Cannon Lachapelle Awards celebrate UCalgary entrepreneurial excellence

Photo above: Award recipients and UCalgary leaders at the Cannon Lachapelle Awards celebration. Front row: President Emerita Elizabeth Cannon, left, Professor Emeritus Gérard Lachapelle, right, and student recipients. Back row-left: Dr. Tara Beattie, dean and vice-provost (graduate studies). Back row-right: Guy Levesque, Hunter Hub executive director, and Andrea Morris, vice-president (development and alumni). Photo by Adrian Shellard

 

Entrepreneurial thinking at the University of Calgary is about more than a skill — it’s a mindset that drives innovation, community impact and leadership. 

Central to this mission are the Cannon Lachapelle Awards, which recognize students who challenge assumptions, pursue bold ideas and turn curiosity into action. 

This year marks a new chapter for the awards, made possible by a $7.5-million philanthropic gift that ensures the Elizabeth Cannon and Gérard Lachapelle Graduate Scholarship in Entrepreneurial Thinking will be awarded in perpetuity. 

The donation, from the same anonymous supporter who first established the graduate scholarship in 2019, creates the third-largest graduate scholarship endowment in UCalgary’s history.

A legacy of entrepreneurial thinking

The undergraduate Cannon Lachapelle Award in Entrepreneurial Thinking award was created by President Emerita Elizabeth Cannon and Professor Emeritus Gérard Lachapelle, whose careers have been defined by advancing innovation and supporting students. Inspired by their vision, the anonymous donor launched a graduate-level award.

Both have been game-changers for UCalgary students, validating their curiosity, drive and commitment to impact.

"These awards reflect our belief that entrepreneurial thinking is essential for shaping resilient, future-ready communities," says Elizabeth Cannon, BSc (Eng)’84, MSc (Eng)’87, PhD’91. 

"By encouraging students to challenge assumptions and pursue bold ideas, we’re helping them become the kind of leaders Calgary — and Canada — needs."

“Entrepreneurial thinking empowers students to become creative problem-solvers and community-builders," adds Professor Emeritus Lachapelle.

"Supporting this mindset across disciplines is an investment in the future of leadership and discovery. It’s incredibly inspiring to see the paths recipients have taken and the difference they are making."

Presented by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking and the Faculty of Graduate Studies, this year's Cannon Lachapelle award recipients represent diverse disciplines and exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. Along with financial support, students gain access to mentorship, programming and a robust network of support through the Hunter Hub.

Elizabeth Cannon and Gérard Lachapelle Graduate Scholarship in Entrepreneurial Thinking

This prestigious scholarship supports visionary graduate students; those who challenge the status quo, reimagine industries and transform ideas into real-world impact. Renewable for two years, the award is open to thesis-based graduate students from any field of study who demonstrate entrepreneurial excellence and contribute meaningfully to the growth and vitality of Calgary. 

2025 recipients:

• Reza Ahmadi, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, PhD student
• Mohsen Hassani, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, PhD student
• Yaser Rahmaniani, Environmental Design, SAPL, master’s student
• Julien Rimok, Biomedical Engineering, PhD student
• Mohammad Alikarami, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, PhD student
• Madeline Springle, Psychology, PhD student 

Highlighting the significance of this recognition,  Dr. Tara Beattie, PhD, vice-provost and dean of Graduate Studies says, "UCalgary empowers graduate students to embrace entrepreneurial and innovative thinking, translating their research into solutions that create impact far beyond the university. 

“Recipients of the Elizabeth Cannon and Gérard Lachapelle Graduate Scholarship in Entrepreneurial Thinking not only demonstrate excellence in advancing their research, but also in transforming knowledge into opportunities that strengthen Calgary’s economy and community. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year’s awardees."

Cannon Lachapelle Award in Entrepreneurial Thinking

At the undergraduate level, the Cannon Lachapelle Award in Entrepreneurial Thinking recognizes students who demonstrate creativity, ingenuity and a passion for applying ideas in ways that support the UCalgary campus community and beyond. One award each year is reserved for a student in the Embedded Certificate in Entrepreneurial Thinking (ECET) program. 

2025 recipients: 

• Sunand Kannappan, Cumming School of Medicine
• Tania Rizwan, Schulich School of Engineering
• Zaky Qasimi, Haskayne School of Business
• Sydney Gilliss, Haskayne School of Business (ECET)

“Each year, the Cannon Lachapelle awards are a tribute meant to celebrate and showcase just how special and forward-looking our UCalgary entrepreneurial community is — students, mentors, donors and supporters — who believe in the power of ideas to create change and make the world a better place,” says Hunter Hub Executive Director Guy Levesque. 

“Narrowing down the choices to our four undergraduate award winners from the nearly 290 nominations was a daunting challenge, but a reflection of the entrepreneurial spirit that is so alive on campus.”

Investing in entrepreneurial students 

The Cannon Lachapelle Awards are more than recognition — they reinforce the university’s commitment to entrepreneurial excellence. By empowering students to think boldly, take risks and create solutions that matter, these scholarships, along with the mentorship and programming supported by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, give recipients the confidence and resources to transform ideas into impact.