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October 2026 graduand speakers

The October 2026 graduand speakers are selected by the faculties and the registrar based on student achievement and extracurricular involvement.

Ceremony A

Nalyssa Runge, BASc, Sustainable Energy Engineering
Faculty of Applied Sciences

Nalyssa Runge graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Energy Engineering. During her undergraduate degree, she founded and led the Engineers Without Borders SFU chapter, creating a platform for more than 200 students to collaborate on projects focused on social impact. Recently, she helped lead a cohort to Peru, where students worked on small-scale wind and solar systems. Originally from Quesnel, B.C., Nalyssa was the recipient of the Uggla Family Scholarship and RJC Award for Excellence in Sustainability and Clean Energy. Following graduation, she plans to gain hands-on experience developing sustainable energy and water systems as an engineer-in-training, while continuing her role as the B.C. community representative for Engineers Without Borders Canada.

Ceremony B

Emily Taban, BA, Criminology
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Emily Taban graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. During her time at SFU, Emily served as a peer educator for the Student Learning Commons and was one of the first writing and learning consultants at SFU’s Black Student Centre. Emily also volunteered as an associate editor for The Lyre Magazine, a student-led literary journal supported by SFU’s World Languages and Literatures department. She has received publication in The Raspberry, a biannual literary magazine based on Vancouver Island, as well as in Adore Art Magazine for her academic essay focusing on the social control and criminalization of women’s bodies, highlighting the experiences of Black and asexual women. She looks forward to beginning her career in social services and pursuing her master’s in the future.

Ceremony C

Jason George, BBA (Hons.), Accounting and Finance
Beedie School of Business

Jason George graduates with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours), concentrating in Accounting and Finance. As president of the Business Administration Student Society, Jason helped restore a physical presence for Beedie students, securing dedicated space in the Student Union Building. His leadership earned him the honour of President of the Year from the Canadian Association of Business Students, recognizing him as the top business student society president in the country. Jason has represented SFU at case competitions in Calgary, Toronto and New Zealand, and now coaches the next generation of SFU case competitors. He will begin his career as a tax associate while pursuing his Certified Public Accountant designation.

Ceremony D

James Houle, MSc, Mathematics
Faculty of Science

James Houle graduates with a Master of Science in Mathematics, focusing on number theory and Indigenous math education. Throughout his master’s degree, James made progress toward open conjectures in algebraic number theory, received the Dr. Eva Voigt Graduate Award in Science for Mentoring Leadership and took over the Math Catcher Outreach Program, for which he was awarded the Department of Mathematics Exceptional Service Award. As past treasurer and current chair of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Association, James assisted in establishing the Caregiver, Graduate Student Award and the Mackenzie Clearsky Award. James has now started his PhD in mathematics at SFU, for which he was awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Graduate Scholarship.