The William Muir Edwards Society

Engineering Students Who Make Our World Better

Named in honour of the Faculty of Engineering’s founding professor, the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award recognizes Engineering at Alberta undergraduate students who have made exceptional contributions to society. 

Recipients of the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award are compassionate catalysts for positive change, problem solvers, imaginative thinkers, and doers dedicated to serving their communities for years to come.

Students must be nominated and then selected by a diverse committee of faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners. Up to five students will be inducted into the William Muir Edwards Society and receive a $10,000 award.

Nominate a Student

The Faculty of Engineering is proud of the great work our students do, both in and out of the classroom. The William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award is a unique way to recognize engineering students who go above and beyond to make their communities better. Up to five $10,000 awards are available annually.

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William Muir Edwards

The Legacy of William Muir Edwards

One of the first four professors at the University of Alberta, William Muir Edwards was an engineer, athlete, husband and father who selflessly gave back to his community. He was instrumental to ending a typhoid outbreak in 1910 and in 1918, on his 39th birthday, he tragically died while caring for his fellow citizens, including our own students, who were struck by the Spanish Flu Epidemic.

In 2018, the City of Edmonton officially recognized November 14th as William Muir Edwards Day.

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Celebration of Citizenship

The William Muir Edwards Citizenship Awards culminate in a special evening to recognize the exceptional contributions of the award recipients. It's an opportunity for our engineering community to come together in celebration of our values and the young people in our faculty who bring these values to life through their diverse contributions.

2019 Photos


Award Recipients

Learn more about the award recipients of the William Muir Edwards Citizenship Award, and their accomplishments, contributions and passion for our community.

2023 Recipients2022 Recipients2021 Recipients 2020 Recipients 2019 Recipients

Thank you, David Morris Family Foundation

The William Muir Edwards Citizenship Awards are made possible by the generosity of the David Morris Family Foundation. Thank you for creating these amazing opportunities for our students!