McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 28, 2024

Teachers are the unsung heroes of our communities. They work hard as mentors and guides to help students from all backgrounds discover their talents and strive to reach their goals. Often overlooked, a dedicated and perceptive teacher makes the difference between the success and failure of a student who is struggling.

Purpose of the award

The McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award was established to shine the spotlight on the contributions high school teachers make to our students and communities through their mentorship. The award celebrates teachers who go above and beyond teaching the curriculum to ensure their students succeed not just academically but personally as well.

Nominate your teacher

You are eligible to nominate a high school teacher if you are currently enrolled in the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC and received your pre-university education in British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada. The teacher you nominate must have been teaching in a Canadian school.

The Award

The winning teacher will receive $5,000 to spend on school enrichment activities, programs or development, along with $2,500 for their own professional development. They will also be asked to nominate a current high school student to receive a $7,500 scholarship to attend UBC. The UBC Applied Science student who nominated the winning teacher will receive $2,500 in recognition of their efforts.

Paying it forward

By recognizing the often unnoticed contributions and achievements of high school teachers, the McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award highlights the importance of teachers to our communities and future generations. The award also encourages students to reflect on the impact their teachers had on their success, and provides financial support for both teachers and students to continue their efforts — thus, students “pay it forward” for the guidance they received.

Submitting your nomination

Before you begin, have the following ready:

Your teacher’s and high school info
Your nomination letter and optional letters of support saved as PDFs
- Use naming conventions:
  studentname_nominationletter and studentname_supportingletter

Complete the nomination form by February 28.

McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award - Nomination Form

Past recipients

2023 – Said El Mejdani (Westwood Community High School)
2022 – Todd Ablett (West Vancouver Secondary School) and Joe Muise (St. Thomas More Collegiate)
2021 – Johnny Dulku (Westwood Community High School)
2020 – Andrew Wong (Robert Cecil Palmer Secondary School)
2019 – David Riendl (Aspengrove School) and Szandra Temesvari (Kelvin High School)
2018 – Kyle Stewart (Georgetown District High School)
2017 – Sarah Daintrey (Clayton Heights Secondary School)
2016 – Amos Lee (Burnaby South Secondary School)
2015 – Angie McTague (LV Rogers Secondary School) and Gordon Trousdell (West Vancouver Secondary School)
2014 – Peter Gajda (Osoyoos Secondary School)
2013 – Susan Hunter-Jivung (Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School)
2012 – Brian Outerbridge (South Delta Secondary School)
2011 – Douglas Park (Hugh Boyd Secondary School)