Engineering Alumni Network Awards

Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award recognizes a U of T Engineering graduate early in their career, who has achieved outstanding professional achievements and/or had an impact on their field. Nominees may be working within or outside of engineering but must demonstrate impact in their field with the likelihood of continued growth. Nominees should be 40 years of age or younger in the nomination year.

Research & Innovation Award 
The Research & Innovation Award recognizes an Engineering graduate or group of graduates who have developed, implemented or discovered an innovation or research program, process or product. The identified work has had a significant impact on the profession, community or society. For team nominations, at least 50% of the team must be U of T Engineering graduates.

Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the top award given by the Engineering Alumni Network. It recognizes a U of T Engineering graduate whose outstanding leadership and professional excellence have made a significant positive impact on society, potentially with a global reach. Nominees have achieved distinction in their fields and are an inspiration to U of T Engineering students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Malcolm McGrath Service Award
The Malcolm McGrath Service Award Honours a graduate or group of graduates who have made significant volunteer contributions to the U of T Engineering community over a minimum cumulative total of three years. Through their leadership they have enriched the lives of others with generous gifts of time, talent, and/or financial support.

This award is in memory of the late Malcolm McGrath, a 1954 Civil Engineering alumnus, pioneer of U of T Engineering alumni relations and fundraising, and the first Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations for the Faculty. Malcolm was a true champion of U of T Engineering and was instrumental in creating a culture of service and philanthropy in our alumni community.

For group nominations, at least 50% of the group must be U of T Engineering alumni to be considered.

Honourary Alumnus/a
The designation of Honourary Alumnus/a is given to a non-graduate who has made significant contributions to the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. This award is given out under special circumstances at the discretion of the Dean and not normally on an annual basis.

*Please note the L.E. (Ted) Jones Award of Distinction, which celebrates a graduating student who has made substantial contributions to the arts, has moved to the Engineering Society Awards to better reflect the spirit of the award.*

Promotes Diversity

• A champion of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Career reflects commitment to shaping an inclusive, welcoming profession
• Demonstrated advocacy and actions with lasting impact 
  

Pursues Excellence

• Consistent, comprehensive record of excellence and achievement 
• Drives excellence and challenges others to reach further 
• Celebrated as a visionary 

Impact

• Design development processes consider economic, social, health, safety, legal and cultural contexts 
• Work connects sustainable design, development and environmental stewardship 
• Advocates for the best interests of the public and community well-being 

Innovation

• Always-curious mind, uses evolving knowledge to define problems  
• Designs groundbreaking solutions to challenging problems 
• Embraces a growth mindset and is dedicated to learning and innovating 

Impact of Engineering on Society & Environment

• Firmly believes in engineering as a tool for positive impact 
• Positive influence by mentoring, leading and giving back 
• Builds relationships, brings people together, strengthens bonds among other U of T Engineering alumni, colleagues and community 

• Nominees must be a graduate of a University of Toronto Engineering undergraduate or graduate degree. 
• Nominations may be submitted by alumni, faculty, staff, students, colleagues and friends. 
• Individuals may self-nominate, provided the nominee completes all parts of the nomination package. 
• Nominees may be nominated in only one award category per year. 
• Nominees cannot receive the same award more than once.
• Eligibility of EAN Award recipients from 2023 and earlier:
   
  • Early Career Award recipients are not eligible for the Rising Star Award 
  • 2T5 Mid-Career Achievement Award recipients are not eligible for the Research and Innovation Award 
  • Malcolm F. McGrath Alumni Achievement Award recipients are not eligible for the Malcom McGrath Service Award 
  • Hall of Distinction recipients are not eligible for the Research and Innovation Award or the Distinguished Alumni Award 
  • Engineering Alumni Medal recipients are not eligible for the Research and Innovation Award or the Distinguished Alumni Award
• Nominees cannot be sitting politicians, elected or appointed officials or currently serving on Governing Council. 
• Posthumous nominations are ineligible. 
• Unsuccessful nominations will be considered for two cycles. Nominators will be contacted at the start of the second cycle with an opportunity to update the CV or letters of support with new information  
• The Adjudication Committee is not eligible to submit any nominations.  
• Current members of the Adjudication Committee cannot be nominated for an award.  
• Active members of the EAN Board executive committee cannot be nominated for an award.  
• Awards for each category need not be given every year. 

To complete a nomination, please use the nomination form here. This will capture all relevant contact information about the nominee and nominator.

Once submitted, please email two (2) support letters and CV/LinkedIn directly to the Engineering Alumni Network Awards Committee at eanawards@engineering.utoronto.ca.

Please refer to the Letters of Support Tip Sheet here for help guide sourcing strong letters of support.

If the nominee does not have an updated resume or LinkedIn profile, please download and complete the Resume Replacement Form here.

If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, please contact:

Shannon Osborne, Manager of Alumni Relations
eanawards@engineering.utoronto.ca
(416) 978 4274