Dear UT Community,

You are invited to nominate outstanding students, faculty, staff, and student organizations for the Division of Student Life Awards! These awards will recognize the accomplishments of our dedicated leaders during the 2016-2017 school year. We will hold two recognition ceremonies on Monday, April 17, 2017; one for staff at 2:00 p.m. and one for students at 4:00 p.m., both in the Toyota Auditorium in the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy.

Click here to submit a nomination! (UT NetID and password required for login.) Nominations will close at noon on Monday, April 3^rd.

Complete descriptions of all awards are listed below. Information is also available on the Division of Student Life website.

Nominators will be asked to provide a nomination of either 250 or 500 words or less (depending on the award) in addition to the candidate’s name and email address.

If you have questions or issues submitting a form, contact Tyger Glauser at [log in to unmask].

The following awards will be presented at the 2:00 p.m. Staff ceremony:

Civic Engagement

Eligibility: All staff and graduate assistants employed within the Division of Student Life

Description: The recipient of this award will be actively engaged in the Knoxville community. This could mean serving on a board, committee, or organization; or regularly volunteering with local or national organizations. This person balances their campus engagement with their commitment to the community and their chosen field.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Eligibility: All staff and graduate assistants employed within the Division of Student Life

Description: This award embodies the division’s commitment to educate and/or advocate for the importance of valuing and appreciating difference, similarities, and uniqueness within our community and beyond. The award will be given to a staff member or graduate assistant who is dedicated to promoting understanding, acceptance, and celebration of our diversity.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

First-Year Graduate Assistant of the Year

Eligibility: 1st year graduate student employed by a department within the Division of Student Life

Description: This graduate assistant utilizes creative and innovative leadership to enhance the University community. This person exemplifies an outstanding work ethic and has made significant contributions to the University community in a short period of time through their role as a graduate assistant.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Friend of the Division

Eligibility: Faculty, staff, or department outside of the Division of Student Life

Description: This award will go to a faculty member, staff member, or department outside the Division of Student Life who demonstrates a commitment to the vision and mission of the division; partners with or supports programs, committees, and initiatives within the division; and serves as an advocate to various division departments.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Healthy Vol Award

Eligibility: All staff and graduate assistants employed within the Division of Student Life

Description: This award will be given to someone who embodies holistic wellness and/or engages others in wellness management through awareness, resources, or education. This person maintains a healthy work-life balance.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Innovative Program of the Year

Eligibility: Department within the Division of Student Life

Description: This award honors excellence in the development and implementation of an original program. Recognized programs demonstrate: 1) the growth of students and enhancement of campus life, 2) new ideas, methods or programs which result in improved educational activities or services for the campus community. Both new and revamped programs are eligible for this award.

*Events occurring after the April 3rd deadline will be eligible for the 2017-2018 awards.
Self-nominations accepted.

Journey Award

Eligibility: Department within the Division of Student Life

Description: This department shows a commitment to consistently improving their practices, programs, initiatives, and/or internal structure. If the department has undergone a Program Review, they have actively implemented many changes based on the results.

Self-nominations accepted.

New Professional of the Year

Eligibility: Professional staff employed within the Division of Student Life with 3 years or less in the field of Student Affairs (not including graduate school)

Description: This professional utilizes creative and innovative leadership to enhance the University community. This person exemplifies an outstanding work ethic and has made significant contributions to the University community through their role as a staff member.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Outstanding Professional of the Year

Eligibility: Professional staff employed within the Division of Student Life with 4 to 9 years in the field (not including graduate school)

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Second-Year Graduate Assistant of the Year

Eligibility: 2nd year graduate student employed by a department within the Division of Student Life*

No self-nominations will be accepted.

*If enrolled in a 3 year program, 3rd year GAs will be considered in this category.

Service Excellence

Eligibility: Non-exempt staff members employed within the Division of Student Life

Description: This award will go to the non-exempt staff member who goes above and beyond to provide excellent customer service to all guests of their department. Nominations for this award must include specific examples to show the extent of the nominee’s dedication to service excellence.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Unsung Hero

Eligibility: All staff and graduate assistants employed within the Division of Student Life

Description: This award will be given to someone who typically does not receive the recognition they deserve. This person goes above and beyond without expecting praise.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

The following awards will be presented at the 4:00 p.m. Student ceremony:

Civic Engagement

Eligibility: Undergraduate student

Description: This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated a substantive and positive community impact through involvement and engagement. Civic engagement includes a wide range of activities by which students are engaged in service to the campus, local, national and/or international communities.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Eligibility: Undergraduate student

Description: This award embodies the division’s commitment to educate and/or advocate for the importance of valuing and appreciating difference, similarities, and uniqueness within our community and beyond. The award will be given to an undergraduate who is dedicated to promoting understanding, acceptance, and celebration of our diversity.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Graduate Student of the Year

Eligibility: Graduate student

Description: This award recognizes graduate students for their character, service, outstanding contributions, and academic achievements at the University of Tennessee.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Innovative Program of the Year

Eligibility: Registered student organization

Self-nominations accepted.

Large Organization of the Year

Eligibility: Registered student organization with 21 or more active members

Description: This award recognizes a large student organization that has fulfilled its mission, involved the campus in its purpose, plays a leadership role on campus, is involved in the campus community, is open-minded and diverse, has the ability to accept and overcome challenges, and sustains itself in creative ways. This honors an organization for developing and implementing improvements in the quality of student life. The organization fosters positive change within the university community with focus on enhancing the student experience through effective programming and/or student activism.

Self-nominations accepted.

Leadership Legacy Award

Eligibility: Undergraduate student in at least their third year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Description: This award celebrates students who have made a significant impact on the UT and/or surrounding community during their time at the institution, with an emphasis on how they have influenced the development and mentoring of future leaders. Nominees will be selected based on their breadth and/or depth of involvement and leadership in co-curricular activities, service in the community, involvement in professional and academic development experiences, and their overall impact on campus life and learning for students.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

New Organization of the Year

Eligibility: Registered student organization newly registered on VOLink during 2016-2017 academic year

Description: This award will be presented to a student organization that registered on VOLink for the first time during the 2016-2017 academic year. This organization will have demonstrated promise in recruitment, retention, creativity, and teamwork. The organization has made a positive impact on the campus and community in their first year on campus and fulfilled its mission. This honors an organization for developing and implementing improvements in the quality of student life. The organization fosters positive change within the university community with focus on enhancing the student experience through effective programming and/or student activism.

Self-nominations accepted.

Organization Advisor of the Year

Eligibility: Staff or faculty advisor to a registered student organization

Description: This award is designed to recognize a faculty or staff advisor to a student organization who has made a significant contribution to both the student members and the organization as a whole. The award will recognize an individual for their service, dedication, mentorship, compassion, consistency, and wisdom.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Rising Leader of the Year

Eligibility: Undergraduate student in their first or second year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Description: This will be awarded to student leaders who have shown tremendous growth during their time at the institution and may be defined as “emerging leaders”. Nominees should be respected by their peers and should demonstrate leadership potential at UT.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Small Organization of the Year

Eligibility: Registered student organization with 20 or fewer active members

Description: This award recognizes a small student organization that has fulfilled its mission, involved the campus in its purpose, plays a leadership role on campus, is involved in the campus community, is open-minded and diverse, has the ability to accept and overcome challenges, and sustains itself in creative ways. This honors an organization for developing and implementing improvements in the quality of student life. The organization fosters positive change within the university community with focus on enhancing the student experience through effective programming and/or student activism.

Self-nominations accepted.

Unsung Hero

Eligibility: Undergraduate student

Description: This award recognizes students who have positively influenced a program or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence.

No self-nominations will be accepted.