SASKATCHEWAN — The Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation has donated $200,004 to establish an endowment for student awards at Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizing outstanding graduating students in programs that each campus is historically renowned for.
Samit Sharma believes in the importance of post-secondary education, the power of knowledge and the value of excellence. Those key values led Sharma, an engineer and entrepreneur, to invest in Sask Polytech and its students. Sharma attended graduate school in Saskatchewan and throughout his career has met many accomplished Sask Polytech alumni.
“Our goal with the foundation is to celebrate excellence—excellence in education and in student achievement,” Sharma says. “By establishing this endowment, we want to recognize the high quality of Sask Polytech programming and reward students who have excelled academically and demonstrated exceptional leadership and community involvement."
The newly established Samit and Reshma Sharma Excellence Awards will be available to eligible students who are enrolled full-time in their final year of the following programs:
- Moose Jaw campus: Electrical Engineering Technology
- Regina campus: Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN)
- Saskatoon campus: Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology
- Prince Albert campus: Integrated Resource Management
To be considered for these awards, students must exhibit strong academic performance, leadership skills and community engagement. Each award will be valued at $2,500 initially, the value of the awards will grow over time as the endowment grows. The inaugural student awards will be granted in Spring 2025 through a nomination process within the four programs.
“In Canada I find that people are shy talking about what they excel at. With these awards I want to put a spotlight on some of Sask Polytech’s excellent programs. We can achieve great heights when we talk about our success,” says Sharma. “Sharing what we excel at can become a lightning rod for others to follow suit.”
“A heartfelt thank you to the Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation for its generous and enduring support of Sask Polytech students and their pursuit of excellence,” says Erin Werner, director of Development at Sask Polytech. “Excellence is also one of Sask Polytech’s values. This gift from the Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation highlights this important value we have in common and will provide financial assistance to students for many years to come.”
Sharma is a strong advocate for higher education, recognizing its critical role in generating new knowledge for the benefit of people and communities around the world. His positive experiences in post-secondary education have inspired him to support universities, colleges, polytechnics and high schools through his foundation. The Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation is committed to making a meaningful impact in Saskatchewan and Canada by empowering students to reach their full potential. Through their generous donation, the Samit and Reshma Sharma Foundation aims to inspire students to strive for excellence and contribute to their respective fields.
Endowments play a vital role in providing ongoing financial support to our students. An awards endowment is a fund created to offer long-term financial support for student awards. The principal amount is invested and the earnings generated are used to fund the ongoing awards. If you are interested in giving to Sask Polytech students or investing in an endowment visit alumni.saskpolytech.ca.
— Submitted by Sask Polytech Media Relations
