SaskPower, the Saskatchewan Mining Association, and the leadership team at Magna Electric Corporation - four SIAST alumni - were the first recipients of the SIAST President's Partnership Awards.

"As a polytechnic, partnerships with business, industry, and alumni are vital to SIAST's success," said Dr. Larry Rosia, SIAST's president and CEO. "We havea  long history of solid and rich relationships with organizations and individuals that invest in our students, our programs, and our institution. These awards give us an opportunity to publicly pay tribute to them."

The awards, in the categories of Industry, Program, and Alumni, were presented at a black-tie gala in a scrubbed-down automative services shop. Proceeds from the gala will benefit SIAST's Aboriginal Student Achievement Plan, an initiative that provides Aboriginal students with the supports they need to succeed in their programs. 

SIAST is the province's leading educator of adult Aboriginal students, with 18 per cent of its student population (around 3,000 students) being of Aboriginal ancestry.