Programs

CES/CESEF Student and Emerging Evaluator advancing Knowledge (SEEK) Award

Overview

The Student and Emerging Evaluator advancing Knowledge (SEEK) Award builds on the previous Student Paper Contest and earlier versions of the SEEK award, and recognizes student and emerging evaluator excellence contributing to the advancement of evaluation theory and/or practice. SEEK is a joint initiative of the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) and the Canadian Evaluation Society Educational Fund (CESEF) designed to foster student and emerging evaluator engagement in evaluation, profile evaluation-related work conducted by students and emerging evaluators.

Benefits

The SEEK Award honours up to two exemplary submissions per year, one overall Winner and one Honourable Mention, as follows:

SEEK Award Winner

    • Cash award of $500.00;
    • Registration fees, domestic travel, accommodation and meals to attend the annual national Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) Conference with costs reimbursed per CES travel guidelines;
    • Presentation of Award at a plenary session at the CES Conference;
    • Publication of project abstract in a CES Web news broadcast;
    • Invitation to present a paper session at the CES Conference;
    • Invitation to meet the CESEF Board of Directors; and
    • Mentorship to prepare a practice note for the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (CJPE) based on the work submitted for the SEEK award.

    SEEK Award Honourable Mention

      • Cash award of $300.00;
      • Registration fees, domestic travel, accommodation and meals to attend the annual national Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) Conference with costs reimbursed per CES travel guidelines;
      • Presentation of Award at a plenary session at the CES Conference;
      • Publication of project abstract in a CES Web news broadcast;
      • Invitation to present a paper session at the CES Conference;
      • Invitation to meet the CESEF Board of Directors; and
      • Mentorship to prepare a practice note for the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (CJPE) based on the work submitted for the SEEK award.

      Objectives

      The SEEK Award is intended to increase evaluation capacity in Canada by fostering student and emerging evaluator involvement, profiling new and exceptional contributions to the field, considering diverse contributions that advance evaluation theory and/or practice, and providing exposure to promising students.

      Eligibility

      Applicants must:

      • Be registered at the time of application as a full- or part-time student in a Canadian post-secondary institution OR have entered the field of evaluation in the last five years and be working in Canada/ for a Canadian organization
      • Submit a paper of no more than 3,000 words focusing on a subject of importance to evaluation practice. Papers should focus on innovative practices or lessons learned that will be of interest to the field of evaluation. They should not simply summarize or share the findings of an evaluation

      Papers will be assessed based on the significance of the topic, the innovation present in the paper, effectiveness of communication, quality of the work, and potential for the work to be published in the CJPE. 

      Applicants are encouraged to look at examples of practice notes in the CJPE for an idea of the style of papers that will be successful in the SEEK competition.

      Individual or multi-author will be considered. In the case of multi-author projects, the cash award is shared. If a group project is selected to receive a SEEK Award, one member of the group will be financially supported to attend the CES Conference and receive the Award on behalf of the group.

      Papers can be submitted in English or in French.

      Applications

      Applicants must send the completed Application Form and the paper to seek@cesef.ca byJanuary 15 of the competition year. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged.

      The application form can be downloaded here: SEEK Application Form_E_updated 2023.docx

      Review & Decision Process
      Applications are peer-reviewed by a selection panel appointed by the Board of CESEF. Funding recommendations of the panel are presented to representatives of the CESEF Board and CES National Council for final approval.

      Key review criteria include: qualifications of the applicant in evaluation; originality of the project submission; clarity and quality of the submission; contribution to evaluation theory and/or practice; and strength of the nomination.

      Decisions by the CESEF Board and CES National Council will take into consideration the recommendations of the selection panel and the availability of resources. All decisions are final.

      SEEK Award recipients will be required to sign a letter of acceptance.


      Past SEEK Winners

      Year

      Winner(s)

      Honorable Mentions

       2024CES and CESEF were unable to offer the SEEK award in 2024 due to a lack of eligible applicants. 
      2023 The award was not offered in 2023 because of the award review exercise. 

      2019-2022

      CES and CESEF were unable to offer the SEEK award from 2019 to 2022 due to a lack of eligible applicants, a lack of available qualified bilingual adjudicators, and CESEF board member turnover.  

      2021 Jason Swinamer, Dalhousie University  

      2018

      Andrea Chow, University of Ottawa

      David Buetti, University of Ottawa

      2017

      Linzi Williamson, University of Saskatchewan

      2016

      Sarah Sangster, University of Saskatchewan

      Beth Peddle, University of Ottawa

      2015

      Christine Sheppard, Lise Dube, and Kate Ducak, University of Waterloo

      Natalie Janssens, Dalhousie University

      2014

      Jade Anderson, University of Saskatchewan

      Allison McCabe, Dalhousie

      2013

      Chi Yan Lam, Queen's University

      Catherine Donnelly, Queen's University

      2012

       

       

      2011

      Michelle Searle, Queen's University

      Dorothy Pinto , University of Alberta

      2010

      Rich Janzens, Wilfrid Laurier University

      Andrew Lejeune, University of Alberta

      2006

      Courtney Amo , University of Ottawa

      Kerri Lynn Wall , Royal Roads University

      2005

      Michelle Anderson-Draper , Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics, University of Alberta

      Kelly Skinner , Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo

      2004

       

      Isabelle Bourgeois , Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

      Audry Ottier , International Development Studies Program, Dalhousie University

      2003

       

      Elizabeth Stephens , Psychology Department, University of Guelph

      2001

      Camille Dumond , Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University

      Nathalie Dubois , Public Policy Analysis, École nationale d'administration publique

      Steven Katz , Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

      Stephanie Sutherland , Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

      2000

      Chantal Langevin, Psychology Department, Carleton University

      Ryan Sommers, Medical Informatics, Dalhousie University

      Molly den Heyer, Guelph University

      1999

      Kate Feightner, McMaster University

      Allison Miller, University of Calgary

      Maria Barnes, University of Ottawa

      Erin Campbell, Halifax, NS

      1998

      David Hagarty, University of Victoria

      William Reid, University of Victoria

      Jeanne Bessner, University of Alberta

      1997

      Catherine Worthington, University of Toronto

      Renee Williams, McMaster University

      1996

      Marie Gervais, Laval University

      Sandra Koebel-McDonald, Carleton University

      1995

      Cheryl Madill, University of Waterloo

      Louise Gillman, University of Manitoba

      Daniel Reinharz, University of Montreal

      Dave Richardson, University of Manitoba

      1994

      Anne S. Leblanc, University of Ottawa

      Brian Boles, University of Alberta

      1993

      André Gilbert, University of Ottawa

      France Grenier, University of Ottawa

      Manuel Arango, University of Ottawa

      Anne Casebeer, University of Alberta

      Lloyd Cowan, University of Ottawa

      Marita Paul, University of Ottawa

      1992

      Ron Wall, McMaster University

       

      1991

      Tim Aubry, University of Manitoba

       

      1990

      Kyle Hutchinson, University of Waterloo

       

      1989

      Pamela J. Brett, University of Guelph

       




      The CESEF is an independent organization created by the Canadian Evaluation Society in 1990 and reorganized in 2005 to increase national assessment capacity through educational activities. In 2006, CESEF was officially registered as a Canadian charity.

      The Fund maintains partnerships with the Canadian Evaluation Society and the Consortium of Universities for Evaluation Education to promote the shared goal of developing the area of program evaluation by increasing access to education, training and professional development.

      We invite interested people, potential partners, students and evaluation specialists to send us their comments and suggestions.

      Mailing and Email Address

       The Willow Group                                       401 - 1505 Laperriere Ave                     Ottawa, ON K1Z 7T1

       admin@cesef.ca

      © 2011-2018 Canadian Evaluation Society Educational Fund
      Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software