Nominations open: Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student

The Centre for Teaching Excellence has launched the Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student (AETS). This award is open to all students who have a formal teaching role at the University of Waterloo. Up to four awards are given annually to recognize excellence in teaching by registered students in roles such as a teaching assistant, laboratory demonstrator, and sessional lecturer.   

Winners of the AETS receive a $1,000 award and a certificate of recognition.    

See past award winners of the AETS to learn more about previous winners and their contributions. 

How to nominate a student 

Nominees must be endorsed by at least five individuals. Of the five endorsements, at least three must come from past and present students of the nominee, and there must be at least one endorsement from a past or present faculty supervisor of the nominee. The faculty supervisors can be the nominee's thesis supervisor or the instructor of a course for which the nominee served as a Teaching Assistant.  

Nominations must be submitted by Friday, February 6, 2026, by 4:30 p.m.