Annually, the PRSSS offers 3 awards for students: Soil Science Student Awards, Poster Competition Awards, and the Warkentin Prize. Please see the information below for each of the awards:
The PRSSS in partnership with the Y.P. Heung Foundation awards a graduate student and an undergraduate student on the merits of:
- Academic achievement
- Research proposal (graduate students only)
- Leadership and community service
- Communication skills
- Letters of recommendation
The Les Lavkulich Graduate Student Award in Soil Science. One award of $5000. Please follow the application guidelines HERE.
The Art Bomke Undergraduate Student Award in Soil Science. One award of $3000. Please follow the application guidelines HERE.
Applications for the 2025 Awards are open. Deadline to apply is April 15th, 2025.
2024 Winners:
Art Bomke Student Award: Cameron Donnelly
Cameron is a fourth-year student in the Sustainable Agriculture & Environment program at UBC. She works as a research assistant in the Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes Lab, which has taught her tons about soil science, agroecology, and climate change. She has always loved digging holes and playing outside, so loving soil science just makes sense! In her free time, Cameron enjoys admiring cool insects, leading backpacking trips, teaching ski lessons, and cooking for friends and family.
Les Lavkulich Student Award: Sasha Pollet - PhD Candidate at UBC
Originally from Belgium, Sasha Pollet is currently pursuing her second year of PhD studies in Soil Science at the University of British Columbia. Her fascination with soil began during an introductory course in soil science while completing her bachelor's degree in Bioengineering at Liege University in Belgium. She then earned her Master's degree in Environmental Science and Technology in 2021. Sasha's PhD focuses on unraveling complex soil-root-plant interactions, particularly investigating the role of roots in nutrient acquisition and carbon storage within the soil. Beyond soils and academia, Sasha enjoys wondering in nature, rock climbing and salsa dancing.
2023
- Jordy Kersey - PhD candidate at UBC
- Sarah Gafner-Bergeron - Bachelor's graduate from UBCO
2022
- Patrick Pow - PhD candidate at UBC
- Liam Easton - Bachelor's student at TRU
2021
- Paula Porto - MSc student at UBC
- Helga Holler-Busch - Bachelor's student at the UNBC
2019
- Patricia Hanuszak - MSc student at the University of British Columbia
- Hannah Friesen - Undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia
2018
- Carson Li - MSc student at the University of British Columbia
- Patricia Hanuszak - Undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia
Our 2025 AGM will feature a student poster competition, in which participants are asked to submit a poster. There are cash prizes to be won for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place! This event takes the place of our poster competitions.
More details can be found on the Eventbrite page, located here.
Past Recipients
2019
Patricia Hanuszak (UBC) - "Effects of a 4-Year Grassland Set-aside on Soil Aggregate Stability"
Marieta Marin-Bruzos (UBC) - "Chitinases gene abundance in cherry orchards under different land management"
Vaselios Kokkoris (UBCO) - "Are fungal inoculants effective in the field?"
2018
1st Prize: Nicolette Lax (UBC) - Effect of low tunnels and plant biomass and fruit yield of summer squash
2nd Prize: Marieta Marin-Bruzos (UBC) - Potential of cherry rhizosphere Actinomycetes as biocontrol agents against plant-parasitic nematodes
3rd Prize: Doug Terpsma (TRU) - The “Topographic Signature”: Using Fine-Scale Soil Variability and Topography for Predicting Available Soil Water in Hot, Dry Douglas-fir Ecosystems
Every year, the PRSSS accepts nominations and applications for the Warkentin Prize, in recognition of Dr. Benno P. Warkentin. The Warkentin Prize of $750 will be awarded to a student or recent graduate that has published a peer-reviewed article or thesis in the field of soil science.
Past Recipients
2020
Zimin Li - Université Catholique de Louvain - UC Louvain
2019
Vaselios Kokkoris - University of British Columbia Okanagan
2018
Gabriel Maltais-Landry - University of British Columbia
and
Jacynthe Masse University of British Columbia
2016
Katelyn Congreves - University of Guelph