Each year, undergraduate students from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program anonymously select instructors for the Outstanding Teacher Awards. The educators with the most votes from first-, second- and third-year classes were recognized at the ceremony.  

Year 1: Dr. Sheila Ng 

Dr. Sheila Ng, a senior instructor, teaches first-year students in the applied pharmacy practice lab. She also teaches in other practice lab and clinical courses across the PharmD program.  

“Sheila has always been caring towards our class and showed how much she wants us to succeed,” said one student. 

“She gave us tons of opportunities to improve and practice … as well as offered great feedback. Sheila has always been approachable, especially when it came to asking for additional help.” 

Ng, who joined the college in 2011, said being recognized by students is “incredibly meaningful”. 

“It tells me the learning environment we work so hard to create is making a positive impact,” she said. “I am inspired to help students develop a strong foundation for delivering compassionate, person-centred care in our communities.” 

Year 2: Kristi Watson    

Dr. Lavern Vercaigne with Kristi Watson.

“Kristi not only empowers her students through her engaging teaching style that pushes us outside of our comfort zone and allows us to grow, she also cares so deeply about each and every student. The program is lucky to have her,” said one of the students who nominated Kristi Watson for the award. 

Watson teaches second-year PharmD students in the applied pharmacy practice lab, as well as first- and second-year students in courses such as clinical therapeutics, toxicology and pharmacology for dental hygiene.  

She joined the College of Pharmacy in 2022 after an 18-year career as an oncology pharmacist – a specialist in medications used to treat cancer – at CancerCare Manitoba. 

“Knowing that I have made an impact on a student’s journey to become a pharmacist is truly special,” said Watson. “It’s a long, tough road for them and we hold them to high standards. I hope they know how much we’re cheering them on and want to see them succeed – not only in school but in their future careers.” 

Watson said she values seeing students engaged in learning and realizing it’s about more than completing assignments or passing exams.  

“They’re preparing to help someone understand a new medication, prevent a life-threatening drug interaction, manage a debilitating side effect or find a dosage form that will allow a child to take a medication,” she said. “I love when that connection to real-life practice is made and it starts to mean a lot more to that student.” 

Year 3: Joanne Johnson 

Joanne Johnson, who teaches third-year students the pharmacy management course and first-year students in the applied pharmacy practice lab, received the award for the first time. 

Joanne Johnson with Dr. Lavern Vercaigne.

“Joanne is a dynamic instructor who engages the classroom with relevant, thought-provoking discussion,” said one of the students who nominated her.  

“Joanne is one of the pharmacists we are lucky to have in our faculty because of how she inspires people both personally and professionally. Having Joanne as an instructor was a gift!” 

Johnson joined the College of Pharmacy in 2022 after spending 26 years in rural community pharmacy practice. 

“This recognition was incredibly meaningful because it affirmed that the time, care and energy I put into teaching is resonating with students,” said Johnson. “I’m deeply grateful to them for taking the time to nominate me, and I see this award as a shared reflection of the learning relationships we build together.” 

Johnson said transitioning from practice to teaching allowed her to bring real-world experiences into the classroom. 

“My goal as an educator is to share my passion and joy for pharmacy and help students feel confident and excited about the impact they can have as pharmacists.” 

At the annual Pitblado Scholars Program reception and Student Achievement Awards reception, the community within Robson Hall comes together to recognize excellence, share gratitude, and celebrate the bright futures of Manitoba’s next generation of lawyers.

Community members like Jim and Sandra Pitblado, Max Steinkopf, David Nemy [JD/24], and the family of the late Darius Maharaj Hunter [JD/21] have all joined us this fall to meet this students who benefit from their generosity.  At these warm receptions, held annually, they gathered with law students and their very proud families for an evening dedicated to the transformative impact of community support.

The Pitblado Scholarships: Recognizing excellence and rewarding resilience

On September 26, the annual Pitblado Scholars reception welcomed the 20 student recipients of the prestigious Pitblado Scholarships. For the past 24 years, the Pitblado Scholarships have been awarded to the top students on the Faculty of Law Dean’s Honour List.

Each year, Jim and Sandra Pitblado join the celebration, and this year their daughter Diane Pitblado also attended with her family.

Before any awards are given out or names are called, the scholarship winners receive boutonnieres that match the Pitblados’ own. These adornments help donors and students find each other in a room filled with families, faculty, and community members. Striking up conversations, the Pitblados take great interest in getting to know their scholarship recipients and encouraging their career goals.

“Repeats are encouraged,” Sandra exclaimed, encouraging Dean’s Honour Roll students to keep their marks up in order to earn a second scholarship and see the Pitblado’s again at next year’s reception.

Sandra and Jim Pitblado congratulate Dean’s Honour Roll student Cori Lee. Little ones always welcome!

The 2025 Student Achievement Awards: Honouring family and legacy

In November, 40 students received scholarships, prizes, and fellowships at the 2025 Student Achievement Awards.

Max Steinkopf (Bond Capital Partners London) personally presented the Max Steinkopf Entrance Scholarship and the Maitland Steinkopf [LLB/36] Entrance Scholarship, named for his late grandfather and father, respectively. The elder Max Steinkopf, called to the Manitoba Bar in 1905, was the first Jewish lawyer on the prairies.

David Nemy [JD/2024], a recent alum of UM Law and now a practicing lawyer at Levene Tadman Golub, proudly presented the Morton H. Nemy Entrance Scholarship on behalf of his family. Nemy shared that his 102-year-old aunt Enid Nemy, who created the  scholarship in honour of her brother and David’s grandfather Morton H. Nemy, was still “kickin’ it” in Florida.

Honouring the life of her late husband Darius Maharaj Hunter [BA/18, JD/21], Delyar Khaleh shared the legacy of this young UM Law alum and presented the Darius Maharaj Hunter Memorial Scholarship to Abigail Clark.

The award was established “to empower and support law students who have demonstrated a spirit for leadership and community engagement, and a desire to carry this forward in their education and practice,” a spirit that Darius Hunter embodied fully.

UM Law: Where community lives

This year, the Faculty of Law was honoured to welcome The Honourable Matthew Weibe, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Manitoba, as well as University of Manitoba representatives including President Michael Benarroch at the September event, and Vice-Provost (Academic) Diane Heibert-Murphy and Vice-Provost (Graduate Studies) Kelly Main, to these special gatherings. Representatives of the Law Society of Manitoba, the Manitoba Law Foundation, the Manitoba Bar Association, and many members of Manitoba’s legal profession attended to help celebrate the achievements of these law students.

As Manitoba’s leader in legal education for over a century, UM Law inspires and invites the legal community to come together each year to celebrate, connect, and give back.

The Faculty of Law congratulates the 2025 – 2026 Pitblado Scholarship Winners:

Ashley Allan
Yomna Eid
Larissa Einarson
Gianna Froese
Rowan Gannon
Meagan Gillis
Danica Grierson
Sameer Harris (repeat)
William Ho
Erin Kyriakopoulos
Cori Lee (repeat)
Alex Loewen
Kathryn Lyon
Dylan Nuytten
Mariana Pozdirca (repeat)
Vanessa Smith
Andrea Sutherland
Eric Vryenhoek
Eric Wagner
Mark Wilson

The Faculty of Law also congratulates the following award recipients:

Juris Doctor program awards:

Alex Brown Entrance Scholarship in Law:

• Roxanne Balmater

Max Steinkopf Entrance Scholarship:

• Caitlin McDonald
• Kiera Butterfield

Maitland Steinkopf Entrance Award:

• Nicholas Carnelley
• Tiana Klippenstein

Dean’s List Academic Award:

• Talia Taras
• Kaitlyn Clarke

Manitoba Law School Foundation Entrance Scholarship:

• Benjamin Baydock

Pitblado LLP Entrance Award:

• Joshua Ackman

Taylor McCaffrey LLP Entrance Award:

• Lindsy DeGagne
• Kya Jackson-Leclair
• Olivia Barbaro

Patricia N. and Mark G. Smerchanski Law Entrance Scholarship:

• Philopateer Rezk

D’Arcy & Deacon LLP Entrance Scholarship:

• Kate Mulligan
• Mateo Nallim

Morton H. Nemy Entrance Scholarship:

• Sarah Janzen

John Mitchell Scholarship:

• Trechelle Bunn (note – this is a 2^nd renewal of the award)

EJ McMurray Trust Fund Entrance Award:

• Talia Elfenbein
• Shakira Goulet
• Christopher Anderson

David Sowemimo Law Entrance Scholarship

• A’aia Haji Hussein

Darius Maharaj Hunter Memorial Scholarship (2024-2025 winner)

• Abigail Clarke

The Honourable John M. Scurfield Memorial Scholarship – 2024-2025 winners

• Katie McKenzie
• Chloe Dreilich-Girard
• Lori Isber

Brendan Mahatoo Scholarship – 2024-2025

• Brooklyn Kehler

Scotiabank Program for Law Students Scholarship

• Khalil Qasem

Master of Laws program awards

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship

• Paarth Tarachandani

Bernard B. Dubienski and Amy E. Dubienski Memorial Scholarship

• Megan Filyk

Adalsteinn (Steini) Fridrikson Kristjansson Graduate Fellowship

• Christiana Williams

Right Honourable Brian Dickson Graduate Fellowship

• Megan Filyk

Samuel Freedman Graduate Fellowship

• Bailey Wall

David T. Sgayias Graduate Fellowship

• Paarth Taranchandani

Trevor Anderson Fellowship

• Megan Filyk

Master of Human Rights program awards

Harvey and Sandra Secter Master of Human Rights Fellowship:

• Sydney Reid
• Sarah Rohleder
• Lina Guevara
• Morgan Snape

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship:

• Maddy Nowosad
• Marie-Chantal Plouffe

Parker was a student in Dr. Michelle Gallant’s Philanthropy and the Law course, which examines philanthropy and the origins and regulation of charities. He explained his inspiration to write the paper (apart from the course requirement) stemmed from his fascination with the intersection between law and economics. “Human behaviour is shaped by both structure and agency; analyzing how structural factors—like law and culture—influence material conditions is vital when studying philanthropy,” he said. “Charity can be done in many ways, so a jurisdictional analysis of variable charitable approaches seemed pragmatic insofar as it might point to potential areas for improvement within our own charitable framework.”

While Gallant’s course was fundamental to growing his interest in this area of law, entering the essay contest offered more opportunity to gain experience and exposure within the field. “This field does work which is fundamental to the wellbeing of our community, and expanding discourse within this domain is of paramount importance,” Parker said.

Honoured to learn of his entry’s selection as the winning paper, Parker said, “I want to extend my thanks to the Canadian Bar Association’s Charity and Not-for-Profit Law section, the community here at Robson Hall, and especially Dr. Gallant for making this opportunity possible. The CBA has myriad possibilities for students to submit research and expand scholarship within various fields of law, and I would encourage all of my peers to consider doing so.”

The CBA’s Charities and Not-for-Profit Law section had established its law student essay contest to promote and reward interest in charity and not-for-profit law topics in Canadian law schools and to promote participation by law students in the sector. Gallant credits Robson Hall alum Florence Carey [LLB/00], a past president of the CBA Charities section, with bringing the contest to the Faculty’s attention years ago.

The award is presented annually for the best English or French scholarly paper received by the submission date on a subject relating to Canadian charity and not-for-profit law, by a full-time law student.

The deadline for submissions for 2026 is April 26^th. In addition to a $500 prize, the winning student is invited to attend the annual Charity Law Symposium.

Past University of Manitoba winners and links to their respective winning papers are as follows:

• 2023 – Robert Johnstone [JD/23] (Corporate / Commercial lawyer at MLT Aikins LLP) Winning paper: “The Secularization of Philanthropy: Examining the Potential Revocation of the Roman Catholic Church’s Charitable Status.”
• 2022 –Alexander Barnes [JD/22] (Associate at Thorsteinssons LLP Tax Lawyers).
  Winning paper: “Modernizing the Definition of Charity in Canada.”
• 2020 –Reid Buchanan [JD/21] (Legal Counsel at People Corporation Canada).
  Winning paper: “Charitable Donation Tax Credits in Canada: Equitable Concerns and Options for Reform.”
• 2019 –Daniel Giles [JD/20] (Associate lawyer at Fillmore Riley LLP).
  Winning paper: “Granting Charitable Status to Journalism.”

This year’s celebration honoured 10 exemplary individuals, including a Chancellor Emeritus and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

Congratulations to all the 2025 honourees.

Chancellor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Anne Mahon with certificate for Chancellor Emeritus.

Ms. Anne Mahon served with distinction as the University’s 14th Chancellor from 2019 to 2025, where she brought compassion, wisdom, and a deep commitment to community to her role. A bridge-builder and philanthropist, Ms. Mahon is known for connecting people and inspiring positive change. Her work at the intersection of storytelling, community-building, and education has amplified the voices of those marginalized and often unheard.

Ms. Mahon has dedicated herself to volunteerism and advocacy, including working closely with United Way Winnipeg, founding and facilitating the Bookmates Book Club at the Women’s Correctional Centre, and volunteering with the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, Humankind International, and Palliative Manitoba. Her leadership and compassion have left an enduring mark on the University of Manitoba, thereby earning the title of Chancellor Emeritus.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Chancellor Dave Angus and President Michael Benarroch present Leslie Roos with certificate for Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

The University of Manitoba was honoured to confer upon Dr. Leslie Roos the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. An influential scholar and innovative leader in population health and health policy research, Dr. Roos joined the University of Manitoba in 1973. Over the course of his distinguished career in the Faculties of Administrative Studies (now the Asper School of Business) and Medicine, he helped establish the university as an international centre of excellence in health services research and data-informed policy.

As a founder of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Dr. Roos led the creation of its internationally respected population health database, enabling groundbreaking studies on the health and well-being of Manitobans. He has played a central role in training and inspiring a generation of researchers whose work continues to shape Canadian health systems and stands among the most influential contributors to health policy research globally.

Professor Emeriti:

• Dr. Harold Aukema
• Dr. Ying Chen
• Dr. Kevin Coombs
• Prof. Herbert Enns
• Dr. Elissavet Kardami
• Dr. Eberhard Renner
• Dr. Wayne Simpson
• Dr. Qiang Zhang

To learn more about the 2025 honourees, please visit the Emeritus/Emerita Titles webpage to read their individual citations.

Emeriti titles are one of several awards given annually by the university in celebrating and recognizing the success of colleagues and other distinguished individuals. Learn about the university awards nomination process.

Below is a round up of some of the most important cards that were launched or updated and what it means for students.

Financial Aid and Awards Card

 As of October 27, students can now view their financial aid and awards in the new Financial Aid and Awards card in Aurora. Please note that this information is no longer available in Aurora Classic.

The new card is one place to find and manage both general and personalized financial aid details.

Students can use the links in the card to:

• View My Student Aid – Review award details and accept or decline awards.
• Apply for Student Aid – Start a new scholarship or bursary application.
• View My Applications – View or modify existing applications.

Additionally, students can now access their award letters directly from the Financial Aid and Awards card by selecting

• View My Award Letters – View both current and historical award letters.

My Tuition and Fees card

As of November 3, students will use the new My Tuition and Fees card to access their tuition and fee information. This information will no longer have access on Aurora Classic.

They can search for the card using keywords like “tuition” or “fees.” The card is also available on the Aurora Essentials tab of a student’s Aurora dashboard.

The card displays five terms regardless of admission date and includes payment due dates.

• Students will also find links to:
  • Detailed fee breakdowns in Aurora (Account Summary Details)
  • Payment Information
  • Self-Service Account Summary document (the RO will no longer be stamping or signing printed copies)

Declare my Major/Minor/Concentration card

Major, Minor and Concentration declarations are moving out of Aurora Classic on Monday, November 3rd. 

In Aurora, students will locate the Declare My Major, Minor, or Concentration card and click on the link.

Use the following link to learn more about the awards offered through the Riddell Faculty – https://umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources/student-experience/funding-and-awards

Direct Entry Admission Scholarship

• Sarah Gledson
• Gavin Stewart
• Heidi Reimer
• Sarah Despins
• John Ziehlke

Indigenous Direct Entry Admission Scholarship

• Annie Gauthier

Undergraduate Admission Scholarship

• Evin Perch
• Samantha Pauls
• Taylor Letham
• Sydney Ostermann
• Jack Goertzen

Indigenous Undergraduate Admission Scholarship 2025–2026

• Anabella Perez

Women in the Physical Sciences Scholarship 2025–2026

• Alexandria Shupenia
• Kateesha Wai
• Gina Bilic
• Jessica Kristof
• Abigayle Wawrykow
• Emilie Tougas
• Alexandra Mitchell
• Mya Stam
• Sara Bergen
• Kendal Courchaine

Diana Loranger Memorial Scholarship

• Kendal Courchaine

Dr. George Brownell Memorial Scholarship

• Mitchell Baker
• Sisara Samaradiwakara

Joseph Wolinsky Scholarship

• Ayub Regehr

Mike and Lesia Muzylowski Scholarships of Excellence (Geological Sciences)

• Ellis Williams
• Mitchell Baker
• Kendal Courchaine

Roscoe R. Miller Scholarship

• Ayub Regehr

Tire Stewardship Manitoba – Moe Tresoor Scholarship in Environmental Studies

• Emma Scarth
• Jack Pilkey
• India Friesen

William J. Hill Memorial Award

• Abigayle Wawrykow

Graduate Entrance Scholarship

• Grace Thomson
• Yiseul Kang
• Julius Odei
• Muditha Goonetilleke
• Ezinne Ugwu
• Thilini Henak Gedara
• Francis Asare
• Tristan Jourbane
• Abir Mohd Shakib Shahide
• Julia Deveau
• Jonathan Robinson
• Carlie O’Brien

Rita Wadien Memorial Scholarship

• Issac Jacques

Paul R. Beaudoin Memorial Geochemistry Scholarship

• Kendal Courchaine
• Westley Sharpe

Philip and Marjorie Eckman Scholarships

• Abigayle Wawrykow
• Matthew Friesen

Kenneth Bergwall Memorial Scholarship

• Matthew Friesen

EGM Scholarship in Geological Sciences

• Matthew Friesen

Her community involvement, student council work and GPA above 3.5 earned her a Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship — one of 30 awards presented at the College of Pharmacy’s annual Academic Awards Ceremony. 

“Being recognized shows that I’m able to do activities I’m passionate about while maintaining strong academic performance,” Leppky said. 

Honouring academic excellence 

Thirty-one PharmD students from the second-, third- and fourth-year classes at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences were recognized for their academic achievements during the previous academic year. 

Students were joined by family, friends, faculty, staff and a few donors who presented awards in person. 

“Celebrating the achievements of our PharmD students and educators is a highlight of our academic year, and it’s a great moment to pause and recognize the hard work and dedication that define our community,” said Dr. Hope Anderson, dean of the College of Pharmacy, in her welcoming remarks. 

Dr. Hope Anderson addresses the crowd in the Brodie Atrium.

“Awards are never really the end goal, but rather a bit of a reward as you grind and do the hard work, and also an incentive to keep going, to keep striving for excellence in every task.” 

Third-year PharmD student Kaitlyn Nicholson, who grew up in rural Manitoba, also received the Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship along with being recognized in the Dean’s Honour Roll. 

Nicholson was last year’s class president and was a representative of the national branch of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI). She continues to be active in student council and volunteers through college programs. 

“Even with the late nights and early mornings studying, it pays off. And it’s really nice to be recognized for that,” said Nicholson. “I’m loving the pharmacy program. We learn so much about patient care and I strongly feel we are at the centre of the patient care team.” 

Nicholson said she wants to work in hospital pharmacy in the future. 

“I’m working in a hospital right now and really enjoy it — seeing the impact pharmacists have on patient care and how we work closely with physicians,” said Nicholson. 

Enduring donor support 

Anderson said scholarships wouldn’t be possible without the generous contributions of donors. 

“Your support empowers these — the next generation of pharmacists — to break new ground and deliver meaningful societal impact … this legacy of learning and recognition and excellence will continue to thrive for years to come,” Anderson said. 

Members of the Pharmacy Class of 1966 with award recipients. From left: Marian Kremers, Katie Leppky, Dr. Daniel Sitar, Kaitlyn Nicholson and Lyle Silverman.

When Lyle Silverman, a 1966 pharmacy graduate, attended school in the 1960s, tuition was only $400 a year. 

Today, College of Pharmacy students pay $21,000 in tuition per year. 

“This is one good reason to create an endowment-based scholarship where funds will continue to grow and live long after we’re all gone,” said Silverman as he addressed the crowd. 

All 28 members of the class contributed to the Pharmacy Class of 1966 Scholarship fund when it was first established in 2006. The fund has supported 36 students since its inception. 

This year, he and his wife, Anna Silverman, contributed a $100,000 gift to their class endowment fund, almost doubling its size. 

“It’s satisfying to hear what our small class has achieved and how it has expanded over the years,” said Silverman. 

A supportive college community 

Laura Peters, a third-year PharmD student, received five awards: Dean’s Honour Roll, Isbister Scholarship in Pharmacy, Manitoba Pharmacists’ Women’s Auxiliary Scholarship, Mrs. Ethel Roberts Memorial Prize and the Dr. A.W. Hogg Undergraduate Scholarship.

Dr. Hope Anderson (right) presents the awards to Laura Peters (left).

Peters credits the program’s supportive environment for helping her succeed. 

“The profs here in the program, they’re so motivating and helpful — it feels a bit more like a family than a teacher-student relationship.” 

Anderson attributes the success of the college to the entire community. At the ceremony, three faculty members were also recognized for their contributions.  

“To our faculty and our staff, your mentorship, your guidance, your hard work … These are the foundation of this success — the students’ success,” said Anderson. 

“Excellence in education is really a collective endeavour, starting with the learners, but also with the educators and staff.” 

*** 

Learn more about giving at umanitoba.ca/giving/ 

“I hope to be an advocate for the career and to educate others on the importance of RTs in health care.”

Rachel Donnelly

Donnelly was working in Alzheimer’s research and at a group home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while trying to determine her next move. The previous UM grad with an honours degree in biological sciences took a leap of faith when she applied to the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS).  

“I had always wanted to pursue a career in health care but was unsure of where I would fit in the medical community,” she says.

After stumbling onto the CoRS webpage and reading about the respiratory therapy (RT) program, she wasn’t 100 per cent sure what the career would look like but took a chance and applied the same day. “It was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” she says.

During her degree, Donnelly was regularly inspired by her instructors’ passion for the RT profession, especially their advocacy around RTs practising at their full scope as part of primary care in Manitoba.

She also had the opportunity to go to Rwanda with a small group of RT students. There, the group shadowed health professionals in hospitals and learned more about the barriers to health care experienced by people in marginalized communities. Now, as she graduates and begins her career in respiratory therapy, having a positive impact on her community remains a key goal.

“One day, I hope to be an advocate for the career and to educate others on the importance of RTs in health care,” she says.  “Whether that means speaking in schools, working in primary care clinics or travelling abroad to help teach acute care life support courses, only time will tell!”

Her advice for her past self, and anyone embarking on their educational journey? “Keep going; it will all be worth it. And don’t worry about three years of school, it goes by fast!”

UM Bisons are at the center of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. 1,395 students are graduating this Fall, bringing the number of graduates in the class of 2025 to 5,586 so far. Many of these new alumni will stay in Manitoba, contributing high-demand skills to the labour market and injecting nearly $300 million into the province’s economy each year.

We asked Dr. Qi about what this award means to him, and to learn more about his research journey:

Can you briefly describe your dissertation research in plain language for readers who may not be experts in your field?
My dissertation explores how climate change affects financial markets and how we can use advanced data techniques, like machine learning, to better understand and predict corporate bond returns. I also study how banks and investors respond to climate risks and how companies’ disclosure of these risks affects financial decisions.

What inspired you to focus on this particular research topic?
I was inspired by the increasing urgency of climate change and its economic impact, as well as the rapid development of AI in recent years. I wanted to understand how climate risks translate into financial risks, how better information and transparency can help markets make smarter decisions, and whether—and how—advanced machine learning tools can improve the predictability of asset returns.

What was the most challenging aspect of your research?
One of the biggest challenges was working with complex international financial data and integrating climate risk measures in a meaningful way. Ensuring that the models accurately captured both financial and climate-related factors required careful work and extensive validation. Another challenge was learning to use the advanced and often complex machine learning models effectively.

Did you encounter any unexpected discoveries or surprises along the way?
Yes. For example, I found that in the U.S., borrowing costs for high-risk firms decrease when companies voluntarily disclose more climate risk information and following SEC climate risk disclosure guidance, whereas non-climate-specific ESG requirements in other countries have little impact. This underscores the importance of targeted climate risk disclosure for financial decision-making and risk management. In addition, the predictive performance of machine learning models declined significantly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a structural shift in the informativeness of traditional bond characteristics.

Why is your research important, and how could it impact your field or society at large?
My research helps us better understand the financial risks posed by climate change and provides valuable insights for investors, banks, and policymakers. By enhancing risk assessment and transparency, it can contribute to more resilient financial systems and support decision-making that accounts for both economic and environmental factors. Additionally, my work on machine learning sheds light on how advanced models can improve return predictability, with important implications for investment strategies.

“I am truly honoured to receive the Distinguished Dissertation Award in Social Sciences from the University of Manitoba. I am grateful to the university for its support during my PhD and especially to Dr. Lei Lu for his invaluable guidance. My research explores how climate change affects financial markets and how machine learning can improve our understanding of financial risk. In my current role at Western University, I continue to study climate risk disclosures and corporate finance to provide actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and financial institutions worldwide.”stated Dr. Qi, when announced as one of this year’s UMDD awards.

Dr. Qi’s advisor, Dr. Lei Lu from the Department of Accounting and Finance at the Asper School of Business said “I am truly delighted to see Dr. Zhen Qi receive the Distinguished Dissertation Award in Social Sciences. Zhen’s curiosity, dedication, and integrity have always impressed me, alongside his outstanding research. His work on climate finance not only advances academic scholarship but also provides valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and society as a whole. “

“This is an outstanding example of research that is at the forefront of finance with the additional layer of climate science which broadens the impact of this work.” said the Dr. Kelley Main, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. “Congratulations to Dr. Qi on this well-earned recognition for his important and timely research.”

Kushman Buttar

Buttar is bringing a broad range of experience with her into the Price Faculty of Engineering this fall. Throughout high school at Maples MET School, she dedicated her time outside classes to join and lead community initiatives, research projects, and extracurricular computer science programs. Now, as a Schulich Leader, she is taking her passions to the next level at UM.

As dedicated learner and leader, Buttar jumps into new projects and creates new opportunities for those in her community when she sees a need. She fostered her computer science skills by participating in several different programs and contests, including the High School Big Data Challenge, Technovation Girls Challenge, Shad Canada, and Girls Who Code. Additionally, she has ventured into the world of sustainability and environmental innovation, working with engineers at Manitoba Hydro on energy solutions and studying ecosystems at the University of Manitoba. She even spearheaded a prairie landscape renewal initiative in her community. Over the course of three years, she led a team of peers planting over 400 native plants across her school grounds, and she involved the broader community by leading workshops with local elementary school students.

Buttar credits her achievements to her mindset, which is geared towards change, growth, and persevering through setbacks. Her leadership style is entrepreneurial, and her goal is to be an engineer who develops new technologies that serve people, communities, and the environment, which she can introduce as cost-effective solutions in the Canadian market. As Schulich Leader and engineering student at the University of Manitoba, she is well on her way to that goal.

Ayla Thomas

Thomas, a 2025 graduate of Balmoral Hall School, is joining the physics department at the university this fall. Her innate curiosity and enthusiasm for learning have led her to explore a wide variety of scientific pursuits. Throughout high school, she sought out extra learning opportunities, attending university lectures, teaching herself coding, volunteering at the Manitoba Museum’s Science Gallery, and more.

Thomas’ involvement in her school’s robotics team highlights not only her expertise in robotics, but also her leadership skills. She served as the team’s Programming Lead, using creativity and critical thinking to debug code and come up with tournament strategies. She also served a community-building role on her team, encouraging collaboration and drawing from her teammate’s strengths. As evidence of her exceptional leadership abilities, Thomas’ team was recognised for spirit, professionalism, teamwork, and engagement in their 2024 robotics competition. Then, in 2025, they were recognized for connecting with the local STEM community.

As a self-identifying community citizen, Thomas’ ability to turn her passions into community initiatives is one of her greatest strengths. For instance, at Balmoral Hall she produced several videos to express her appreciation for high school robotics, including an entire documentary on the subject. She also employed her skillset as a member of the stage crew for her school musical, helping to design props and sets. In the wider community, she put her technical expertise to use by working on the Tech Crew at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Thomas consistently finds ways to transfer her creativity and problem-solving skills from STEM to communities in the arts.

At the University of Manitoba, Thomas intends to build her knowledge in physics, robotics, and computer science, with a special interest in their applications for aerospace engineering. In particular, she is pursuing more energy-efficient and renewable methods of space exploration. As Thomas continues to advance her learning and grow as a leader, UM is proud to support her.

Congratulations, Schulich Leaders! We wish you success in your studies.