Meet SAIT’s Spring 2025 valedictorians

Smita Biswas thinks of SAIT as more than just a school — it’s a community that welcomed her with open arms and offered endless opportunities to grow, lead and make meaningful connections.

As part of that community, Smita served in student leadership and support roles as a Student Engagement Leader, Outreach Wellness Leader, Eco Ambassador, Peer Mentor and English Conversation Partner, as well as hosting SAIT’s Diwali celebration and being President of a SAITSA outdoor club. Her hard work and dedication were recognized through both the Davidson Enman Lumber scholarship and Saitsa’s Thérèse Murray Award.

SAIT helped Smita discover her voice, build her confidence and lead with empathy and purpose, and she is proud to graduate from the Business Administration, Management program.

What advice do you have for students to succeed?

Don’t hesitate to ask questions and build meaningful connections with your instructors — they bring valuable industry experience. Get involved on campus by volunteering at events or taking on leadership roles.

What is your favourite memory as a student #HereAtSAIT?

One of my favourite memories as a student #HereAtSAIT was hosting the Diwali celebration 2024 on campus. The event drew a huge crowd, with hundreds of students in attendance and the presence of SAIT dignitaries, making it an even more special occasion.

What are you looking forward to most post-graduation?

Post-graduation, I’m looking forward to applying everything I’ve learned at SAIT in a real-world, professional environment. Beyond work, I’m also hoping to give back to the community that supported me through mentorship, volunteering or staying connected with SAIT as an alumna.

Pavneet Cheema moved to Canada with her family in Grade 11 and was unsure of her place in a new country. Two years later, she graduated high school as an honour student with a 4.0 GPA. 

The next step of Pavneet’s journey brought her to SAIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration program. As a student, she continued to lead with purpose — maintaining academic excellence while serving as a co-president of Enactus SAIT and guiding the team to both regional and national recognition. Under her leadership, the Enactus team expanded from two to seven sustainable and award-winning business model projects focused on social, economic and environmental innovation.  

Pavneet proudly represented SAIT through the Light Up the World’s solar energy project in Peru. There, she worked alongside Electrical Engineering Technology students and professionals to install 18 solar panels and light up 40 classrooms, brightening the lives of more than 124 students. Next, Pavneet plans to teach English to children in Morocco while learning about the country’s history, architecture and women’s experiences. Her journey from newcomer to change-maker is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about titles but about impact. 

What advice do you have for students to succeed?

Don’t just chase grades, chase growth. Get involved with SAIT student clubs and events, lead something, take risks and surround yourself with people who inspire you to level up. That’s how you build a story that stands out.

What is your favourite memory as a student #HereAtSAIT?

Leading Enactus SAIT alongside my Co-President and making it to the semi-finals at the Enactus Canada National Exposition for the first time in our team’s history and then doing it again the next year. It was a legacy-defining moment I’ll never forget.

What are you looking forward to most post-graduation?

I’m excited to challenge myself in new environments and keep building purpose-driven work that uplifts communities and empowers others through social innovation and global collaboration. 

Born and raised in the Philippines, Raymund Del Rosario began his professional life in the music industry after earning a Bachelor’s in Broadcast Communication. Despite early success as a record producer, he shifted to the oil and gas industry to better support his family, starting over as an order taker for fuels and lubricants — ushering in a decade-long career in procurement and supply chain management.

Driven to realize his full potential, Raymund moved to Calgary in 2023 to study at SAIT, where he is now graduating with honours from the Energy Asset Management diploma program. As an international student engagement leader and the vice president of the Student Petroleum Society, he played a key role in building an inclusive and welcoming environment at the MacPhail School of Energy. His passion for student life is evident in his work as an English Conversation Partner, Peer Mentor and Eco Ambassador.

Beyond campus, Raymund has represented SAIT with distinction in industry circles, including the Canadian Association of Land and Energy Professionals, which awarded him the Canadian Association of Professional Landmen Scholarship in 2024. His volunteer efforts with the Calgary Public Library and the National Music Centre highlight his commitment to community engagement and cultural enrichment. He now works in the Canadian energy sector as a mineral land analyst for Cenovus Energy.

What advice do you have for students to succeed?

Networking is a key element for success, and, for any student, the fundamental first step is attending all your classes and striving to do well in all of them. Our instructors and classmates make up our first network, so we should remember to always be respectful and collaborative. The reputation and relationships we build as students extend beyond the classroom, well into our careers and personal lives.

What is your favourite memory as a student #HereAtSAIT?

For me, it's really spending time with my classmates between classes. Looking back at my time at SAIT, I felt most alive preparing for group presentations and doing last-minute studying before exams. There was something reassuring in chatting with classmates afterwards on how well (or how poorly!) we thought we did, as if our lives depended on it — always a great prelude to celebrating a small win with them later on!

What are you looking forward to most post-graduation?

I'm looking forward to using everything I learned at SAIT in building my career in land and energy. I also hope to be able to give back as a member of the alumni. I was provided with so many great opportunities at SAIT and I would love to be part of making sure that future SAIT students would enjoy the same wonderful experience.

Paisley Gatfield was born and raised in Calgary and started her post-secondary journey at SAIT in the Culinary Arts program, graduating with a diploma in 2023. Now, she’s about to become a SAIT alumna for the second time, with a diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts.

Driven by curiosity and creativity, Paisley believes food should be immersive, emotional and rooted in both science and art. Her student experience has been underscored by incredible achievements — including two first-place medals from Provincial Skills in the Culinary Arts and Baking categories.

Currently leveraging her skills as a culinary professional at local restaurant Salt & Brick, Paisley’s goal is to one day run her own restaurant focused on food science pairing and aroma, creating a multi-sensory dining experience. She also hopes to share her passion for innovation and excellence by mentoring future culinary students.

What advice do you give students to succeed? 

My best advice for future students is to take risks, explore their passions and ask questions. You can only be the best if you push yourself to be.     

What is your favourite memory as a student? 

My favourite memory at SAIT was the first time I saw one of my showpieces come to life exactly how I imagined it. It was a long sugar class, but I remember the feeling of pride, excitement and the nerves of whether it would come crashing down. I had a quiet realization that this is my passion, my motivation and my challenge. And it reminded me baking and cooking are both a science and an art. It’s a pretty display of who I am through taste and appearance. 

What are you looking forward to most post-graduation?

I am looking forward to taking that leap into the industry, getting my hands wet. I am excited to apply my knowledge and creativity to make art on a plate. I want to keep growing with my technical skills and leadership. I'm excited to be part of a team where I can carve my own space in the culinary and baking world. SAIT gave me the foundation, and now I'm ready to build something with it. 

Alen Reni Thomas was born in Kerala, India and moved to Canada at the age of three. Both of his parents were teachers, and he was raised with a passion for learning and helping others learn from a young age. He also developed a strong interest in technology — which led him to SAIT.

At SAIT, Alen was the president of the SAIT Student Code Club, where he organized networking events, hackathons and tech workshops for club members. Along with his studies, he worked at SAIT as a Student Outreach Wellness Leader through the Student Development and Counselling Department, sharing mental wellness resources with fellow students. Alen was also an active volunteer with nonprofit organizations like Tech Connect Alberta, where he served as community manager, connecting students with a community of more than 3,000 IT professionals.

Alen’s leadership and community volunteerism earned recognition from the House of Commons, where he received a Certificate of Appreciation for Community Volunteerism, presented by a Member of Parliament in Calgary.

What advice do you have for students to succeed?

Start networking early — don’t wait until you’re about to graduate. Building genuine relationships with your instructors, industry professionals and peers from the beginning can make a huge difference. Attend industry events, join SAIT clubs and engage with the community. These connections will not only open doors to new opportunities but also provide you with valuable insights and experiences that go beyond the classroom.

What is your favourite memory as a student #HereAtSAIT?

Organizing tech events with SAIT clubs was a memorable experience. It was amazing to meet students from various backgrounds, learn from their experiences, and collaborate on some really cool projects

What are you looking forward to most post-graduation?

I’m excited to give back to the community and help others grow, just like I’ve been helped. I’m also looking forward to stepping into the industry and starting my professional journey, applying what I’ve learned along the way.