Stories

Please consider helping students—and get the advantage of a 2024 tax receipt—by making your gift online by Dec 31, 2024.

2024 marks another year of incredible milestones for SFU—and we could not have achieved any of this without our steadfast donors, alumni and friends.

Supporting exceptional students in the groundbreaking Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) program, the new Stolte Family Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship is already empowering students on their way to becoming tomorrow’s clean energy leaders.

This past year, nearly 40 new funds were established to support students!

SFU alumnus Michael Provenzano (BSc ’20) has enjoyed an impressive basketball career that has taken him from SFU’s courts to playing professionally in Melilla, Spain, and now coaching with Michigan State University.

In August, students, faculty, staff, and others who contributed their passion and ingenuity to SFU's early days gathered on Burnaby Mountain for a reunion.

“It is truly an honour and so meaningful to receive this award, particularly during this last stage of my undergraduate journey,” says Kaleb, who recently completed his final year in SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts (SCA).

"Our goal is to ensure they make the most of their time at SFU, and to help them feel that they matter and are a part of something." Learn about alumnus Annette Santos.

Following graduation, Allan obtained both his JD and MBA from Harvard and went on to build a successful career in New York as a senior executive and portfolio manager in the hedge fund industry.

The SFU Alumni Council was established to represent SFU’s Alumni Association and you—our 200,000+ alumni who are making a difference in communities in British Columbia and around the world.

“Investing in education was not just a good deed; it was a logical choice—an investment in the future”

Few students have as long and storied a connection to their university as Tayme Stewart, an inaugural graduate from the Faculty of Applied Science’s Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) program who was, quite literally, born and raised at SFU.

Renowned for her warmth, enthusiasm, enduring authenticity and commitment to the SFU community, Anne Giardini, OC, OBC, KC, is being recognized with an Outstanding Alumni Award in the Service to the University category.

Six SFU alumni have been honoured with BCBusiness’ Women of the Year Awards as winners and runners-up.

“When you’re in survival mode, there are so many barriers to attaining the kind of ‘healthy’ lifestyle we were pushing forward. That led us to rethink how we can centre access, equity and equity principles in our programming,” says Ilhan

SFU is thrilled to honour Dr. Poh Tan with an Outstanding Alumni Award in the Rising Star category for her dynamic and impactful work to develop true cultural inclusivity in teaching science.

Several SFU alumni and students nominated for this year’s awards!

The story behind SFU’s newest mural stretches far beyond its home in Robert C. Brown Hall. It is just one of three new enhancements to SFU’s Department of Geography made possible by a generous legacy gift of $500,000 left by geography alumni Kenneth Cawker.

SFU is proud to recognize Regional Chief Kluane Adamek (Aagé) with an Outstanding Alumni Award in the Service to the Community category...

As the senior Canadian leader of one of the world’s largest professional service firms, Elio Luongo is driven by creating sustainable prosperity for Canadians and opportunity for members of KPMG, its clients and communities. SFU is pleased to recognize his accomplishments with an Outstanding Alumni Award in the Professional Achievement category.

We asked alumni to share their #SFULoveStory with us, and they did not disappoint—we received love stories spanning seven decades.

SFU is shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of our grads with the 2024 Outstanding Alumni Awards, celebrating members of our community who are serving society, advancing knowledge and making many other positive impacts on the world.

Katerina Stepanova, a PhD candidate at SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology, is deeply passionate about cognitive science, education, and emerging ar