Multicultural Graduation and Leadership Awards

Outstanding Student Organization

This award is designed to recognize student organizations that have contributed significantly to the campus around the issues students of color face. These organizations can be educational, political or social in nature and should serve the needs of multiple sections of the UW-Madison community of color. Organization must be a registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement. Organization must develop positive collaborative relationships with other student organizations, community organizations, staff/faculty. Additionally, it must contribute positively to the personal development of its members; support other campus events as well as other student of color organizations; host events that meet the needs of students of color; and develop campus events that build and educate the campus community.

Eligibility Requirements:  Organization, registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Serve UW-Madison Community of Color
• Positive collaborative relationships
• Contribution to campus
• Development of members
• Support campus events

Excellence in Social Justice

This award recognizes a student-led organization that has demonstrated excellence in social justice programming, efforts, and leadership during this academic year. Organization must be a registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement. Special consideration will be given to groups that embody the core competencies emphasized by the Institute for Justice Education and Transformation (msc.wisc.edu/socialjustice): Understanding Privilege and Oppression, Ally-ship, Community Organizing, Transformative Leadership, and Movement Building

Eligibility Requirements: Organization, registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Excellence in Social Justice Programming
• Commitment to cause
• Contribution to organization
• Impact on the UW Campus
• Embody core competencies

Outstanding Social Media Engagement

This award recognizes a student organization’s efforts on creating community, awareness, and engagement through social media avenues. The organization’s engagement can be educational, social, cultural, or issue based, and centered around building community for their student organization, its members, and campus at-large. Organizations must be a registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement. 

Eligibility Requirements: Organization, registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Create community through Social Media
• Create awareness through Social Media
• Create engagement through Social Media
• Engage organization, members, and campus community

Innovative Program

This award is designed to recognize events or programs that have made a significant impact on the UW community.  Programs should be new or the first of their kind for a registered student organization of color. These programs can be educational or social in nature and should serve the needs of multiple sections of the UW-Madison community or color. Program must have occurred on campus for the first time within the last school year. Organization must be a registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement. Program makes significant contributions to the campus community of color.

Eligibility Requirements: Organization, registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement, program occurred for the first time in the last school year.

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Serve the needs of the UW-Madison Community of Color
• Contribution to UW Campus
• Innovative
• Educational or Social Impact

Unique Collaboration

This award recognizes an event or program that was in collaboration between 2 or more organizations that made a significant impact on the UW Community. This collaboration can be educational or social in nature and should serve the needs of multiple sections of the UW-Madison community of color. Organizations must be a registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement. Programs can be first-time or recurring events. 

Eligibility Requirements: 2 or more organizations, registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Serve the needs of the UW-Madison Community of Color
• Contribution to UW Campus
• Creative
• Educational or Social Impact

Emerging Leader

This award recognizes a first or second year student who has shown their ability to be a leader on campus and in the surrounding community. This student shows strong interest in furthering their involvement in a student organization, program, or cause and to create a unique mark on the UW community.  Additionally, they demonstrate commitment to a cause/organization; potential for future contributions to the organization and to the rest of the campus community of color; outstanding leadership characteristics and skills; student does not have to hold a specific leadership position in the group.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual; First year and Sophomores Only; Minimum 2.5 GPA

Recipients will be evaluated based on: 

• Developing leadership skills
• Commitment to cause
• Contribution to their organization
• Impact on the UW-Madison campus
• Vision for organization

Established Leader

This award recognizes an established student leader who has shown exemplary leadership, service, and commitment to the University community. This student must show consistent leadership that is displayed through their active participation and commitment to an organization. Additionally, they provide leadership and vision for the organization; demonstrate ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with others; serve as a role model for new members and/or other students of color on campus; and, student does not have to hold a specific leadership position in the group.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual; Juniors Only; Minimum 2.5 GPA

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Developing leadership skills
• Commitment to cause
• Contribution to their organization
• Impact on the UW-Madison campus
• Vision for organization

Campus Legacy

This award recognizes a graduating senior for an exemplary track record of leadership, service, and commitment to the University community over their entire collegiate career. This award acts as the capstone leadership award for a senior who has worked throughout their collegiate experience to better the UW community (and beyond) and their own leadership skills.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual; Last year seniors Only; Minimum 2.5 GPA

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Developing leadership skills
• Commitment to cause
• Contribution to their organization
• Impact on the UW-Madison campus
• Vision for organization

Outstanding Student Organization Leader

Given to the president/leader of a registered student organization that serves students of color and multicultural students. The award recognizes the student leader’s commitment to campus involvement, upholding their organization’s mission, and their own leadership development. Nominees must be on the leadership team of the organization as listed on the WIN page for the organization which must be a registered and active student organization with the Center for Leadership and Involvement..

Eligibility Requirements: Individual, Minimum 2.5 GPA, On leadership team of organization, must be registered and active with CfLI

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Developing leadership skills
• Commitment to cause
• Contribution to their organization
• Upholding the mission of the student organization

Social Justice Initiatives Leader

This award recognizes an individual student who has demonstrated a passion for social justice education, advocacy, and dialogue within communities of color on campus. This individual has provided leadership through taking initiatives focusing on identity intersectionality, social justice awareness, and inclusion on campus.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual; Minimum 2.5 GPA

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Developing leadership skills
• Commitment to Social Justice
• Advocacy on UW-Madison campus
• Taking initiative
• Raising SJ Awareness

Outstanding Faculty

Given to a faculty member at UW-Madison, this award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the success and advancement of students of color and/or student of color organizations. Nominees must show dedication to students of color and/or student of color organizations that is displayed through their active participation in the campus community of color, research, and campus advocacy. Nominees must be current Faculty at UW-Madison.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual, current faculty at UW-Madison

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Contribution to BIPOC student success
• Dedication to BIPOC students
• Participation in campus community of color, research, or advocacy
• Impact on UW-Campus

Outstanding Staff

Given to a staff member at UW-Madison, this award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the success and advancement of students of color and/or student of color organizations. Nominees must show dedication to students of color and/or student of color organizations that is displayed through their active participation in the campus community of color, research, and campus advocacy. Nominees must be current staff at UW-Madison.

Eligibility Requirements: Individual, current staff member at UW-Madison

Recipients will be evaluated based on:

• Contribution to BIPOC student success
• Dedication to BIPOC students
• Participation in campus community of color, research, or advocacy
• Impact on UW-Campus