In recognition of its milestone anniversary, AUGSA creates entrance leadership award for graduate students
When the 2025-26 Athabasca University Graduate Students’ Association (AUGSA) council members started their term in May, they learned their association would be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Sept. 8. In just a few short months, an idea about how to mark this milestone solidified into a plan to establish a new award—the AUGSA Graduate Entrance Award—that would welcome graduate students to AU from day one.
As AUGSA vice-president external Judy Parnell, president David Roy, and vice-president academic Kia Buchanan reflected on what this 20th anniversary meant for current and future graduate students, they all wanted to celebrate this anniversary in a different way—with something tangible that could help students and connect with the wider student body of almost 4,300 graduate learners.
They were inspired by feedback provided by their fellow students.
“Every year we conduct a graduate satisfaction survey,” explained Parnell. “It gives us an awesome insight into what the needs are, and one of the areas that consistently comes to the top of the list is access to funding.”
With an average age of 38, AU’s graduate students need supports that reflect their realities as mature learners. Parnell explained that many students belong to the “sandwich generation,” balancing children, aging parents, and careers while pursuing their studies.
AUGSA recognized their award needed to be different from what already exists.
“A lot of bursaries and awards look at your GPA, but as mature learners, our students may have been out of the school system for 10 to 15 years, and by the time they return, that kind of criteria didn’t make sense to us,” Parnell said.
Rewarding community leadership like no other
Applicants are asked to submit a short essay sharing details about their leadership experiences and commitment to community service. Parnell anticipates that applicants may share a range of experiences, from helping out with one organization for many years, to volunteering with their children’s sports teams.
“As AUGSA council members, we’re committed, we’re involved, and so it was important that this award look at how people are involved in their communities and how that can trickle down to the graduate student community at AU,” Parnell said.
Although their own surveys indicate that graduate students often don’t connect with AUGSA until they need help with something, Parnell is optimistic that with the creation of this award as an entrance award, awareness of and interaction with AUGSA will grow.
“It’s really important that our grad students learn from day one that we’re here, so that they know where to go if they need assistance, or to learn more about tuition, funding, loans, or what’s going on provincially or federally.”
By setting the award up as an endowment, AUGSA is ensuring that graduate students will benefit from this support year after year, well into the future.
It feels really good to know that this endowment, this award, is going to continue to grow and build and contribute to our graduate students’ success for years to come.
Judy Parnell, AUGSA vice-president external
Supporting graduate students beyond funding
Parnell notes that AUGSA’s work extends well beyond financial support. “We look at things that help our grad students in achieving their goals, whether it be a bursary, or needing some sort of advocacy or communication within the university. We always try to be proactive.”
That advocacy often happens behind the scenes—whether students need help navigating childcare options, mental health supports, or tuition and funding policies. “Advocacy is something that often people don’t necessarily think about until they need it,” Parnell explained. “That’s why we communicate and try to make sure that students know we’re here.”
AUGSA also co-hosts the Graduate Student Research Conference, held annually in November, giving students a valuable opportunity—often their first—to present and speak at a conference. With in-person and virtual options, Parnell said it’s a safe, welcoming environment where students can gain valuable experience in presenting their work.
The association’s fully virtual structure allows it to help and reach students from around the world.
“Our largest populations are in Alberta and Ontario, but we also have students internationally. It makes for a really cool environment for being able to learn and make new connections with people.”
Related: Graduate Student Research Conference aims to make the world a better place to live through knowledge
A legacy for the next generation
From advocating for student supports to planning large-scale events, AUGSA’s work is wide-ranging, and this new award ensures its influence has a lasting impact.
“This kind of entrance award is something that we all felt was powerful—this is something that is our legacy,” said Parnell.
That sense of legacy is tied to the association’s role as a student-led organization where each council sets a foundation for the following year’s council to go further in advancing AUGSA’s mission to advocate for accessible, affordable, and outstanding quality graduate level education.
“We looked at this as an investment that is important for our students,” Parnell said. “It feels really good to know that this endowment, this award, is going to continue to grow and build and contribute to our graduate students’ success for years to come.”
Applications for the AUGSA Graduate Student Entrance Award will open Jan. 1 and close Feb. 15. Learn more by using the keywords "AUGSA Graduate Student Entrance Award" while exploring AU's Scholarships Search.
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