TECTERRA increases commitment to geospatial and surveying students

Published on July 03, 2025

TECTERRA Inc. has increased student award and program support for Survey and Geospatial Engineering Technology students with a $250,000 donation a year after their previous investment of $1,254,500 to the same program.

“This latest donation represents an investment in the future of the surveying and geospatial industry,” says Monty Carter, TECTERRA’s chair and managing director. “Our aim is to fuel the industry’s growth by nurturing the talents of young minds, fostering innovation, and bridging academia with industry.”

Surveying and geospatial engineering student AnnaTECTERRA’s additional investment in the endowment will boost the number of awards available to students each year starting in 2026-2027 and will also increase the value of award each award to $3,500. "As a student athlete, balancing academics and sport is a challenge, but receiving a TECTERRA bursary made it easier to excel in both by reducing my financial pressures,” says recent Survey and Geospatial Engineering Technology grad and NAIT Ook’s women’s volleyball and golf player, Anna Atcheynum. "It’s rewarding to know that my hard work and dedication have been recognized and supported. I’m incredibly grateful. In the future, I look forward to combining my business (Business Administration – Entrepreneurship and Innovation ’22) and surveying and geospatial education from NAIT to make an impact in the industry."

In addition to student awards, program supports–which enable experiential training, provide upgraded equipment, and create networking and staff professional development opportunities–are also bolstered by TECTERRA’s most recent gift.

“We appreciate TECTERRA’s support, which not only helps students financially, but also creates additional learning opportunities that align with what our graduates will encounter in the field,” says Matt Lindberg, Dean, School of Construction and Building Sciences. “This enhanced readiness will help NAIT grads do vital work which drives our economy, fosters innovation and guarantees success.”

About TECTERRA

Established in 2009, non-profit organization TECTERRA operates under a unique funding model that has invested over $32 million to support hundreds of Canadian startups and small and medium-sized enterprises by providing financial backing and resources for geospatial technology. Today, TECTERRA leverages the returns from these investments to support geospatial initiatives at academic institutions.