Thank you to everyone who attended the 30th Annual Student Leadership Awards! It was a sincere pleasure to celebrate the achievements of our community together. Want to experience the event again? Check out the recorded live stream or view our event photos!
Nominations for next year's Student Leadership Awards will open in early February 2025. The 31st Annual celebration will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom.
This year's student award recipients are available online, as well as student award archives dating back to 2005.
Award Descriptions
Individual Awards
The President's Award for Leadership recognizes a student who embodies our leadership value statement: "We inspire the leadership needed for all individuals to boldly push everyday boundaries while serving others."
Requirements
- Be an undergraduate student in good academic and conduct standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
More Information
- Nominees will be asked to provide supplemental information including a two-page essay.
- Nominees must also submit a current resume.
- Nominations are judged based on the nominee's essay along with the submitted nomination.
- The recipient of this award will receive $1,000.
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Provost's Award for Scholarship recognizes a student who embodies our scholarship value statement: "We inspire world class scholarship through academics, research and continued learning." It is awarded to a rising senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.
Requirements
- Each academic department nominates one student to represent their department as its Departmental Scholar. From the collective departments, one student is selected to receive this award.
- Each Departmental Scholar is awarded $200.
- The recipient of this award will receive an additional $800 for a $1000 total prize.
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Dean of Students Award for Possibilities recognizes a student who embodies our possibilities value statement: "We inspire the exploration and creation of all possibilities through innovative use of our skills and knowledge."
Requirements
- Be an undergraduate student in good academic and conduct standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
More Information
- Nominees will be asked to provide supplemental information including a two-page essay.
- Nominees must also submit a current resume.
- Nominations are judged based on the nominee's essay along with the submitted nomination.
- The recipient of this award will receive $1,000.
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The William and Josephine Balconi Community Service Award will be presented to a student who demonstrates community service with lasting and meaningful impact during their time at Michigan Tech, regardless of background or area of study. Dr. David and Marie Blum have initiated this endowment in memory of Marie’s parents, Josephine and William Balconi. David and Marie remember Marie's parents as "kind, gracious, warm, and always helpful. They were always involved in helping others." Marie’s parents lived in the Houghton area.
Requirements
- Be an undergraduate student in good academic and conduct standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
- Be a rising senior with at least one remaining semester and intend to graduate from Michigan Tech.
More Information
- Nominees will be asked to provide supplemental information including a two-page essay.
- Nominees must also submit a current resume.
- Nominations are judged based on the nominee's essay along with the submitted nomination.
- This is one-time non-renewable award.
- The recipient of this award will receive $5,000.
William and Josephine Balconi Community Service Award Nomination Form
The Percy Julian Award is given out annually to an undergraduate student who displays outstanding leadership accomplishments which promote diversity, social equality, or racial/ethnic and cultural understanding at Michigan Tech.
Requirements
- Be an enrolled, full-time undergraduate student at Michigan Tech.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or better at the end of the Fall semester of the current academic year.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Clair M Donovan Award recognizes a Michigan Tech faculty or staff member, student, or an exceptional community member who has contributed the most outstanding service during the preceding year. This award is in honor of Clair M Donovan, who made immeasurable contributions to Michigan Tech through his service as national president of Blue Key, as an alumnus, and as a civil leader.
Requirements
- Be a Michigan Tech faculty or staff member, student, or an exceptional community member.
- Positively contribute to the public image of the University.
- Demonstrate a continuing interest in the development of the University.
The Outstanding Future Alumni Award recognizes the contributions of a student volunteer who supports the Alumni Engagement mission of “Celebrating Traditions. Creating Connections.” Consideration is given to students who are making a difference, and demonstrate a commitment to the success of an existing Michigan Tech tradition, or create a new one!
Requirements
- Be a full-time Michigan Tech student in good conduct and academic standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
- Be actively involved in a Tech tradition.
More Information
- The recipient of this award will receive $500.
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Exceptional Enthusiasm as a Student Leader award recognizes a student actively involved in and enthusiastic about campus activities, who demonstrates both initiative and flexibility.
Requirements
- Be a full-time Michigan Tech student in good conduct and academic standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance award recognizes a student who has represented the entire constituency fairly and accurately while striving to make significant improvements to the organization and community.
Requirements
- Be a full-time Michigan Tech student in good conduct and academic standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
- Have held a past or present leadership position in a student governance body.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
Exceptional Leadership in a Student Governance Nomination Form
The Rising Star of the Year award recognizes a student who has shown great potential for leadership and has attempted to develop themselves personally in everything they do.
Requirements
- Be a full-time Michigan Tech student in good conduct and academic standing.
- Be an enrolled, 1st or 2nd year undergraduate student during the current academic year.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Student Employee of the Year award recognizes a student employee who has demonstrated responsibility, dependability, and follow-through on tasks. Additionally, they show initiative and perseverance above and beyond their responsibilities while successfully balancing academic work with employment duties.
Requirements
- Be a full-time Michigan Tech student in good conduct and academic standing.
- Be enrolled at Michigan Tech during the current academic year.
- Be employed on campus for at least one semester.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Student Organization Advisor of the Year award recognizes the advisor of a registered student organization who engages and motivates the organization's membership through their participation. They are also respected by the members of the organization.
Requirements
- Be a registered advisor of a registered student organization through Student Leadership and Involvement.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
Organizational Awards
The Exceptional Civic Engagement Award recognizes a registered student organization that has sponsored an exceptional service project, awareness event, or philanthropic endeavor with the goal of improving the quality of the community.
Requirements
- Be an officially registered student organization through Student Leadership and Involvement.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
The Exceptional Program of the Year award recognizes a registered student organization that sponsored an exceptional program, which includes, but is not limited to, an event or initiative in the areas of diversity, education, or social activities, that has made a positive impact on the Michigan Tech community.
Requirements
- Be an officially registered student organization through Student Leadership and Involvement.
- The project or activity must be designed to accommodate and be open to the entire Michigan Tech population.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
Most Improved Student Organization is awarded to a registered student organization that has demonstrated growth and adaptability when faced with challenges allowing them to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Requirements
- Be an officially registered student organization through Student Leadership and Involvement.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.
Student Organization of the Year is awarded to a registered student organization that has made an exceptional and significant impact on Michigan Tech's community through accomplishing goals set for the current academic year.
Requirements
- Be an officially registered student organization through Student Leadership and Involvement.
More Information
- Past recipients are not eligible to win for three years after receiving their last award.