Student Involvement Awards
The annual Student Involvement Awards recognizes our students for their leadership and involvement at the University of Cincinnati. Each year, individual students, groups, and registered student organizations are recognized and celebrated for their outstanding contributions to UC.
The Student Involvement Awards include dinner, awards & recognition, student government inauguration, and a keynote speaker.
Save the Date
The 2025 Student Involvement Awards will be held on Tuesday, March 25th in TUC Great Hall. Doors open at 5:30pm and the Program begins at 6:00pm.
You must RSVP online in advance to attend. RSVPs will open on February 15th at 8:00 AM and close on March 15th at 11:59 PM. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early to secure your attendance. A waitlist will be available once capacity is reached.
Nominate or Apply for Awards
Award applications are open! Applications will close on 11:59 pm on February 11th.
The student leadership awards, presented by the Center for Student Involvement, are open to any UC student, part-time or full-time, who is involved in the UC community. Involvement can be demonstrated in various ways, including but not limited to student employment, community service, student organizations, attending UC events, etc.
Through involvement, CSI hopes students will Create Connections, Build Community, and Develop as leaders. The Leadership Awards are centered around these three tenets.
The deadline to apply for the Leadership Awards is February 11th at 11:59pm.
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
| Dedication to Inclusive Community Award | The Dedication to Inclusive Community award recognizes a student who has demonstrated and acted on a dedication to fostering an inclusive environment that values inclusion, growth, development, and support by building partnerships through collaboration. |
| Leadership Excellence Award | The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated a commitment to leadership development by striving to be the best version of themselves through living their values and purpose through actions and standards. |
| Engaged Student Award | The Engaged Student Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated a commitment to involvement in the UC community through service within and outside of the University of Cincinnati, participation, and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities as well as demonstrated growth within these areas. |
| Dedication to Advocacy Award | The Dedication to Advocacy Award recognizes a student who has demonstrated a commitment to become engaged global citizens by examining contemporary issues related to systems of difference and inequality to empower them as agents of change in creating a socially just community. |
| Innovative Leader Award | The Innovative Leader Award recognizes a student that has demonstrated a commitment to experiential learning opportunities through change, innovation, vision, and creativity. |
Student Activities Board honors registered student organizations and their individual members with a variety of prestigious awards each year. Review the awards given and their descriptions in the drop downs. Eligible organizations must be registered at the time of application.
The deadline to apply for the Student Organization Awards is February 11th at 11:59pm.
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Impact Award | Student Activities Board would like to recognize a Bearcat student organization that has made a substantive and positive impact on a specific community through direct, concerted efforts. The organization that receives the Community Impact Award should not only excel in areas of leadership and scholarship, but also seek to apply these abilities in innovative ways to improve the lives of others–whether that be locally, nationally, or globally. |
| Inclusive Excellence Award | This award serves to recognize the Bearcat student organization which best pursues diversity and inclusion through its mission, activities, and/or outreach. They have undertaken significant work to address inequities prevalent in our community. This organization understands that our history empowers us to rethink change. |
| Outside the Box | This award recognizes an organization that has approached student organizations differently. This can mean anything–whether it's an inventive marketing strategy, a new event, or a unique campaign–tell us about your organization's outside the box work. |
| Rookie of the Year | The Rookie of the Year award is presented to a newly formed and approved student organization with a sustainable vision of change. The winner of this award will have demonstrated consistent yearlong growth as indicated by programming and adjustments to new challenges. |
| Student Organization of the Year | The Student Organization of the Year award goes to an organization that has demonstrated excellence at the University of Cincinnati that goes beyond what is expected. Nominated student organizations will be reviewed based on membership, recruitment, programming, and service. |
| Award | Description |
|---|---|
Advisor of the Year |
Student Activities Board would like to recognize an outstanding student organization advisor. Recipients for this award should demonstrate excellence in at least one of the following areas: Inclusiveness in Community, Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, or Discovery. |
| Emerging Leader of the Year | In an effort to honor more student voices and encourage generational Bearcat leadership, SAB would like to recognize three emerging leaders. The three winners of this award take initiative, are driven to develop every day, and are enthusiastic about leadership. |
| President of the Year | The President of the Year award serves to recognize and honor the hard work of an individual who has devoted much time, effort, and passion into their organization. This leader lifts as they climb, inspiring others to take responsibility in the face of uncertainty. Similar to the Advisor of the Year, this individual demonstrates: Inclusiveness in Community, Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, or Discovery. |
The Programs & Activities Council is a programming board that hosts accessible and free events and programs for UC students. The following awards recognize and honor other organizations at UC that hosts events that excel in the following areas:
| Awards | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Most ImPACtful Event | The Most ImPACtful Event Award recognizes and celebrates outstanding student organizations, departments, programs, volunteering, and employment (campus involvements) for their innovative and impactful contributions to the campus community. This prestigious accolade honors events that not only entertain but also create a positive and lasting impact, reflecting a commitment to community, inclusivity, and positive change. | |
| PACtastic Event | The PACtastic Event Award is a recognition that honors the exceptional efforts of student organizations, departments, programs, volunteering, and employment (campus involvements) in creating unforgettable events that not only captivate the campus community but also set a benchmark for promoting enthusiastic student attendance. | |
| Social ImPACt Award | The Social ImPACt Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), presented by PAC, is a distinction that recognizes the outstanding efforts of student organizations, departments, programs, volunteering, and employments (campus involvements) committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable campus environment. This accolade celebrates events that go above and beyond to champion diversity, encourage dialogue, and cultivate a sense of belonging among all members of the college community. |
| Awards | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Good Neighbor Award for Community Excellence | The Good Neighbor Award for Community Excellence recognizes an individual or group’s ongoing care and contribution to the Uptown community. This person may be a student or non-student member of Uptown who has displayed an ongoing interest in the betterment of the community, through acts of service, volunteering, or another form of community participation. | |
| Bearcats Got your Back Individual Award | The Bearcats Got Your Back Award recognizes a student who exemplifies the principles of Bearcats Got Your Back and has demonstrated a strong commitment to creating a supportive, respectful campus community where all Bearcats can thrive and succeed. | |
| Bearcats Got Your Back Student Organization Award | The Bearcats Got Your Back Student Organization Award recognizes an organization that exemplifies the principles of Bearcats Got Your Back and has demonstrated a strong commitment to creating a supportive, respectful campus community where all Bearcats can thrive and succeed. | |
| Bearcat Promise Student Employee of the Year | The Bearcat Promise Student Employee of the Year award aims to recognize and celebrate the exceptional contributions of a student employee who demonstrates outstanding performance, dedication, and a positive impact in their workplace at the University of Cincinnati. |