News

Photo Credit: Dr. Weixi Shu

The Dal AC Engineering Department held its first annual Engineering Banquet on March 29th, 2025. A night dedicated to connection, recognition and community spirit, the event brought together students, faculty and staff for an evening of celebration and reflection, honouring the people and relationships that shape the engineering experience in Truro.

The banquet was more than a celebration; it was a collective expression of pride, support and shared successes. It offered a rare opportunity for students and faculty to step back from their day-to-day work and celebrate as individuals and as a department. For many, it was also a reminder of the power of small campus connections, where instructors know your name, collaboration is constant and everyone contributes to a sense of belonging.

“The student engineering and IEM community is a close-knit group and it was wonderful to share laughs, enjoy some insightful speeches, celebrate achievements and create lasting memories," said Samantha Tracey. "As a second-year student preparing to graduate in just a few months, it was especially meaningful to be recognized and to have this event as a way to commemorate the final weeks of school.”  

Looking ahead, the energy from the evening will continue to shape the department’s identity. With plans already underway for next year, the Engineering Banquet has established itself as a new tradition, one rooted in community, encouragement, and the celebration of the people who make engineering at Dal AC truly one of a kind.

A standout moment of the night was the Awards Ceremony, which began with the presentation of student-created faculty awards.

Dr. Ahmad Al-Mallahi was recognized for Professionalism, celebrating his unwavering commitment to high standards and integrity.

Dr. Jin Yue received the Pi Passion Award, honouring his deep enthusiasm for calculus.

Mr. Connor Mullins was presented with the Above and Beyond Award for consistently exceeding expectations in his support of students.

Dr. Sophia He received the Enthusiasm in Teaching award, recognizing her engaging classroom presence while tackling complex concepts.

Dr. Travis Esau earned the Momentum Award for inspiring students to push forward in their learning — and for being the only faculty member students have seen run!

Ms. Mandi Wilson was honoured with the Lifetime Impact Award, acknowledging her transformative influence on students beyond academics.

Created entirely by the Engineering Society, these awards were a heartfelt reminder of the strong bonds within the department, built on mentorship, mutual respect, and genuine appreciation.

The celebration continued with the presentation of three student awards, presented by Engineers Nova Scotia. These faculty-nominated awards recognize academic excellence, ethical conduct, industriousness, compassion, creativity, community service and extracurricular involvement.

The Future Engineer Award, presented annually to a first-year student, was awarded to Ian Redden.

The Associated University Award and Associated University Scholarship, given to second-year students continuing to the Faculty of Engineering next fall, were awarded to Lauren Fulton and Akshit Bhalla, respectively.

Next, the Department Community Awards recognizing unique contributions from students in Engineering and Integrated Environmental Management were presented. A total of 14 Department Community Awards were presented. Some highlights included:

The Travis Esau “Quiet Force” Award to Agau Aduot, for quietly demonstrating exceptional academics.

The Soapbox Mentor Award to Hope Dingle, recognizing the unofficial leadership she offers to fellow students.

The Solution Seeker Award to Caleb Hominick, for demonstrating problem-solving as second nature.

The Scott Read “BSc Agr Agent” Award to Alexandra Carkner, recognizing her actions with the IEM program.

The Perseverant Pathfinder Award to Olivia Caissie and Sarah Masalmeh, for finding excitement and joy in learning despite the rigors of life.

The Step Test Award to Robert Holmes and Megan McCoombs, for overcoming a challenging group project.

The evening was made possible through the generous support of Engineers Nova Scotia, the Canadian Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CSABE), and the Engineering Department.