Student Impact Awards

The Student Impact Awards are designed to recognize outstanding students in all areas of Student Involvement leadership at the University of Lincoln–Nebraska.

Awards are granted annually to students in four different categories:

Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs)

Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) have an opportunity to honor their members, officers and advisors. Any member of an RSO can submit nominations.

Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Student Contributions to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding student efforts to create an inclusive, respectful, and safe climate for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These efforts may be by an individual student or a student organization within the institution. The award recipient must have demonstrated an on-going commitment to the GLBT community. Examples might include:

• advocating for GLBT individuals, groups, and issues in UNL campus settings;
• creating projects that promote greater awareness of GLBT issues, including actual and potential oppression, within the University;
• providing leadership in designing activities and programs that promote personal safety and mutual respect for, and among, GLBT students, faculty, and staff.

Heart of Service Award

The Heart of Service Award honors one graduate student each year who consistently demonstrates exceptional service and dedication to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduate student population.

Award selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Nominee is currently pursuing an advanced degree
• Nominee is currently employed as a graduate student in a Student Affairs department or auxiliary
• Nominee consistently demonstrates commitment to the UNL undergraduate student population through employment and/or service (please provide examples)
• Two additional letters of support from UNL faculty, staff and/or students accompany the nomination

Spirit of Service Award

Student Award

This award goes to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student who has shown outstanding achievement in the area of service-learning. This particular student has connected with the community in an effort to help a worthy agency fulfill their needs. By providing services to one or multiple agencies, the student has not only connected with the community but has taken the steps to develop their own sense of self-worth. This particular person has gone above and beyond other students in the area of volunteer work.

Student Organization Award

This award is given to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Recognized Student Organization that has connected with Lincoln’s community to provide services to agencies in need. This group has excelled in the area of volunteerism and has grown as a group and as individuals because of their work. Through this, the group has encouraged other RSO’s and students to engage in service and civic participation. This group offered specialized and trained students in a specific discipline to fit the specific needs of a community partner.

Faculty Award

A nominee in this category would be a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor that has engaged themselves in the area of academic service-learning or research service-learning. This faculty member has realized the importance of connecting themselves and their students with the community. They strive to provide human resources to meet the needs of specific agencies. In an effort to become more civically aware and engaged, this professor has also helped to foster this same sense within the students.

Kim A. Hobson Award (Staff Member)

This award goes to the staff member who has contributed a great deal to the area of service-learning and to their community. This individual has helped the community and the university alike in fostering a sense of civic engagement. Creating potential for additional partners is something that this award winner would strive for. Service-learning is at the heart of this staff member and is conveyed through the activities that they engage in, whether within or outside of the university.

Community Partner Award

This particular award is new for the 2008 Spirit of Service Awards. This gives individuals or groups the opportunity to praise a local community partner that they have had the privilege to work with and believe is worthy of recognition. This agency/community partner has helped people or groups to excel in the area of service-learning/volunteer work. They strive to make the experiences of students those that will be remembered and ones that will encourage further community engagement.