An evening dedicated to achievements of Alberta community builders
On May 8, grads, staff and friends of NAIT gathered for one of the polytechnic's most prestigious events of the year, NAIT Celebrates. As the evening's emcee, vice-president external Melanie Rogers was pleased to put this year's honorees in the spotlight.
"Our NAIT Celebrates award recipients are truly incredible," she told the crowd at Ernest's, the polytechnic's on-campus restaurant.
"Each in their own way has made an impact in the community. They are volunteers and advocates for polytechnic education, leaders and trailblazers in industry, champions in the community, mentors for the next generation of students, and visionaries dedicated to building bright futures."
The NAIT Celebrates class of 2024 includes:
-
Robyn Dawson (Marketing ’94), Partner, Kick Media - Distinguished Alumni
-
Marcie Kiziak (Management ’03), CEO of Nova Cannabis, President of Cannabis Retail with SNDL - Alumni Award of Excellence
-
Arlo Maverick (Marketing ’02), Musician, promoter and filmmaker - Alumni Award of Excellence
-
Shreya Nandiraju (Bachelor of Technology ’20, Instrumentation Engineering Technology ’18), Consultant, KPMG Canada - Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award
-
Ray Pisani (Management ’84) - Distinguished Friend of the Institute
-
Sandvik Coromant - Distinguished Industry Partner
-
Priya Winsor (Baking and Pastry Arts ’19), Owner, Compass Chocolates - Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award
Here's a look at an evening of celebrating impactful efforts in community building.
Nominate an alum today
Do you know an inspiring NAIT grad who’s making a meaningful impact in their career and community? Nominate them for a 2025 Alumni Award before May 31!
Submit a name
Cheers to our 2024 NAIT Celebrates award recipients!
From left: Yasmin Jivraj (Board of Governors chair), Magalie Jackson (general manager and vice-president sales at Sandvik Coromant, 2024 Distinguished Industry Partner), Ray Pisani, Marcie Kiziak, Shreya Nandiraju, Priya Winsor, Robyn Dawson, Melanie Rogers and Laura Jo Gunter (NAIT president and CEO)
Read more about the award winners
Three proud NAIT grads! Dawson and Ken Jurina (Marketing '95, president & CEO of Top Draw, 2019 Alumni Award of Excellence) pose with Teresa Sturgess (centre). Sturgess teaches NAIT’s promotional planning course, to which Dawson and Jurina contribute.
Winsor (third from right) earned the Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award for her entrepreneurial accomplishments as founder and owner of Compass Chocolates, and for volunteer work at NAIT and with Skills Alberta. Her husband, mother and three children joined her for the evening.
Former Board of Governors chair Ray Pisani followed his high-school sweetheart (and now wife) Rita to NAIT, where both studied more than three decades ago.
A number of past award recipients joined the current group to celebrate.
Back row (from left): Peter Keith (2017 Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award), Mike Oostenbrink (2021 Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award), Marni Panas (2022 Distinguished Alumni), Lorraine Mansbridge (2004 Distinguished Friend of the Institute), Ken Jurina (2019 Alumni Award of Excellence), Kris Mauthe (2015 Distinguished Alumni), Dallas Schroeder (2021 Distinguished Alumni), Shawn Knight (2017 Alumni Award of Excellence), Cleo Rowein (2004 Distinguished Alumni)
Middle (from left): Kathy Leskow (2022 Alumni Award of Excellence), Erick Estrada (2021 Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award), Magalie Jackson (Sandvik Coromant, 2024 Distinguished Industry Partner), Robyn Dawson (2024 Distinguished Alumni), Marcie Kiziak (2024 Alumni Award of Excellence), Shreya Nandiraju (2024 Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award), Priya Winsor (2024 Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award), James Cumming (2018 Distinguished Friend of the Institute, 2003 Distinguished Alumni), Melanie Bachand (1998 Distinguished Alumni)
Front (from left): Michelle Harris (2022 Spirit of NAIT Alumni Award), Ray Pisani (2024 Distinguished Friend of the Institute), John Chomiak (2007 Distinguished Friend of the Institute), Archie Roberts (1996 Distinguished Friend of the Institute), Arnold Rumbold (2022 Distinguished Friend of the Institute)
Arlo Maverick, 2024 Alumni Award of Excellence recipient, was unable to attend, as he had to attend an international music industry showcase in Singapore. Representing on his behalf were friend Jason Gooz and cousin Bert Richards.
Sandvik Coromant was named Distinguished Industry Partnerfor the company’s long-standing partnership with NAIT and their community, as well as for industry leadership. Representing the company here are Jim Cordoviz, regional business manager (Western Canada), and Magalie Jackson, general manager and vice- president sales.
Shreya Nandiraju (centre) has achieved a lot early in her career as a consultant and as the president of the International Society of Automation Edmonton – the first woman in the role. Nandiraju was joined by her sister, grandfather and parents.
Marcie Kiziak (centre), CEO of NOVA Cannabis, was recognized with the Alumni Award of Excellence for her leadership and contributions to the community. Her colleagues, friends and family joined her to celebrate.
Game 1 of Round 2 for the Edmonton Oilers playoff series was the same night as NAIT Celebrates 2024. There were a lot of Oilers fans in the room, including Patrick LaForge (former Oilers president and CEO, 2002 Distinguished Alumni), Blaine MacMillan (2020 Distinguished Alumni), and Debbie and James Cumming (James is the 2003 Distinguished Alumni and 2018 Distinguished Friend of the Institute).