Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources

Congratulations to our 2026 Graduates!

Convocation and Awards Reception

We are thrilled to congratulate all of our 2026 graduates. On our Convocation day, June 5th, we hosted graduates and Award Winners in the Wallace Building for a reception. Acting Dean Mark Hanson recognized our graduates and award winners.

About 25 Riddell Graduates, group shot in Cretaceous Menagerie
Gorgosaurus in the Cretaceous Menagerie with a graduation cap and parchment
Banners of Environment and Geography, Earth Sciences, and the Natural Resources Institute
Photo by Emily Mann
Programs for Convocation Reception
Cakes for graduates
Graduate in cap and gown signs name on display
Wallace building hallway packed with graduates and supporters
Graduate and guest, flowers, and parchment outside the Wallace building.
Graduate with parchment in photo booth
Grad with guests with George the Gorgosaurus
Graduate names on grad caps and blue and yellow decorations

2025-26 Medal Winners

Ayub Regehr outdoors

University of Manitoba Gold Medal

Ayub Regehr

Cassidy McGarry with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Honours Program Medal

Cassidy McGarry

Alexa Kaus with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Major or Advanced Program Medal

Alexa Kaus

Samantha Pauls with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

3 Year General Program Medal

Samantha Pauls

Thesis Prize Winners

Ayub Regehr outdoors

Riddell Faculty Undergraduate Thesis Prize

Ayub Regehr

Muditha Goonetilleke with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Riddell Faculty Master Thesis Prize

Muditha Goonetilleke
Gabriela Amaral Wasielesky (not pictured)

Nicole Loeb with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Riddell Faculty PhD Thesis Prize

Nicole Loeb

James Wilt with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Weir Award (for best graduate theses in Environment & Geography)

James Wilt (Ph.D.)
Gabriela Amaral Wasielesky (M.Sc., not pictured)

Gina Bilic with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Earth Sciences B.Sc. Honours Thesis Prize

Gina Bilic (pictured with Paul Durkin, Assoc. Dept. Head of Earth Sciences)

Undergraduate Award Winners

9 of the Summer Research Awardees with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

NSERC Undergrad Summer Research Awards and Undergrad Research Awards

USRA:
Johnathan Campbell, Adam Isaak, Grace Oliver, Kateesha Wai, Sarah Gledson, Jared Dyck, Emilie Tougas, Kendal Courchaine, Rose Murray, Cloe Carriere
URA:
Brijesh Patel, Ivan Provozin, Mya Stam, Emily Bonds, Tessa Dewbury, Josue Zarate, Malay Pilz, Alexandria Shupenia

4 of the Women in the Physical Sciences awardees with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Women in the Physical Sciences Scholarship

Sara Bergen, Jessica Kristof, Abigayle Wawrykow, Kendal Courchaine, Gina Bilic, Émilie Tougas, Alexandria Shupenia, Kateesha Wai, Alexandrea Mitchell, Mya Stam

Adam Isaak with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Dr. A.W. Hogg Undergraduate Scholarship

Adam Isaak
Mateo Cardona (not pictured)

Kendal Courchaine with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Diana Loranger Memorial Scholarship

Kendal Courchaine

Matthew Friesen with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Engineers Geoscientists MB Scholarship in Geological Sciences

Matthew Friesen

Kendal Courchaine and Westley Sharpe with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Paul R. Beaudoin Memorial Geochemistry

Kendal Courchaine
Westley Sharpe

Jack Pilkey with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Scholarship

Jack Pilkey

Isbister Scholarship in Environment
Jack Goertzen
India Friesen

Dr. George Brownell Memorial Scholarship
Mitchell Baker

Mike and Lesia Muzylowski Scholarships of Excellence (Geological Sciences)
Ellis Williams
Mitchell Baker
Kendal Courchaine

Philip and Marjorie Eckman Scholarships in Honour of Dr. Justin DeLury
Matthew Friesen
Abigayle Wawrykow

William J. Hill Memorial Award
Abigayle Wawrykow

Roscoe R. Miller Scholarship
Ayub Regehr

Tire Stewardship Manitoba – Moe Tresoor Scholarship in Environmental Studies
Jack Pilkey
India Friesen
Emma Scarth

Mark G. Smerchanski Memorial Prize
Matthew Friesen

Marty Morrice Field Geology Award
Jessica Kristof

Kenneth Bergwall Memorial Scholarship
Matthew Friesen

Graduate Award Winners

Barber prize winners, with Lucette Barber, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Dustin Isleifsen, and Mark Hanson

D.G and V.E. Memorial Barber Prize in Arctic Research

Kaushik Gupta, Ph.D.
Fowzia Ahmed, Ph.D.
Nick Decker, M.Sc.
Thamali Vidanage, M.Sc.

Somashree Chattapadhya with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Berkes Graduate Scholarship in Community-Based Research

Somashree Chattapadhya

Tusti Bose with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Karen Palidwor Memorial Fellowship in Forest and Wildlife Management

Tusti Bose

Jake Bhakta with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Geological Association of Canada Graduate Seminar

Jake Bhakta

Issac Jacques with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Rita Wadien Memorial Scholarship

Issac Jacques

Bruno Costa with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

GAC-MAC Winnipeg 2013 Scholarship

Bruno Costa

Henley Graduate Scholarship in Aboriginal Resources Development and Stewardship
Veronica Coppolaro

Natural Resource Institute's (NRI) 50th Anniversary Legacy Scholarship Award
McNally Reimer

Narratives Legacy Scholarship 
Pepper-Mackena Armstrong-Pritty

Oakes-Riewe Environmental Studies Research Award 
Audrey Moizan

Debra and Ross Pitman Graduate Scholarship in Geological Sciences 
Ezinne Ugwu

IISD - Experimental Lakes Area Graduate Fellowship
Julianna Wanke

North American Caribou Workshop Graduate Fellowship in Wildlife Management
Jude Dickerson

Seven Oaks Game and Fish Association Environmental Legacy Scholarship
Oluwatimilehin Sanni

Teaching Award Winners

Tristan, Urgon, Bruno, and Matthew with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Sally and Keith Caldwell Teaching Assistance Fund

Tristan Joubarne
Urgon Snider
Bruno Costa
Matthew Friesen
Jack Mulcahy (not pictured)

Joyce Ji and Leslie Goodman with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Student Teacher Recognition

Joyce Ji nominated Leslie Goodman for the Student Teacher Recognition Reception

John Hanesiak with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Award of Excellence for Undergraduate Teaching

Dr. John Hanesiak, Environment & Geography

Tim Papakyriakou with Acting Dean Mark Hanson

Award of Excellence for Graduate Teaching

Dr. Tim Papakyriakou, Environment & Geography

Catharine Hallman in an office

Award Award of Excellence for First-Year Undergraduate Teaching

Dr. B. Catharine Hallman, Environment & Geography