The Fall 2025 Convocation marks the introduction of the UCW Alumni Awards. With two inaugural categories, these honours recognize the diverse and inspiring paths our graduates are forging in their careers and communities.
University Canada West (UCW) is proud to recognize two outstanding alumni whose achievements, courage and commitment to service embody the spirit of the UCW Alumni Awards. This year’s recipients are Anju Varghese, honoured with the Overcoming Adversity Award, and Xavier Varghese, recipient of the Emerging Leader Award. They both demonstrate the profound impact UCW graduates continue to make in their communities and beyond.
Overcoming Adversity Award: Anju Varghese
Anju Varghese represents the resilience and determination at the heart of the Overcoming Adversity Award. While completing her MBA in 2023, she faced severe personal challenges, including threats to her safety from a former partner. With police involvement and the support of the UCW community, Anju navigated trauma, unstable housing and extended periods of isolation—often completing coursework in 24-hour cafés when she had nowhere else to study.
Despite these extraordinary obstacles, Anju remained steadfast in her pursuit of education and stability. Her perseverance carried her into a successful career in banking, where she is now advancing at a leading Canadian financial institution.
Anju has transformed her difficult experiences into purpose and service. She actively supports international students as they adapt to life in Canada, offering guidance on safe housing, job preparation and access to essential resources. By speaking openly about mental health and personal safety, she helps reduce stigma and provides encouragement to those who may feel alone.
She detailed her struggles in a speech to the graduating class but noted how she wouldn’t let it define her.
“My key takeaway from that difficult phase is simple: No single person or situation should have the power to steal your purpose or joy away, because this is your life and your birthright,” she said.
Anju’s journey is a powerful testament to hope, courage and the ability to uplift others through one’s own story. UCW is proud to recognize her as a deserving recipient of the Overcoming Adversity Award during the Monday, December 1 Fall 2025 Convocation ceremony.
Emerging Leader Award: Xavier Varghese
Xavier Varghese exemplifies the forward-looking vision celebrated by the Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes alumni who, within five years of graduation, demonstrate exceptional initiative, innovation and leadership. Since completing his MBA in 2022, Xavier has become an influential figure in Canada’s sustainability and energy sectors.
Leveraging more than two decades of experience in lighting and energy systems, Xavier founded SX Energy Efficiency Solutions Inc., a company dedicated to helping organizations reduce emissions and improve energy performance. His work combines practical innovation with a passion for empowering others to make informed, sustainable decisions. He has already guided several organizations through major energy transition projects, helping them adopt more efficient practices with long-term environmental benefits.
Xavier’s commitment to sustainability extends far beyond his business. He contributes to renewable energy initiatives, supports local climate efforts and frequently shares his expertise with groups working to make clean energy more accessible. Through collaboration and community engagement, he inspires meaningful environmental action and strengthens collective progress.
“Leadership, to me, has never been about titles or positions—it’s about service, vision, and impact. It’s about bringing people together, sparking ideas, and driving change that extends beyond ourselves. At UCW, I learned that leadership is cultivated not only in the classroom, but in every collaboration, every project, and every challenge we overcame as a community,” he told the graduates during his address.
Visionary, dedicated and service-driven, Xavier Varghese is an outstanding emerging leader and a highly deserving recipient of the Emerging Leader Award. He was presented with his award during the Thursday, December 4 Fall 2025 Convocation ceremony.
UCW congratulates both Anju and Xavier for their remarkable achievements and contributions. Their stories reflect the strength, ambition and community spirit that define the UCW alumni network.
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