genuine love for their alma mater and want to help nurture its success. The Distinguished Alumni Awards allows us to celebrate amazing UM alumni and inspire future generations of UM graduates to follow in their footsteps.

Past DAA recipients

Contact us

Roslyn Dally
Alumni Outreach & Engagement Lead
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V6 Canada

roslyn.dally@umanitoba.ca