David J. Hagen Memorial Prize

The David J. Hagen Memorial Prize honors David J. Hagen, a commissioned Alberta Land Surveyor who believed strongly in land surveying as essential to Alberta's history and future success. He was a passionate supporter of education from NAIT's Surveying & Geospatial Engineering Technology program and dedicated time to mentoring graduates to help them become esteemed industry professionals. Established by his wife, Karima Afchar, and Hagen Surveys, the company he led for almost 25 years, this award celebrates David's legacy and accomplishments. The prize is available to students enrolled in three specific surveying courses: Cadastral Studies SURV2301, Map Projections SURV2347, and Plans of Survey SURV2451. The award is merit-based, recognizing the student with the highest average mark across these three courses. Students are automatically considered for this award with no application required, making it an accessible recognition of academic excellence in the surveying field.