Impactful Education: Teaching Award

This student-nominated teaching award celebrates any faculty member (tenured/non-tenured/sessional) or a preceptor who enhances the undergraduate and/or graduate nursing student experience by sharing knowledge with their students in an engaging and respectful manner.

This is also open to UCalgary Nursing educators on main campus, Medicine Hat College and those teaching offsite in our various Rural and Indigenous Community Route programs. 

 

Nomination Process

Nominations MUST come from current UCalgary Nursing undergraduate or graduate student. The nominee must agree to the nomination.

A completed nomination form must be accompanied by one signed letter of reference and speak directly to the criteria. The letter may be from the nominator.

Only completed nominations will be accepted (see the nomination form for details). If your nomination is missing any of the supporting documentation, it will be returned to you for completion if there is time. 

Use Criteria with Examples

We strongly encourage you to explicitly incorporate the criteria of the specific award with clear examples for each criteria when writing your letter of nomination or support. This not only assists you, as nominator/referee, to highlight the important and relevant attributes of your nominee, it gives the selection committee very clear details about the qualifications of the candidate with examples of their achievements and enhances the overall nomination.

Tips and Templates

Spark Awards Nomination Letter Template

This document is meant to give you a rough template for your Spark Awards nomination letter. This is meant as a guide to help you but you are free to structure the letter as you wish. Nomination letters for SPARK Awards are typically around 2 pages but can range from 1-3 pages. 

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Writing an award letter

Five tips for writing a strong letter of support for an award (Taylor Institute, UCalgary)

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Criteria

  • Displays authenticity, inclusivity, compassion and respect toward students as well as a regard to their wellbeing and mental health

     

  • Shows an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, which is taught in an engaging way and inspires curiosity and excitement in their students

     

  • Motivates and inspires students to be curious, foster personal and academic growth and navigate change

     

  • Promotes a positive student experience through their support and approachability and fosters a sense of belonging in which everyone can thrive

UCalgary Nursing Spark Awards

Submit a nomination today!

Nominations deadline: March 7, 2025

Submit today

Jan. 20, 2025

Online nomination form opens


March 7, 2025

Nominations deadline


April 17, 2025

Nominees and winners will be notified


May 13, 2025

UCalgary Spark Awards event 


Award Selection Process

The UCalgary Nursing Spark Awards Working Group will review all nominations and select the candidate they feel best exemplifies the criteria for the award. The number of nominations an individual receives may favourably impact the outcome. If the committee feels there is no clear choice, they may choose not to give an award in this category.

In the event a member of the committee is nominated for an award, the member will excuse himself/herself from deliberations for this award.

Additionally, no committee member may support a nomination with a letter of reference.

The UCalgary Nursing Spark Awards represent a shift from the previous internal awards programs - the Pursuit of Excellence and Covenant Health Faculty of Nursing Awards - and therefore previous recipients in similar categories may be nominated again.