Involvement Awards

This award recognizes one specific event, put on by a student organization that created purposeful engagement that fosters meaningful relationships, personal growth, and a lifelong curiosity.

Nominations should:

• Demonstrate how building relationships and personal growth are prioritized during the event
• Evaluate how members are engaged and explains the level of impact on attendees and the community
• Exemplify continued attention and effort put forth by the organization to bring awareness to lifelong curiosity

This award recognizes a specific event, put on by a student organization, that promotes mental health, physical health, and well-being for its members and/or the entire student body.
Nominations should:

• Address why there was a need for this organization
• Share how the organization addressed the need for health and wellness promotion through this event as it relates to its mission and values
• Provide evidence of an event, program, or initiative put on by the organization and explains the impact/results
• Evaluates the need for this event and explains the execution of the event

This award recognizes one specific event, put on by a student organization, that prepares Gators for work, citizenship, and life beyond UF and empowers students to uniquely contribute to an ever-changing global community.
Nominations should:

• Demonstrate how this event prepares Gators for the workforce during and after their time at the University of Florida 
• Describe how citizenship is important through interdependence, social responsibility, active engagement with a community, and an ethic of care 
• Explain how students uniquely contribute to an ever-changing global community through the event 

This award recognizes an event put on by a student organization that aimed at making students feel a sense of belonging with peers, the organization, and/or the campus community. 
Nominations should:

• Describe how the event fostered a welcoming environment that aided students in feeling a sense of belonging 
• Explain how the event valued a variety of student needs and voices 
• Provide evidence of event impact for attendees 

This award recognizes an event, put on by a student organization, that has contributed to the University, surrounding Gainesville community, or beyond. The event was created by the organization with the mission of serving others. The student organization identified a need in a community and has acted in a specific and unique way through an event, program or initiative. 

Nominations should:

• Share how the organization addressed the identified need through a program, service, or resource
• Describe the education or training of members related to the need and community
• Provide evidence of program, service, or resource impact/results
• Evaluate the quality of the lasting effects of the program, service, or resource

This award recognizes a student organization that has brought a brand new and innovative program or initiative to the University of Florida campus or Gainesville community. The innovative event, program or initiative has a record of its impact that highlights the mission statement of UF’s Division of Student Life: The University of Florida Division of Student Life champions meaningful experiences that foster community connection, career design and lifelong wellbeing.

Nominations should:

• Identify and explain a connection to the Division of Student Life mission statement
• List the new audience(s) and explains the purpose, goals and/or objectives of the event
• Demonstrate the event or a similar event has not been done in the last four years
• Provide evidence of impact or success

This award recognizes a student organization that has elevated or repeated an existing program, initiative, or tradition to the University of Florida campus or Gainesville community in an innovative and reimagined way. This student organization has a record of impact the program, initiative, or tradition has and highlights the Division of Student Life mission statement: The University of Florida Division of Student Life champions meaningful experiences that foster community connection, career design and lifelong wellbeing. The nominated event MUST be a recurring event for this organization.

Nominations should:

• The nominated event MUST be a recurring event for this organization
• Identify and explains a connection to the mission of the Division of Student Life
• Describe in detail the event and how the event addresses updated and/or ever-changing audiences, and/or needs of campus
• Identify why this event exists every year and the innovative ways it is elevated
• Provide evidence of impact or success

This award recognizes a student organization who brought together other student organizations, university departments, and/or other campus partners through a program, service or event.

Nominations should:

• Demonstrate successful collaborative efforts with other organizations, university departments, or other campus partners
• Explain the purpose of the collaboration
• Offer results of collaboration on the organization or population they serve
• Share the benefits to the University of Florida community

This award recognizes a student organization demonstrating excellence in professional development through workshops, conferences, training, or curriculum provided to the organization's members.

Nominations should:

• Describe the workshop, conference, training, or curriculum designed for skill enhancement of members in detail
• Explain how the workshop, conference, training, or curriculum benefitted the mission and members of the organization with specific examples related to content and activities
• Evaluate the quality of the program, initiative, or event

This award recognizes a student organization that promotes mental health, physical health, and overall well-being for its student membership or within the campus community through education, access to resources, and/or internal initiatives.

Nominations should:

• Share how the organization addressed the need for health and wellness promotion
• Demonstrate the contribution to the organization
• Provide evidence of education, outreach, and/or initiative related to health awareness and explain the impact/results for its members
• Evaluate and express the importance of health education for organizational members of the organization, detailing strategies used to promote well-being

This award recognizes a student organization that fosters community within the organization by building connections among members, connecting members to university resources, and prepares members to create connections that develop their future pursuits beyond UF.

Nominations should:

• • Demonstrate how the organization welcomes new members and connects them to current members
  • Offer opportunities for members to learn about, utilize, and engage with university resources and services
  • Enable members to develop relevant skills and connections for their pursuits after graduation
  • Seek and incorporates member feedback into the organization’s operations

This award recognizes a student organization that has committed itself to service to the University, surrounding Gainesville community, or beyond. The student organization identified a need in a community and acted.

Nominations should:

• Share how the organization’s mission and values related to an identified need within a community
• Describe the education or training of members related to the need and community
• Provide evidence of the positive change it made on members, and the community through education, outreach, initiative or resource(s) and how the organization evaluates the impact/results
• Demonstrate how the organization imparts the importance of community engagement for organizational members in the identified need/community

This award recognizes a student organization that has been a registered student organization for fewer than three (3) years and has demonstrated a notable impact that corresponds to the organization’s mission and vision.

Nominations should:

• Demonstrate contributions to the organization
• Address why there was a need for this organization
• Unique mission and purpose that address an unmet need at the University of Florida
• Strong visibility in the campus community with opportunities provided to students
• Explain how the organization contributes to the University’s mission

This award recognizes a registered student organization that is classified as UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED and overall exemplifies UF’s Division of Student Life mission: The University of Florida Division of Student Life champions meaningful experiences that foster community connection, career design and lifelong wellbeing. The organization must demonstrate the positive impact it has made on its members, its host department/university unit, and the UF  community through the intentional development and engagement of its activities, service, resources, and events.

Nominations should:

• Successful recruitment and retention of organization members
• Impact on the campus community
• Leadership opportunities provided through membership
• Contributions to furthering the mission of the University of Florida

This award recognizes a registered student organization that is classified as GENERAL and overall exemplifies UF’s Division of Student Life mission: The University of Florida Division of Student Life champions meaningful experiences that foster community connection, career design and lifelong wellbeing. The organization must demonstrate the positive impact is made on its members and the UF community through the intentional development and engagement of its activities, service, resources, and events.

Nominations should:

• Successful recruitment and retention of organization members
• Impact on the campus community
• Provide examples of organization exemplifying the six themes of involvement
• Leadership opportunities provided through membership
• Contributions to furthering the mission of the University of Florida

This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of a student organization advisor to a student organization. Student Engagement will personally invite the student organization’s advisor if they are selected to receive the award. The student organization will also be notified before the award ceremony.

Nominations should:

• Impact on the organization
• Commitment to the development of the organization and its member
• Accessible to members and has a presence in organization meetings and events
• Must serve as an advisor for the organization for at least two years continuously

In recognition of the Division of Student Life mission statement, The University of Florida Division of Student Life champions meaningful experiences that foster community connection, career design and lifelong wellbeing, This award recognizes the outstanding contribution of a student leader who is not currently serving, nor has previously served as an officer of the organization and embodies their organization’s mission in their contribution within and to a student organization.

Nominations should:

• Contribution to the organization
• Impact on the campus community
• Embody the purpose of the organization
• A desire to develop skills and knowledge that would further the organization
• Displays initiative in addressing the needs of the organization

This award recognizes the outstanding contribution of a student leader who is currently serving on the executive board of a student organization and embodies their organization’s mission in their contribution within and to a student organization.

Nominations should:

• Contributions to the organization
• Ability to motivate others
• Innovation and change made as an executive board member
• Impact on the membership
• Commitment to being a role model

This award recognized various freshmen and sophomores who have shown dedication, leadership qualities, service to others, and has begun to have a long-lasting impact on the campus community through their involvement at the University of Florida. 

Qualifications for nominees:

• Be in good standing with the University of Florida. (The University of Florida considers students to be in academic good standing if they are eligible to continue or to re-enroll at the university, and free of conduct probation.)  

• Minimum 2.5 overall GPA.  

• Have earned no more than 60 credit hours at the University of Florida and/or other higher education institutions 

• Submission of ALL application materials (resume & essay) 

Nomination Process:  

• A Freshmen or Sophomore can be nominated by any student, student organization, faculty, or staff member

• Nominator should include a brief description of nominee's contributions and impact at the University of Florida, no more than 500 words

• Once nominated, the student leader will receive an email from Student Engagement asking them to apply for this award 

Application Must Include: 

• Resume: no more than 1 page, highlighting only accomplishments during your time attending the University of Florida. 

• Essay: No more than 1,000 words, addressing how your involvement at the University of Florida has impacted yourself and the campus community through leadership and service. 

Nominations should:

• Demonstrate leadership to the University of Florida through outstanding performance as a member of a student organization or university program. 

• Impact on the student organization or university program 

• Showcase service to others through the nominee’s involvement 

• Contribute to an improvement or positive change in the university community 

This award recognized Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students who have shown dedication, leadership qualities, service to others, and having a long-lasting impact on the campus community through their involvement at the University of Florida. 

Qualifications for nominees:

• Be in good standing with the University of Florida. (The University of Florida considers students to be in academic good standing if they are eligible to continue or to re-enroll at the university, and free of conduct probation.)  

• Minimum 2.5 overall GPA.  

• Have earned at least 60 credit hours at the University of Florida and/or other higher education institutions 

• Submission of ALL application materials (resume & essay) 

Nomination Process:  

• A Junior or Senior can be nominated by any student, faculty, or staff member 

• Nominator should include a brief description of nominee's contributions and impact at the University of Florida, no more than 500 words. 

• Once nominated, the student leader will receive an email from Student Engagement asking them to apply for this award 

Application Must Include: 

• Resume: no more than 2 pages, highlighting only accomplishments during your time attending the University of Florida. 

• Essay: No more than 1,000 words, addressing how your involvement at the University of Florida has impacted yourself and the campus community through leadership and service. 

Nominations should:

• Demonstrate leadership to the University of Florida through outstanding performance as a member of a student organization or university program. 

• Impact on the student organization or university program 

• Showcase service to others through the nominee’s involvement 

• Contribute to an improvement or positive change in the university community 

William G. Cross (1925-2017) had a distinguished career in higher education. In 1960, he arrived at the University of Florida to serve as the Assistant Dean of Men. A few years later, he became the Director of Student Activities and Associate Director of the J. Wayne Reitz Student Union, until he retired in 1988. Bill was active in many organizations sharing his leadership skills within Florida Blue Key, Y.M.C.A., Rotary Club, Salvation Army and the Boys Club to name a few. Survived by his daughter Lisa Cross, son Jeff Cross (Gladys), and other important family, friends, and community, Bill’s legacy continues to live on.

In honor of William G Cross, Student Engagement looks to recognize ONE (1) UF student that has demonstrated outstanding leadership through involvement and co-curricular activities at the University of Florida. The recipient will receive a $1000 award to support their University of Florida student experience.

Nominations should:

• Demonstrate leadership to the University of Florida through outstanding performance as a student organization officer and/or leader.
• Meet requirements to be an eligible student organization officer. See UF Regulation 4.003 for details.
• Be in good standing with the University of Florida. (The University of Florida considers students to be in academic good standing if they are eligible to continue or to re-enroll at the university, and free of conduct probation.)
• Minimum 2.5 overall GPA.
• Highlight on resume only accomplishments during their time attending the University of Florida.
• Submit essay addressing how your on-campus involvement has prepared you to Engage, Transform, and Thrive to achieve success post-graduation.
• 30-minute Interview – Should you be selected as a Top 5 candidate for the award.

APPLY HERE