Dean of Engineering Doctoral Perseverance Award

One award valued at $1,000, will be awarded annually to a doctoral student who is registered full-time or part-time in the Faculty of Engineering and has successfully completed their comprehensive exam and is on track to complete their doctoral program within one year of applying for this award. Selection will be based on perseverance and resilience in overcoming significant personal or systemic barriers during their PhD program (e.g., neurodivergent challenges, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of a loved one, etc.), and a commitment to academic growth despite facing obstacles that impacted their progress. Preference will be given to those who demonstrate positive impact on their peers or the broader community through their journey and example. This award is inspired by the remarkable journey of Omar Alshehri, a PhD graduate who overcame significant barriers—personal, financial, and academic—to complete his doctoral studies in the Faculty of Engineering over a period of nearly 12 years. Omar's journey exemplifies unwavering commitment, courage, and the resilience to thrive in the face of adversity, serving as an inspiration to our engineering community.