‘USask holds such a special place in my heart’

As a youth growing up in Moose Jaw, Sask., Libby Epoch dreamed of becoming an engineer. 

Earlier this month, Epoch’s dream officially became reality. During Spring Convocation at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) on June 7, Epoch received her Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the College of Engineering as well as a Certificate in Professional Communication from the college’s Ron & Jane Graham School of Professional Development—the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and determination, both in the classroom and on the basketball court. 

In an interview before her Convocation ceremony, Epoch said while graduating is “so exciting,” reaching the end of her undergraduate studies is also “a little bittersweet.” 

“USask holds such a special place in my heart,” she said. “It will be sad to be off campus, but I’m very excited for what’s next and starting the next chapter.” 

An award-winning student-athlete with the Huskies women’s basketball team, Epoch inspired many in the USask community, and far beyond, as she pursued her academic goals as an aspiring engineer and her athletic goals as a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and one of the top point guards in the country.

After graduating from Moose Jaw’s A.E. Peacock Collegiate as a three-time Hoopla provincial champion at the high school level, Epoch joined the Huskies in the 2016/17 season and was named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team. Although she had received recruitment offers from various university basketball teams in Canada, Epoch knew she wanted to remain in Saskatchewan after vising the USask campus. 

“I immediately knew it was home,” she said. “It felt like home—everyone was so nice; the team was so nice. The coaches were great.” 

Epoch began her USask studies in the College of Arts and Science before transferring to the College of Engineering, where her major was civil engineering. She earned numerous athletic and academic scholarships and awards throughout her time as a university student, such as the Bonnie & Art Dumont Scholarship for academic achievement, the Margaret Messier Scholarship for Women in Engineering, the Isobel B. Harper Memorial Award for Women in Engineering, the Nasser Family Award in Engineering, the William S. McMath Memorial Award, the Howard Douglas Scholarship Fund in Civil Engineering, the Al and Gisele Schreiner Scholarship, and more. She is grateful for the support she and other students have received from generous donors, including USask alumni Ron and Jane Graham, and for the honours and recognition she has received throughout her time at USask. 

Epoch believes in giving back to her community and, in 2023, she was honoured during National Philanthropy Day celebrations. Since USask’s Be What the World Needs campaign was launched, Epoch has been a strong ambassador for the largest campaign in Saskatchewan’s history by lending her voice to gift announcements, media interviews, promotional materials, and more. As a USask student, she also served as the president of the Huskie Athletic Council, which has supported initiatives such as Huskie Home Room, clothing drives for underprivileged children, and raising funds for the Secret Santa program.

Epoch said she was “so grateful and appreciative” to receive the Youth in Philanthropy Award on National Philanthropy Day, though the recognition was “so unexpected.” 

“I just try to help in whatever small way I can, and to be recognized was really special. I did not see that coming,” she said. “USask has given me so much in terms of education and athletics that to be able to help raise money to put back into USask for other students and other programs and other teams—I couldn’t say no to that. I needed to do that to give back and show my respect and gratefulness for what the school gave me.” 

In addition to her athletic achievements and her involvement in philanthropy, Epoch also has fond academic memories from her time in the College of Engineering—particularly working on her fourth-year capstone project. Earlier this year, Epoch was a member of one of 13 teams from the college that competed for $7,000 in prizes at the 2024 Capstone Design Showcase on April 2 at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park. 

Another favourite memory was taking part in the engineering profession's iron ring ceremony, which Epoch describes as “really special.” 

“Ron Graham was able to come and give me my ring—so it was so special, with all his support through my basketball and my education, that he was able to give me my iron ring and now I get to wear that,” she said. 

Epoch is currently employed with Graham Construction, where she plans to work throughout the summer at BHP’s Jansen potash mine. She then plans to pursue a season of professional basketball in Europe this fall before returning to her engineering role. 

“I am very, very thankful to be working for Graham Construction,” she said. 

Epoch said she is open to playing basketball anywhere in Europe, and she currently has an agent who is looking into opportunities overseas. 

“I really don’t have a specific place in mind—really anywhere that’s safe and competitive and a good experience.” 

For Epoch, studying engineering and playing basketball have gone hand in hand—and she’s looking forward to continuing to pursue her passions. 

“Growing up playing sports, I always valued working as a team to reach a certain outcome and achieving those goals,” she said. “I think engineering really satisfied that need in me to work as a team and solve problems and display some of that leadership that I learned through sports. Obviously, it’s a very challenging field, so the reward kind of feels that much greater when it’s achieved.”