The Cornerstone Student Awards
The Cornerstone Student Awards provide an opportunity to recognize the contributions and achievements of our students.
The Nomination Process
Any UNCW student, staff, or faculty member can nominate an undergraduate or graduate student for an award. All nominations MUST be submitted using the online system. You will need to enter your UNCW username and password to access this system. For more information on how to make a nomination using the online system, review the attached “Instructions for Nominating a Student.”
Tips for Making a Great Nomination:
- Keep in mind that award selection committees are composed of faculty and staff from across the university.
- Review the award criteria below and identify which award(s) the student best fits with.
- Provide specific examples of a student’s leadership, service, and experiences in your nomination that connect with the criteria for the award(s).
- Proofread your nomination. Information and quotes from the nominations of award recipients may be used in creating the student’s bio for presentation or print.
- Submit your nomination here: http://appserv02.uncw.edu/awards/
Nomination Deadline: Wednesday January 23, 2013
Students Accept Nominations
Upon conclusion of the nomination period, each student nominated for an award will receive an email congratulating them on their nomination and providing instructions for accepting this nomination. Students will log into the online system to complete the required acceptance materials, replacing all paper forms required in previous years. Review "Student Instructions for Accepting an Award Nomination" for more information. To be considered for the award, the student must complete:
- The online acceptance form, providing general information and listing their involvement, community service, honors and awards, and employment history
- If nominated for the Margaret W. Lippitt, Martha M. Duncan, Rachel Freeman, William A. Bryan, Senior Medallion, or UNCW Laureate Awards, students will also have to
- Upload responses to the essay questions
- Provide contact information for two UNCW faculty or staff references
Complete list of the required supporting materials for each award (PDF)
Students can log in to complete the award materials from February 1 – February 15, 2013 at: http://appserv02.uncw.edu/awards/.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the online system, please let us know.
Award Criteria
William A. Bryan Senior Leader AwardThis award is presented to the member of the senior class who best exemplifies the ideals of service to others, collaboration, leadership and devotion to UNCW.
- Senior, graduating in May or December 2013
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
- Good standing with the university
- Integrity
- Creativity
This award is presented to the member of the senior class who best embodies the ideals of service to others, commitment to social justice and collaborative leadership.
- Senior, graduating in May or December 2013
- Cumulative GPA of 2.67 or higher
- Good standing with the university
- Improves community and society
- Leading through example of service
Martha M. Duncan Scholarship Award
This scholarship is specifically designed to reward a student leader who has excelled in his or her work on behalf of an organization or university department during the past academic year.
- Current sophomore or junior
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Good standing with the university
- Demonstrated service to the community
- Displayed outstanding leadership potential
- Served as a role model for other students to follow
Margaret Walthour Lippitt Scholarship Award
This scholarship is awarded to the rising sophomore who best exemplifies the ideals of a leader by participating in at least one registered student organization or demonstrates these ideals through work in a department during their first year at UNCW. The recipient should demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Rising Sophomore
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
- Good standing with the university
- Campus involvement
- High character
- Community service
- Outstanding leadership potential
UNCW Laureate Award
The UNCW Laureate Award, inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizes an undergraduate or graduate student who has worked to promote social justice, human rights and the creation of positive change in the world. The successful candidate for this award should meet the following qualifications:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
- Good standing with the university
- Leads organized action to encourage the advancement of human rights and social justice through involvement on campus and/or in the community
- Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to increase awareness and knowledge of local and global issues
- Uses passion for human rights and social justice to become a community or world change agent
- Able and devoted to preparing and empowering others as effective advocates for social change
- Possess an admirable strength of character that inspires others to continue personal development in the area of human rights
- Dedicated to exploring diverse new points through reciprocal exchange of knowledge and shared experiences
Senior Medallion Award
The Senior Medallion is the most prestigious award presented by the Division of Student Affairs on behalf of the university community, presented annually to a select group of students.
- Senior, graduating in May or December 2013
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
- Good standing with the university
- Record of significant campus involvement over the course of an undergraduate experience
- Demonstrated commitment to improving the university community through collaborative leadership , service, or employment
- Evidence of personal character noted for integrity, fortitude and unselfishness
- Embodiment of spirit, which exemplifies a passion for supporting and encouraging a campus community that is purposeful, open, disciplined, just, diverse and caring
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to a select group of students who have made a significant contribution to UNCW over the course of their undergraduate or graduate experience. The recipients must have achieved senior or graduate student status through credits completed, possess a record of good citizenship, and be in good academic standing. In addition, the student must have exhibited one or more of the following characteristics:
- Record of campus involvement
- Exemplary application of leadership skills
- Extraordinary commitment to community service
- Exceptional contribution to the community through employment
- Distinct act of virtue or courage
- Meritorious and consistent contribution to improving the quality of life at UNCW
- Good standing with the university
Leadership Excellence Award
The Leadership Excellence Award is presented to a select group of students for outstanding contributions to improving the quality of student life over the past academic year. The recipients must currently be in good academic standing and possess a record of good citizenship. In addition, these students have distinguished themselves among their peers through one or more of the following characteristics:
- Outstanding act of leadership
- Unique act of kindness and regard for humanity
- Record of exceptional performance in service to a university registered group or organization
- Genuine and contagious positive attitude
- Sustained promotion of community spirit
- Initiator of constructive dialogue, which has encouraged reflection and positive change within the university community
- Good standing with the university




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