Congrats to these leaders, innovators and creators
NAIT grads, students and staff do amazing things. To celebrate that, we share news every season about those who’ve won awards, reached great heights, marked 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.)
High three-point throughput
Bachelor of Business Administration student Mikah Reed made NAIT Ooks basketball – and Alberta – history in December. In a game against the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks, the guard sunk an astonishing 14 three-pointers, setting a new Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference record.
"As great a shooter as Mikah is, she's a better teammate and a better person,” says head coach Kiera Lyons (Radio and Television – TV ’17).
Four Top 40s
Edify magazine’s annual Top 40 under 40 list highlights the next generation of Edmontonians working to make the city and region more vibrant, livable, exceptional and sustainable. Four members of the 2025 group, announced in November, are NAIT grads:
Pitches for patients
On Oct. 7, during Edmonton Startup Week, the city’s first health-care innovation challenge was held at NAIT. “We Care for Patients” invited medical assistants, managers and other frontline staff to pitch their ideas for $10,000 in seed money. Top prize went to Chris Small (Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology ’23, Digital Media and IT ’22), cofounder of Faculty of Skin, a company focused on customized skin care.
Winning for weddings
Railene Hooper (Photographic Technology ’16) continues to collect kudos for her memorable wedding-day photos. In October, Professional Photographers of Canada named her the 2025 Wedding Photographer of the Year; she also took home the Best in Show and two Best in Class awards. Previously, the organization named Hooper the 2025 Canadian Wedding Photographer of the Year.
Captains of industry
The Business in Edmonton magazine Leaders Awards recognize business owners, CEOs and presidents for their integrity, initiative, community involvement and more. Five NAIT grads made the list in November:
- Matt Aubin (Marketing ’99), founder and CEO, Keen Creative
- Jesse Blanchard (Management ’06), regional vice-president and general manager, Oldcastle APG Canada West
- Melanie Kurtz-Gibson (Finance ’02), CEO, CVS Controls
- Jeffrey Lapes (Construction Engineering Technology ’11), principal, Pemco Construction
- Joe Gagliardi (Accounting ’89), managing partner, Recruitment Partners
#3, 2 years running
For the second consecutive year, NAIT placed third in the annual ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges, by Research Infosource. "We're extremely proud," says Dr. Olle Lagerquist, associate vice-president of NAIT Industry Solutions. "We’re driving innovation that not only solves today’s challenges but helps build a stronger, more sustainable future for Alberta and beyond.”
Read more about the ranking and NAIT applied research projects
Paradise Lost, pitch competition won
Byron A. Martin (Radio and Television Arts ’85) is part of a team behind a winning pitch for Paradise Lost, a drama about a natural disaster in Togo. Industry news aggregator and promoter C21Media singled out the series among nearly 100 other submissions to the 2025 Content Canada Copro Pitch competition, awarding it US$15,000 worth of marketing.
“Paradise Lost has clear potential for international success,” said the competition judges.
Pure genius
Mechanical Engineering Technology student Om Shah left Pitch it to Me $4,000 richer in November. Held by NAIT’s Mawji Centre for New Venture and Student Entrepreneurship, the annual competition invites students to pitch business ideas to a panel of expert judges.
Shah won for Purus Aqua, a potential provider of low-cost water filtration for small farms. Students Daniel Berg and Peter Milne took second and third place.
Grads on TV: Update
In the previous instalment of this column, we reported on five grads testing their skills and trying their luck on reality TV. Two left those shows as finalists:
- Priya Winsor (Baking and Pastry Arts ’19) finished among the top three in Food Network’s Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking Chapter Two
- Alex Kim (Culinary Arts '11) ended his time on Top Chef Canada as runner-up
A decade of excellence
For the 10th time, the Nest Eatery was named Best Campus Bar in the Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Best Bar None accreditation and awards program. “It motivates us to stay committed to responsible service and outstanding guest experiences,” general manager Michelle Dirksen told the NAIT Nugget in December.
The meaning of microcredentials
NAIT Corporate & Continuing Education staff continue to share their expertise at evolllution.com, an online publication focused on the challenges and opportunities in post-secondary education. “Why Microcredentials Matter More Than Ever in an Uncertain Labour Market,” the latest article by Partha Roy, Karla Barron and Scott Biggs, looks at how this emerging educational format can bridge the skills gaps.
Committed to student experience
Petrina Ferreira was named NAIT’s associate vice-president student experience in December. Ferreira has spent nearly 25 years advocating for student success through contributions to services, campus life and more. She holds a bachelor degree in applied human services administration Degree and a master’s in learning and technology.