Spirit of Student Life Awards

Academic Empowerment Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who provides outstanding academic mentoring, tutoring, or resource coordination to enhance student learning and academic confidence. Nominees may include students, faculty, and staff.

Andrew Herman Chapter Excellence Award

The chapters receiving this award exemplify the five pillars of our community: Scholarship and Learning, Service and Philanthropy, Leadership and Values, Brotherhood and Sisterhood, and a Commitment to Community. These organizations have gone above and beyond the minimum standards set for them and have excelled in an array of areas throughout our community. Please take some time to reflect on the year and what your organization has accomplished. This award has an external nomination process.

Be Well Initiative Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize an initiative or program that advances student health and wellness by promoting holistic well-being, healthy decision-making, and access to resources that support lifelong self-care and well-being. Nominees may include initiatives and programs.

Darkow Excellence in Student Advocacy Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual, group, or program that demonstrates exceptional commitment to student advocacy by removing barriers, advancing access, and empowering students to thrive. Named in honor of Dan Darkow, this award celebrates his legacy of visionary leadership, unwavering dedication to access, and belief that student success and belonging are fundamental rights. Nominees may include faculty and staff.

Dr. Richard Nault Advisor of the Year

This award is to recognize outstanding faculty and staff members at Miami University who advise student organizations. It is based on outstanding contributions in a particular field of endeavor and contributions to the student organization. Nominees may include faculty and staff who advise a student organization.

Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship

The Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship recognizes two fraternity or sorority members each academic year who have shown devotion to the fraternity and sorority community. Celebrating fraternity and sorority community leaders with a prestigious scholarship promotes everything our community stands for: Scholarship and Learning, Service and Philanthropy, Leadership and Values, Community, and Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to an active member of IFC, NPHC, MGC, or PA. This award has an external nomination process.

Event of the Year

This award honors an event that demonstrated creativity, strong collaboration, thoughtful planning, and meaningful engagement with students. The program should reflect the mission and values of the organization while contributing positively to campus life. Nominees may include student organizations.

First-Year Impact Award

This award recognizes a first-year student who has demonstrated outstanding potential and made a meaningful impact through their emerging leadership and involvement. The nominee does not need to hold a formal leadership position. This award celebrates initiative, growth, and positive influence early in their college experience. Nominees may include students.

Gerald Yearwood Community Builder Award

The Armstrong Student Center serves as the center of the campus community, therefore we strongly value those individuals who foster and promote campus community building. The purpose of the Gerald Yearwood Community Builder Award is to recognize someone who has made a positive difference by bringing people together and creating a strong sense of belonging at Miami University. This award honors individuals who lead with honesty, kindness, and a commitment to helping others. Recipients work to create welcoming and inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and encouraged to take part. Through their actions, they help make our community stronger and more connected. Nominees may include students, faculty, or staff.

Harry T. Wilks Student Leader of the Year

The purpose of this award is to recognize a leader of a student that has gone above and beyond. This may be through greatly impacting their organization and/or campus as a whole. This student does not need to be in a formal leadership role within an organization. Nominees may include students.

Phillip and Martha Shriver Greek Person of the Year

This award is given to one fraternity man and one sorority woman of the Miami University community. The recipients are individuals who display excellence within our Greek Community’s 5 Pillars of Leadership and Values, Scholarship and  Learning, Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Community, and Philanthropy and Service. In addition to the application requirements below, the individual’s cumulative GPA will be checked and verified by the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Nominees may include active members of IFC, NPHC, MGC, or PA. This award has an external nomination process.

Spirit of Student Life Award

The Spirit of Student Life Award was created to recognize individuals, departments, and initiatives that demonstrate outstanding service and symbolize the core commitments of the Division of Student Life (community and belonging, student transitions, academic support, health and wellness, and engagement and leadership). Nominees may include students, faculty, staff, or initiatives.

Student Organization of the Year

The purpose of this award is to recognize the efforts and contributions of an organization on campus. This organization should be a group of individuals that represent a dedication to their organization and their impact on the campus and community. Nominees may include student organizations.

F.I.R.S.S.T. Award (Fostering Innovative Resources and Support for Student Transitions)

This award recognizes one student and one faculty/staff member who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to supporting new first-year and/or transfer students during their transition to Miami University. Recipients create, implement, or champion innovative, welcoming, and supportive initiatives that positively shape the new student experience. One faculty/staff and one student award will be given.

Wellness Advocate Award

This award recognizes an individual or group that centers whole-student well-being, promotes healthy decision making, and connects students to wellness resources. Nominees may include students, faculty, staff, or organizations.