Distinguished Academics Awards
Each year since 1995, we honour faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the wider community through their academic work.
2025 nominations are closed
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What we celebrate and why
The ideas that flow out of our universities are the lifeblood of our economy, democracy and intellectual life. We created the Distinguished Academics Awards to promote the value of university research and demonstrate its direct impact on our society.
Each year the nominees hail from various institutions and disciplines, often working in very different domains. Yet they’re united by a passion for meaningful research that contributes to the public good.
The awards are presented at a gala, which is a fantastic social event for building relationships. Guests include elected government officials and bureaucrats, university administrators, faculty members, union groups, and allied organizations.
The awards categories
The Distinguished Academics Awards include three categories. Each award is recognized with a commemorative plaque and cash prize.
The Early in Career Award recognizes contributions made in the early stages of an academic career (typically the first 3-5 years.)
The Ehor Boyanowsky Academic of the Year Award recognizes a specific and recent contribution (typically made in the past 3 years.)
The Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award recognizes sustained contributions over the majority of an academic’s career.
“Faculty members in BC’s universities engage in outstanding scholarship that shapes new discoveries and deepens our understanding of the world. While much of this work happens beyond the public eye, it has far-reaching impacts on policy, technology, and society. The Distinguished Academics Awards provide a platform to acknowledge the invaluable role of university research in our communities.”
– Dr. Monica Prendergast, President at CUFA BC
