Congrats to these leaders, innovators and creators
NAIT grads, students and staff do amazing things. To celebrate that fact, we share news every season about those who’ve won awards, reached major milestones, or played leading roles in building their communities.
Here’s the latest group. Please join us in congratulating them.
(Know someone we're missing? Let us know.)
GG for Giannitti
Juan Giannitti (above, Digital Media and Information Technology – Animation ’25) is the 2025 winner of the Governor General’s Collegiate Bronze Medal for achieving NAIT’s highest overall average at the diploma level. Giannitti came to the polytechnic from Argentina, and hopes to open his own digital animation studio in Canada.
“I’m not here only to seek a better education, but to [find] a better future for [my family],” he says.
Learn more about Juan Giannitti’s accomplishment
Champion chocolatier
This May, Priya Winsor (Baking and Pastry Arts ’19) rose to the top of the Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship, taking home the US$25,000 prize. She plans to use the money to expand her St. Albert-based business, Compass Chocolates. “I’m still stunned,” says Winsor, who had to keep her success a secret since last year, when the season was filmed.
Read more about Priya Winsor’s win
Architecture ace
The Prix de Rome in Architecture – Emerging Practitioners goes to a recent architectural school grad with exceptional potential. For 2024, that was Daniel Wong (Architectural Technology ’18), who earned his master’s degree at the University of Toronto.
The $34,000 prize will fund an internship at a firm in Paris, and a research residency at another in New York City. Wong is the first NAIT grad to win the award.
Best business innovators
NAIT’s Business Innovation Showcase is an annual gathering of student startup entrepreneurs and problem-solvers. This April was its biggest iteration yet – an 80-booth takeover of the Feltham Centre involving 100 students and 400 visitors, complete with awards. Congrats to
- Most Innovative: Ishita Sharma (Finance '25), founder of Ghii, an all-natural, 100% food-grade skincare brand
- Most Engaging: Om Shah (Mechanical Engineering Technology student), founder of A2B Motorwerks, a used car dealership specializing in reliable, affordable vehicles for newcomers and first-time buyers
- Best Community Solution: Vanessa Sueppmayer (Digital Media and IT – Computer Software Development ’25), creator of BabyNest, a digital platform concept that streamlines maternal and child health care for expecting parents
- People’s Choice: Kaden Vandenbrink (Bachelor of Business Administration – Entrepreneurship and Innovation ’25), owner of Laser Masterworks, specializing in precision laser engraving and wood burning
- Top Occupational Health and Safety Booth: Lamisi Sirett (Occupational Health and Safety ’25), creator of Fit4Alls, a concept for adjustable coveralls designed to enhance safety and comfort.
Learn more about the 2025 Business Innovation Showcase award winners
The art of teeth
Competition for the KZW Award for excellence in denture prosthetics attracts the best in the field from around the world. Though practitioners from 21 countries vied for the prize in 2025, none could top the work of Jade Connors (Denturist Technology ’15, Dental Technology ’12). The owner of Edmonton's Pearl Denture and Implant Centre is the first Canadian to win the international award.
Canada's best wedding photographer – again
This spring, Professional Photographers of Canada named Railene Hooper (Photographic Technology ’16) the 2025 Canadian Wedding Photographer of the Year. "This isn’t just an award, it’s a recognition of something I pour my entire heart into," Edmonton-based Hooper wrote on Instagram. This is the second time she has won the award.
Fantastic four
There is no higher award at NAIT than an honorary degree. This year’s recipients were recognized at Convocation in June for contributions to the fields of mining and energy, education and business, arts and culture, and trades and diversity.
Meet Jim Carter, Brent Hesje, Carol Moen and Holger Petersen
Among the greats of goalball
This May, Blair Nesbitt (Bachelor of Business Administration ’15, Accounting ’12) was named MVP at the Canadian National Championships for goalball, where he led the Alberta team to victory undefeated. As national champs, the team earned a place in the International Blind Sports Federation Americas Championships this summer in Brazil.
Nesbitt and the team hope to carry on to the 2026 World Championships in China and the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
St. Albert superstars
Each year, the St. Albert Gazette asks readers to choose the best of the suburban city’s businesses, including restaurants, retail, health and wellness, skilled trades contractors and more. The 2025 list featured six businesses owned by NAIT grads:
- Chambers Plumbing & Heating, owned by Brett Chambers (Plumber ’20) – 1st, Best Plumbing category
- Compass Chocolates, owned by Priya Winsor (Baking and Pastry Arts ’19) – 3rd, Best Candy Shop category
- D’Arcy’s Meat Market (St. Albert), owned by Kyle Iseke (Retail Meatcutting ’09) – 1st, Best Meat/Seafood Store category
- Iron Fit Personal Training, owned by Mark Kay (pictured above, Personal Fitness Trainer ’06) – 1st, Best Fitness/Gym and Best Home-based Business categories
- Riverbank Bistro, owned by Daniel Ducharme (Culinary Arts ’09) – 1st, Best Fine Dining and Best Steak House categories; 2nd, Best Wine List (Restaurant/Bar)
- XIX Nineteen, owned by Andrew Fung (Cook ’01, Baking ’98) – 3rd, Best Fine Dining category; 2nd, Best Steak House category
Hooray for Highway Hijinks
Game Development student Alex Ritchie was off to the races in June at Game Con Canada, the country’s largest gaming expo, held annually in Edmonton. His video game, Highway Hijinks, was named Most Innovative Indie Game. The game sees players steer a vehicle at speed through a post-apocalyptic landscape. It’s available on the online gaming platform Steam.
A magnificent seven
NAIT Celebrates is the polytechnic’s annual recognition event for alumni, industry partners and friends of the institute who’ve made an outstanding community impact. Announced in April, this year’s group represents the fields of health care, culture, business and trades:
- Leroy Fontaine (Personal Fitness Trainer ’05) – firefighter, motivational speaker, reality TV star, author
- Amy Gerlinsky (Diagnostic Medical Sonography ’19) – founder and owner of Lakeland Diagnostic Imaging
- Bean Gill (Medical Radiologic Technology ’03) – cofounder of the ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre, public speaker, reality TV star, model
- Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals – one of North America’s largest privately owned heavy equipment rental companies
- Rob LeLacheur (Marketing ’94) – owner of Road 55, marketer, entrepreneur, mentor
- Keeley Prockiw (Welder ’15) – welder, trailblazer, advocate, mentor
- Jay Westman – cofounder and chairman of Jayman BUILT and Westman Charitable Foundation, and the creator of the BILD Alberta Scholarship for Construction Careers
Learn more about why each was named a 2025 NAIT Celebrates recipient
NAIT welcomes Doreen Cole
NAIT’s Board of Governors is responsible for managing and operating the polytechnic. Doreen Cole joined as its newest member for a three-year term starting in June. Cole brings more than three decades of leadership experience from her time in Canada’s energy, mining, utilities and education sectors.