ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Student Awards

Student Awards

Nominations

ßÙßÇÂþ»­'s Student Awards celebrate and honor the outstanding achievements of those who shine in and out of the classroom, who lead by example and who have made significant contributions to the University community.

Nominations will open in the Spring of 2025.

Awards

Individual students

  • Student of Distinction Award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Student of Distinction Award is awarded to an undergraduate student who has created a road map toward success. Eligibility requires engagement in at least one high-impact learning endeavor resulting in a significant achievement and/or contribution to the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ community. Awardees exemplify academic performance, extra-curricular achievement, and service to the University and beyond. The award will be presented by the University president on the basis of how the applicants' achievements have contributed to the betterment of the University community.

    Qualifications:

    • Full-time undergraduate student
      Involvement in an organization(s)
    • Involvement in community service and/or philanthropic work
    • Achieves academic success
    • Participates in at least one high-impact learning experience (e.g. internship, education abroad, undergraduate research, etc.)
    • Promotes the University (examples include but are not limited to: attending conference(s), published work, projects in major)

    Application process:

    • Nominators should fill out the nomination form and submit a letter of support outlining the student’s qualifications for this award. If the nomination is from a faculty or staff member, this will be included in the three recommended letters total needed for this award.
    • Current résumé or curriculum vitae that includes a list of extracurricular activities.
      Three letters of recommendation from either faculty, staff, other student leaders or a community partner who has worked with the student.
    • If self-nominating, applicants should include one additional letter of support from a faculty, staff, student or community partner familiar with their contributions and work (which would total four letters of support to have a completed nomination packet).
  • Residential Life Community Builder of the Year award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Residential Life Community Builder of the Year award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in developing their community including helping to create a welcoming environment, promoting student engagement and connecting residents to resources and opportunities.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates a commitment to engagement 
    • Exemplifies a commitment to serving others and developing community
    • Serves as a positive role model for their peers

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged. Nominators must submit the following materials:

    • A personal statement from the student or nominating party outlining their qualifications for the award that includes: an outline of contributions to the community through essay or portfolio
    • A letter of support from a direct supervisor, advisor or staff member
  • Resilience Award (BFirst Network)

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    This award recognizes an individual student who has demonstrated perseverance in the face of hardships and obstacles often experienced by first-generation college students. The selected student must identify as a first-generation college student. The successful applicant will have a strong commitment to service, ideally through demonstrated experience mentoring others. Preference will be given to participants of the BFirst Network, a campus-wide mentoring program that connects first-generation college students with first-generation faculty, staff, and alumni mentors through its programming.

    Process of award selection:

    Please submit the following supporting documents:

    • Nominations must be from faculty, staff, alumni, and graduate students, with preference given to those who serve as BFirst Mentors themselves.   
    • Nomination letter outlining the student's qualifications
      Student's resume 
    • As we hope this will be a pleasant surprise for the BFirst student who is selected, we aim not to request any materials from the students themselves. Nominations should therefore be placed discreetly.
  • #BingPride Spirit Award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    This award will be given to an undergraduate student who works to spread #BingPride across campus (and/or in the community) as a proud Bearcat, participates in Green Day Friday and works to engage other students to get involved in ßÙßÇÂþ»­ campus life.

    Qualifications:

    • Spreads Bearcat pride in and outside the campus community
    • Participates in special programs that enhance ßÙßÇÂþ»­ pride like Green Day Friday
    • Involved with campus life at ßÙßÇÂþ»­
      Attends events across campus

    Application process:

    Please submit the following supporting documents:

    • Two letters of recommendation from staff/faculty/other students describing how the nominee displays ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Pride
  • Best All Around New Bearcat Award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Best All Around New Bearcat Award will be given to the two new full-time ßÙßÇÂþ»­ University undergraduate students — one first-year student and one transfer student — who not only show a dedication to their academics, but have also taken the initiative to get involved in a range of extracurricular activities on campus their first semester. B-Engaged User Leaderboard points will also be considered. Award recipients to be determined by the Student Affairs Assessment and Solutions for Engagement (SAASE) staff.

    Qualifications:

    • New full-time undergraduate student (first year or transfer)
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA
    • Minimum membership in at least two B-Engaged groups

    Application process:

    Please submit the following supporting documents:

    • 1 - 3 paragraphs highlighting why you feel the nominee is qualified.
    • One letter of support from faculty, professional staff person or organization officer with the application.
      B-Engaged Transcript highlighting activities and involvement at ßÙßÇÂþ»­.
  • Al Vos Excellence in Community Engagement Award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    This Award recognizes undergraduate students who have demonstrated excellence in community engagement. The selected student will have engaged in community work that emphasizes community voice, is mutually beneficial to campus and community, and demonstrates an emphasis on partnership and collaboration with community. The successful applicant will also show evidence of reflection and learning through community work. This may be demonstrated by connecting engagement with academic knowledge or professional development, a willingness to challenge assumptions and gain a deeper understanding of our community, or the pursuit of long-term social change. This award will consider a range of engagement activities, including course-based community engagement, community-engaged research, individual service, community-based internship experience, and more. The selected student will receive a $500 award.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrate a commitment to engagement with community through collaboration
      and partnership 
    • Provide evidence of how community voice is incorporated into their work
    • Articulate the impact of their work on the community
    • Practice reflection and demonstrate how their community experiences have
      enhanced their academic knowledge, professional development, understanding of
      community, and/or pursuit of long-term positive change.

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted.  Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged.

    • A letter of support from the nominator outlining the student’s qualifications
    • If self-nominating, a personal statement outlining the student’s qualifications for the award
    • A resume
    • A letter of support from a community partner who has worked with the student in the development and/or implementation of their community engagement work
  • Excellence in Civic Engagement Award (Individual)

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Excellence in Civic Engagement Award recognizes an individual undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in civic engagement. The selected student will have engaged in civic action that addresses issues of local or national concern, including but not limited to racial justice, public policy, social inequity, or voter engagement. The successful applicant will provide evidence of the depth of civic engagement, for example through a focus on long-term social change, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and/or reflection on how their civic action connects to their academic, personal, and/or professional growth. This award will consider a range of civic actions, including nonpartisan voter engagement, activism, advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, and more. Activities may take place on campus or in the community. The selected student will receive a $500 award.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrate a commitment to civic involvement.  
    • Provide evidence of how civic actions emphasize a focus on long-term social change, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and/or a connection to academic, personal or professional growth.

    Application process:

    • If nominating a student, a letter of support from the nominator outlining the student’s qualifications.
    • If self-nominating, a personal statement outlining the student’s qualifications for the award.
    • A resume.
    • Optional: A letter of support from a campus or community-based group that has worked with the student in developing or implementing their civic activities.
  • Student Organization President of the Year Award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Student Organization President of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student who publicly advanced the mission of their organization while internally challenged and encouraged the membership to advance new initiatives, acquire new skills, and prepare the group for leadership transition and ongoing success. The nominee must be serving in at least their second consecutive semester as president.

    Qualifications:

    • Must have been president of a recognized student organization for the 2023-2024 academic year
    • Has assisted in advancing the mission of their organization
    • Has challenged and encouraged the membership to 1) create and/or support new initiatives, 2) acquire new skills, 3) prepare for leadership transition and 4) plan for ongoing success.

    Application process:

    Please submit the following supporting documents:

    • B-Engaged Nomination Form must be filled out by each nominator along with a letter of support.
    • Two letters of recommendation speaking to the individual's qualifications (separate from the nomination letter(s) of support). 
    • A B-Engaged Involvement Transcript should be submitted.

Student Organizations

  • Excellence in Community Engagement Award (Organization)

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    This award recognizes the most outstanding contributions made by a student organization(s) for developing and implementing a community service activity, civic engagement project, or philanthropic endeavor that met or advances the needs of the University or local community. The award celebrates community work that is based on collaboration and positively impacts both students and the community. The recipient of this award will have demonstrated an exceptional record of service to the local community. This award will particularly highlight projects that are based on ongoing partnership with community organization(s), but community projects of all types will be considered. The selected student organization will receive a $500 award.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrate a commitment to engagement with community through collaboration and partnership
    • Provide evidence of how community voice is incorporated into their work
    • Articulate the impact of their community work, both to students and the community

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged.

    • Nominators should submit a letter of support outlining the student organization’s qualifications
    • If self-nominating, a statement from student organization leader(s) outlining their qualifications for the award
    • A letter of support from a community partner who has worked with the student organization in the development and/or implementation of their community engagement work
  • Outstanding Organization of the Year Award

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Outstanding Organization of the Year Award seeks to recognize one University recognized student organization that has demonstrated true excellence among its peers and within the University community.  Application materials must demonstrate the organization's contribution to the overall University community, contribution to the development of its members, and demonstrated commitment to the organization's purpose and those served by it. The organization must also be able to demonstrate significant development in areas that may include innovation, inclusiveness and creative programming, as well as outreach within the University community and the local community.

    Qualifications:

    • A contribution to the overall ßÙßÇÂþ»­ community
    • A contribution to the development of its members, and commitment to the organization's purpose and those served by it
    • Significant development in innovative and creative programming
    • Outreach within the University community and the local community

    Application process:

    Please submit the following supporting documents:

    • B-Engaged nomination form must be filled out by each nominator
    • Three letters of recommendation speaking to the organization's qualifications and impact on the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ community

Faculty, staff and administrators

  • Bearcat Award for Outstanding Service and Support

    ßÙßÇÂþ»­:

    The Bearcat Award for Outstanding Service and Support Award recognizes a faculty, staff member or administrator who goes above and beyond to help students. This award is intended to encourage and reward faculty and/or staff members for their excellence and show the value they hold for our University.

    Qualifications:

    • Must have been employed full-time at ßÙßÇÂþ»­ during the past academic year
    • Demonstrates a strong dedication to student needs
      Has a passion for inspiring students to discover and achieve their full potential during their time at the University

    Application process:

    Members of the University community are invited to submit the name of an outstanding faculty or staff member

    • The nominator needs to write a letter of recommendation detailing the contributions of the nominee, stating clearly how the nominee(s) directly or indirectly support(s) students.
    • The nominator or nominee has the option of including up to four supporting items, such as other letters of recommendation.