January 11, 2012 – The recipients of SAIT’s Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni awards for 2011 are la crème de la crème. Though their career paths are utterly distinct, Dennis Chorney and Shiva Jahanshah share a passion for excellence.

Recipients of these awards are chosen annually from a list of graduates who have been nominated by their peers. Those selected represent the pinnacle of achievement among SAIT graduates.

Meet the newest honourees.

Dennis Chorney, Petroleum Engineering Technology ’75
2011 SAIT Polytechnic Distinguished Alumnus

Leadership. It’s the thread that weaves through Dennis Chorney’s extraordinary career.

SAIT’s 2011 Distinguished Alumnus is an engineer by trade, but his professional life is best defined by leadership. Chorney has been at the helm of numerous energy companies over his more than 30-year career, most recently as Chairman at Teine Energy Ltd.

Chorney’s guidance hasn’t been limited to the boardrooms of high powered companies, however. He has made outstanding contributions to community organizations, including his service as a member of the board of Woods Homes.

Chorney is also a long-time champion of SAIT. In the 1980s, he was a part-time instructor in SAIT’s Petroleum Engineering Technology (PT) program. He participated on SAIT’s advisory board, volunteered at the Rance Fisher Wellsite Production Education Centre, and helped secure an articulation agreement that gave SAIT energy students credit towards engineering degrees at Montana Tech.

Chorney is a key supporter and member of the Promising Futures™ Campaign Cabinet.

Read more about Chorney in Link magazine.

Shiva Jahanshah, Cinema Television Stage and Radio ’03
2011 SAIT Polytechnic Outstanding Young Alumnus

SAIT’s Outstanding Young Alumni award is given to a recent alumnus/a who has made exceptional professional achievements and contributions to the community. Shiva Jahanshah certainly fits this bill.

As a television reporter and producer, Jahanshah has created a number of acclaimed documentaries. Her three-part documentary Homeless in Calgary received a prestigious Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association (AMPIA) award. Journey of Faith, her 30-minute film on Ramadan, received an AMPIA nomination and has aired across Canada.

Jahanshah’s work lends a voice to people living on the margins, bringing awareness of critical social issues like homelessness, gangs and domestic violence. That social conscience permeates her private life as well as her professional one. Jahanshah is a committed community volunteer, participating in charity events such as the Mayor’s Annual Food Drive, the Empty Bowl benefit and fundraisers for the Salvation Army and the Calgary Drop-In Centre. 

Read more about Jahanshah in Link magazine.

SAIT Polytechnic is one of Canada’s most exciting destinations for post-secondary education, offering more than 100 career programs that position people for success in technology, trades and business. A leader in innovation, SAIT also collaborates with industry on applied research and delivers corporate training worldwide. SAIT is a member of Polytechnics Canada and one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for 2011.

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