Graduate students in York University's Department of Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM) have been recognized with a series of prestigious provincial and national awards for the 2026–27 academic year, celebrating their academic excellence, research potential and leadership.
Among this year's recipients is Oghenekevwe Oghenechovwen, a second-year PhD student in Disaster and Emergency Management, who was offered both the SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)(declined). The dual recognition will support their continued doctoral research.
Haley Ritchie, who will begin their second year in the Master of Disaster and Emergency Management (MDEM) program this year, received the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's (CGRS-M) through SSHRC, a highly competitive national award that supports promising graduate researchers.
Incoming MDEM student Tommy Taylor was awarded the prestigious Chancellor Bennett Master's Scholarship for Liberal Arts, recognizing exceptional academic achievement and leadership. Taylor has also been named an alternate for the SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's.
Iffah Pasha, who will enter the second year of the MDEM program in September 2026, also received a Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master's, recognizing excellence and promise in graduate research.
Rounding out this year's recipients is Tarisai Mudiwa, a second-year PhD student in Disaster and Emergency Management, who received the SSHRC Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral. Mudiwa was also honoured with the Larry Pearce Education Award (Third Place) at the Canadian Risk and Hazards Network (CRHNet) Symposium for outstanding contributions to disaster and emergency management education.
These achievements reflect the exceptional calibre of DEM graduate students and the department's commitment to advancing research that strengthens disaster resilience, emergency management and public safety in Canada and beyond.
Congratulations to all of this year's scholarship and award recipients on their well-deserved success.