Binghamton University Student Awards

Student Awards

2023 Student Awards Gala

Binghamton University is proud to honor and recognize the outstanding achievements of our students who shine in and out of the classroom, who lead by example and who have made significant contributions to the University community. 

This year's award gala will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023 at the DoubleTree in downtown Binghamton. All nominees and nominators are invited to attend.

Selection committee application (for staff)

If you are interested in reviewing student award applications as part of our awards selection committee, please fill out the application here through B-Engaged.

Nominations for student awards

Nominations will open Feb. 20, 2023 — see information below to submit nominations which, along with all supporting application materials, are due March 24, 2023 by 5 p.m. Nominations are through B-Engaged.

Baxter dressed to the nines in a custom tuxedo designed by the Theatre Department costume shop.

Awards

Individual students

  • Student of Distinction Award

    About:

    The Student of Distinction Award is awarded to an undergraduate student who has created a road map toward success. Eligibility requires engagement in at least one high-impact learning endeavor resulting in a significant achievement and/or contribution to the Binghamton University community. Awardees exemplify academic performance, extra-curricular achievement, and service to the University and beyond. The award will be presented by the University president on the basis of how the applicants' achievements have contributed to the betterment of the University community.

    Qualifications:

    • Full-time undergraduate student
    • Involvement in an organization(s)
    • Involvement in community service and/or philanthropic work
    • Achieves academic success
    • Participates in at least one high-impact learning experience (e.g. internship, education abroad, undergraduate research, etc.)
    • Promotes the University (examples include but are not limited to: attending conference(s), published work, projects in major)

    Application process:

    • Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted; self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged
    • Nominator should submit a letter of support outlining the student's qualifications for this award
    • Completed application form on B-Engaged
    • Minimum GPA of 3.5
    • Current résumé or curriculum vitae that includes a list of extracurricular activities
    • Three letters of recommendation from either faculty, staff, other student leader or a community partner who has worked with the student
    • If self-nominating, applicants should include one additional letter of support from a faculty, staff, student or community partner familiar with their contributions and work

    Nomination form

  • Residential Life Community Builder of the Year Award

    About:

    The Residential Life Community Builder of the Year award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in building their community including helping to create a welcoming environment, promoting student engagement and connecting residents to resources and opportunities.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates a commitment to engagement 
    • Showcases the learning that took place in their community as a result of their work
    • Exemplifies a commitment to serving others and building community
    • Serves as a positive role model for their peers

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged. Nominators must submit the following materials:

    • A personal statement from the student or nominating party outlining their qualifications for the award that includes: an outline of contributions to the community through essay or portfolio
    • A letter of support from a direct supervisor
    • Optional letter(s) of support from residents 

    Nomination form

  • Student Employee of the Year Award (undergraduate student)

    About:

    The Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of an exceptional undergraduate student employee in the University community. The selected student will have shown excellence in the areas of professionalism, initiative, customer service, communication, teamwork/collaboration, and critical thinking, and will have displayed a positive work ethic, demonstrated strong leadership qualities within their role, and maintained a high quality level of work throughout their employment.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates contribution to the University as an undergraduate student employee
    • Has worked at least six months within the same undergraduate student employment position
    • Shows a positive work ethic and leadership ability within their undergraduate student employment role
    • Consistently demonstrates high quality work

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Nominators must submit the following materials to Student Employment via email to stemploy@binghamton.edu:

    • A nomination form
    • Student's job title, office of employment, time frame student has been employed in position (month/year–month/year), and class year
    • A letter of support from the nominator outlining the student’s qualifications.
      • The letter of support should describe how the nominee has made a positive contribution to the University through their student employment role as well as their duties and accomplishments within their position. The committee will look for evidence of professionalism, initiative, customer service, communication, and critical thinking, and whether the nominee has demonstrated strong leadership qualities while contributing high quality work throughout their employment.

    Nomination form

  • Student Employee of the Year Award (graduate student)

    About:

    The Graduate Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of an exceptional graduate student employee in the University community. The selected student will have shown excellence in the areas of professionalism, initiative, customer service, communication, teamwork/collaboration, and critical thinking, and will have displayed a positive work ethic, demonstrated strong leadership qualities within their role, and maintained a high quality level of work throughout their employment.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates contribution to the University as a graduate student employee
    • Has worked at least six months within the same graduate student employment position
    • Shows a positive work ethic and leadership ability within their graduate student employment role
    • Consistently demonstrates high quality work

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Nominators must submit the following materials to Student Employment via email to stemploy@binghamton.edu:

    • A nomination form
    • Student's job title, office of employment, time frame student has been employed in position (month/year–month/year), and class year
    • A letter of support from the nominator outlining the student's qualifications
      • The letter of support should describe how the nominee has made a positive contribution to the University through their student employment role as well as their duties and accomplishments within their position. The committee will look for evidence of professionalism, initiative, customer service, communication, and critical thinking, and whether the nominee has demonstrated strong leadership qualities while contributing high quality work throughout their employment.

    Nomination form

  • Resilience Award (BFirst Network)

    About:

    This award recognizes an individual student who has demonstrated perseverance in the face of hardships and obstacles often experienced by first-generation college students. The selected student must identify as a first-generation college student. The successful applicant will have a strong commitment to service, ideally through demonstrated experience mentoring others. Preference will be given to participants of the BFirst Network, a campus-wide mentoring program that connects first-generation college students with first-generation faculty, staff, and alumni mentors through its programming.

    Process of award selection:

    • Nominations must be from faculty, staff, alumni, and graduate students, with preference given to those who serve as BFirst Mentors themselves, and/or who have an understanding of the first-gen college student experience
    • Nomination letter outlining the student's qualifications (first-generation with demonstrated perseverance and a commitment to service and/or mentorship)
    • As we hope this will be a pleasant surprise for the BFirst student who is selected, we aim not to request any materials from the students themselves; nominations should therefore be placed discreetly
    • All supporting documents and materials should be sent to bingawardsgala@gmail.com  with "Resilience Award" in the title.

    Nomination form

  • #BingPride Spirit Award

    About:

    This award will be given to an undergraduate student who works to spread #BingPride across campus (and/or in the community) as a proud Bearcat, participates in Green Day Friday and works to engage other students to get involved in Binghamton campus life.

    Qualifications:

    • Spreads Bearcat pride in and outside the campus community
    • Participates in special programs that enhance Binghamton pride like Green Day Friday
    • Involved with campus life at Binghamton University
    • Attends events across campus

    Application process:

    • A letter from staff/faculty/other students describing how the nominee displays Binghamton Pride.
    • Submit a statement explaining why you are proud to be a Bearcat.
    • Submit photos (either from your phone, screenshots from social media posts, etc.) that display your Bing Pride.

    Nomination form

  • Best All Around New Bearcat Award

    About:

    The Best All Around New Bearcat Award will be given to the two new full-time Binghamton University undergraduate students — one first-year student and one transfer student — who not only show a dedication to their academics, but have also taken the initiative to get involved in a range of extracurricular activities on campus their first semester. B-Engaged User Leaderboard points will also be considered. Award recipients to be determined by the Student Affairs Assessment and Solutions for Engagement (SAASE) staff.

    Qualifications:

    • New full-time undergraduate student (first year or transfer)
    • Minimum 3.0 GPA
    • Minimum membership in at least two B-Engaged groups

    Application process:

    Please submit the following supporting documents to bingawardsgala@gmail.com 

    • 1–3 paragraphs highlighting why you feel the nominee is qualified
    • One letter of support from faculty, professional staff person or organization officer with the application
    • B-Engaged Transcript highlighting activities and involvement at Binghamton University

    Nomination form

  • Al Vos Excellence in Community Engagement Award

    About:

    The Al Vos Excellence in Community Engagement Award recognizes an individual undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in community engagement. The selected student will have engaged in community work that emphasizes community voice, is mutually beneficial to campus and community, and demonstrates an emphasis on partnership and collaboration with community. The successful applicant will also show evidence of reflection and learning through community work. This may be demonstrated by connecting engagement with academic knowledge or professional development, a willingness to challenge assumptions and gain a deeper understanding of our community, or the pursuit of long-term social change. This award will consider a range of engagement activities, including course-based community engagement, community-engaged research, individual service, community-based internship experiences, and more. This award honors Al Vos and his contributions to creating a culture of community engagement at Binghamton and includes a $500 award.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates a commitment to engagement with community through collaboration and partnership 
    • Provides evidence of how community voice is incorporated into their work and the impact of their work in the community
    • Practices reflection and demonstrates how their community experiences have enhanced their academic knowledge, professional development, understanding of community, and/or pursuit of long-term positive change

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged.  

    • If nominating a student, a letter of support from the nominator outlining the student's qualifications
    • If self-nominating, a personal statement outlining the student's qualifications for the award
    • A resume
    • A letter of support from a community partner who has worked with the student in the development and/or implementation of their community engagement work

    Nomination form

  • Excellence in Civic Engagement Award

    About:

    The Excellence in Civic Engagement Award recognizes an individual undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in civic engagement. The selected student will have engaged in civic action that addresses issues of local or national concern, including but not limited to racial justice, public policy, social inequity, or voter engagement. The successful applicant will provide evidence of the depth of civic engagement, for example through a focus on long-term social change, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and/or reflection on how their civic action connects to their academic, personal, and/or professional growth. This award will consider a range of civic actions, including nonpartisan voter engagement, activism, advocacy, awareness-raising campaigns, and more. Activities may take place on campus or in the community. The selected student will receive a $500 award.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates a commitment to civic involvement
    • Provides evidence of how civic actions emphasize a focus on long-term social change, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and/or a connection to academic, personal or professional growth

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged.

    • If nominating a student, a letter of support from the nominator outlining the student’s qualifications
    • If self-nominating, a personal statement outlining the student’s qualifications for the award
    • A resume
    • Optional: A letter of support from a campus or community-based group that has worked with the student in developing or implementing their civic activities

    Nomination form

  • Student Organization President of the Year Award

    About:

    The Student Organization President of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding undergraduate student who publicly advanced the mission of their organization while internally challenged and encouraged the membership to advance new initiatives, acquire new skills, and prepare the group for leadership transition and ongoing success. The nominee must be serving in at least their second consecutive semester as president.

    Qualifications:

    • Must have been president of a recognized student organization for 2022–23 academic year
    • Assisted in advancing the mission of their organization
    • Challenged and encouraged membership to create and/or support new initiatives, acquire new skills, prepare for leadership transition and plan for ongoing success

    Application process:

    • B-Engaged nomination form must be filled out by each nominator
    • Two letters of recommendation speaking to the individual's qualifications
    • A B-Engaged Involvement Transcript should be submitted

    Nomination form

  • Accomplished Graduate Student of the Year Award

    About:

    The Accomplished Graduate Student of the Year Award recognizes a graduate student enrolled in a master’s or doctoral level program at Binghamton University who has made distinguished contributions to their academic program, the student body, student organizations, the Binghamton University community, and/or the Greater Binghamton community.

    Qualifications:

    • Must be a currently enrolled master's or doctoral level student at Binghamton University 
    • Must provide evidence of distinguished contributions to their academic program, the student body, student organizations, the Binghamton University community, and/or the Greater Binghamton community

    Application process:

    • If you are a student submitting this nomination for another student, please make sure to ask a faculty or staff member to submit a letter of recommendation
    • If you are nominating yourself for this award, TWO letters of recommendation from a current faculty or staff member are required
    • All faculty and staff nominating students should submit a letter of recommendation

    Nomination form

Student organizations

  • Outstanding Organization of the Year Award

    About:

    The Outstanding Organization of the Year Award seeks to recognize one University recognized student organization that has demonstrated true excellence among its peers and within the University community.  Application materials must demonstrate the organization's contribution to the overall University community, contribution to the development of its members, and demonstrated commitment to the organization's purpose and those served by it. The organization must also be able to demonstrate significant development in areas that may include innovation, inclusiveness and creative programming, as well as outreach within the University community and the local community.

    Qualifications:

    • A contribution to the overall Binghamton University community
    • A contribution to the development of its members, and commitment to the organization's purpose and those served by it
    • Significant development in innovative and creative programming
    • Outreach within the University community and the local community

    Application process:

    • B-Engaged nomination form must be filled out by each nominator
    • Three letters of recommendation speaking to the organization's qualifications and impact on the Binghamton University community
    • All supporting materials should be emailed to bingawardsgala@gmail.com with "Outstanding Organization of the Year Award" in the title.

    Nomination form

  • Excellence in Community Engagement Award

    About:

    The Excellence in Community Engagement Award recognizes a student organization that has demonstrated excellence in community engagement. The selected organization will have engaged in community work that emphasizes community voice, is mutually beneficial to campus and community, and demonstrates an emphasis on partnership and collaboration with community. This award will particularly highlight projects that are based on ongoing partnership with community organization(s), but community projects of all types will be considered.

    Qualifications:

    • Demonstrates a commitment to engagement with community through collaboration and partnership 
    • Provides evidence of how community voice is incorporated into their work
    • Articulates the impact of their community work, both to students and the community.

    Application process:

    Nominations from faculty, staff, students and community partners are accepted. Self-nominations are also accepted and encouraged.  

    • If nominating an organization, nominators should submit a letter of support outlining the student organization's qualifications
    • If self-nominating, a statement from student organization leader(s) outlining their qualifications for the award
    • A letter of support from a community partner who has worked with the student organization in the development and/or implementation of their community engagement work

    Nomination form

Faculty, staff and administrators

  • Bearcat Award for Outstanding Service and Support

    About:

    The Bearcat Award for Outstanding Service and Support Award recognizes a faculty, staff member or administrator who goes above and beyond to help students. This award is intended to encourage and reward faculty and/or staff members for their excellence and show the value they hold for our University.Qualifications:

    • Must have been employed full-time at Binghamton University during the past academic year
    • Demonstrates a strong dedication to student needs
    • Has a passion for inspiring students to discover and achieve their full potential during their time at the University
    Application process:
    • Members of the University community are invited to submit the name of an outstanding faculty or staff member
    • The nominator needs to write a letter of recommendation detailing the contributions of the nominee, stating clearly how the nominee(s) directly or indirectly support(s) students
    • The nominator or nominee has the option of including up to four supporting items, such as other letters of recommendation

    Nomination form