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Alumni of Distinction Award

Click here to nominate someone for an Alumni of Distinction Award

History

In the late 1950s, the Alumnae Association of Woman’s College wished to begin recognizing its own. The Board appointed an Alumnae Service Award Committee with Cora Stegall Rice ’45 of Raleigh as its first chair. The purpose of the award was to honor alumnae who “by their unselfish and faithful service have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the College.” The first Alumnae Service Award was presented in 1960 to Laura Weill Cone ’10, on the occasion of her 50th class reunion.

In 1965, the UNCG Alumni Association Board of Trustees voted to expand the Alumni Service Award to recognize alumni for service beyond the University. Henceforth, candidates would be considered for their “significant contributions to the liberal arts ideal in service to the University at Greensboro, the Greater University, or to the nation, state, or local community.”

Another change occurred in 1985 when the Board amended the name of the award to the Alumni Distinguished Service Award to better emphasize exemplary work.

Since then, the Alumni Association Board of Directors has expanded its alumni awards program, creating several awards under the umbrella of Alumni of Distinction. These awards are presented annually at a dinner during the week leading up to Homecoming.

Award Criteria

Nominees must have received a degree (undergraduate or graduate) from UNCG or Woman’s College. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Awards and Nominations Committee, and UNCG faculty/staff may not be considered for the award. Nominations may be made by anyone except the nominee and must be submitted via the Alumni of Distinction Awards Nomination Form.

The following is a list of the various Alumni of Distinction Awards, their selection criteria, and the deadlines by which nominations must be submitted. (Nominations submitted for a particular award past its submission deadline will be considered in the following year.)

Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award

The Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a UNCG (or Woman’s College) alumnus/a who, over the course of their lives or through a singular achievement, has made significant contributions to the University’s long standing tradition of service and brought honor and distinction to UNCG. Distinctive service may have been rendered on global, national, state, and/or local levels. The recipient’s lifelong service or singular achievement must exemplify creative and continuous personal growth and a willingness to embrace our changing world. This award also recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the recipient’s profession, community, society or university. The award recognizes unique levels of service and achievement and may not be awarded every year. The award may only be given once during a calendar year. Preference will be given to past winners of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award. Nominations must be made by February 1.

View a list of current and past recipients of the Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alumni Distinguished Service Award

The Alumni Distinguished Service Award is presented to a UNCG (or Woman’s College) alumnus/a who has made significant contributions to exemplify the University’s long standing tradition of service. Distinctive service may have been rendered on global, national, state, and /or local levels. The recipient must exemplify creative and continuous personal growth and a willingness to embrace our changing world. This award also recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the recipient’s profession, community, society or university. A maximum of two awards may be given annually. Nominations must be made by February 1.

View a list of current and past recipients of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

Alumni Excellence Award

The Alumni Excellence Award focuses specifically on service directly to the University and/or the Alumni Association. The award is presented to a UNCG (or Woman’s College) alumnus/a who has made significant contributions to advancing the University’s mission of improving the community by providing outstanding education opportunities and/or assisting the Alumni Association in advancing the ties which bind alumni to the University. The recipient must exemplify a selfless commitment to advancing the goals of the University and/or Alumni Association. Nominations must be made by February 1.

View a list of current and past recipients of the Alumni Excellence Award.

Young Alumni Award

The Young Alumni Award is presented to a UNCG alumnus/a who is 44 years of age or younger when nominated. It recognizes exceptional achievement and significant contribution to the recipient’s profession, community, society or university. The recipient must exemplify outstanding professional and personal development either through traditional channels or innovative approaches. Nominees are also evaluated on:

  • Professional Achievement: career movement and development, professional recognition, professional accomplishments, and significant contributions to nominee’s profession.
  • Personal and Professional Development: use of traditional or innovative approaches in enhancing personal and professional growth.
  • Personal Achievement: personal recognition received, the balance between personal and professional roles, the achievement of personal goals, the dedication to continual betterment of himself/herself.
  • Community (local, state, or national) Service: scope and breadth of service nominee has provided, the impact of his/her actions on the community, and involvement in a variety of service initiatives.
  • University Service: nominee’s support of University initiatives, involvement in University programs and/or service on University boards or committees or project teams.

A maximum of one award may be given annually. Nominations must be made by February 1.

View a list of current and past recipients of the Young Alumni Award.

WC Legacy Award

The WC Legacy Award will be given to alumni of either Woman’s College or UNCG who have made significant contributions in their lifetime that exemplify value, character and high integrity. Recipients will represent these ideals and values that were characteristic of the Woman’s College era. The WC Legacy Award may be bestowed posthumously. A maximum of ten awards may be given annually. Nominations must be made by April 30.

View a list of current and past recipients of the WC Legacy Award.

Award Process

The selection of the recipients is made by the Awards and Nominations Committee and approved by the Alumni Association Board of Directors. The award recipients and nominators will be notified upon selection, and the recipients will be recognized at the annual Alumni of Distinction Dinner during the week leading up to Homecoming.

The record of all nominees shall be maintained in a carry-over file and considered for three years, after which a person must be re-nominated in order to be considered.