The annual Valparaiso University Alumni Association (VUAA) Distinguished Student Awards recognize graduating students from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Nursing, Christ College, the School of Law, and the Graduate School. Four equally important and equally weighted criteria should be considered in submitting names of candidates who are eligible for graduation in the previous December, or the upcoming May, August or December. These criteria are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Additionally, the VUAA awards one Distinguished Student Award for the College of Adult Scholars annually. This award recognizes a non-traditional student earning his or her undergraduate degree from any of the colleges. There are six criteria for nomination for this award. The student must:

• be at least 25 years of age
• have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.6
• be a demonstrated campus leader or volunteer
• be recommended by the Dean of his or her college or by the Dean of the College of Adult Scholars
• have graduated in the previous December or be eligible for graduation in the upcoming May, August or December.
• have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours at Valparaiso University.

Selection Process

Nominations for the awards are made by the deans of each college. A committee made up of members of the association's board of directors reviews the materials submitted for each candidate and selects those students who are deemed most deserving of recognition. The names of those selected are then recommended to the association's board of directors and the University president for action. The deliberations of the awards committee and the board are kept confidential. Those individuals chosen to receive awards will be honored during a lunch the week prior to May commencement.

Your Nomination

To nominate a student for either of these two awards, please complete the appropriate form and answer each question thoroughly. Detailed responses enable the selection committee to evaluate nominees completely and fairly. Please use a separate form for each nominee.

Please submit only the nomination form. Any additional materials submitted will be returned to the nominator without consideration by the selection committee.

Nominations must remain confidential. Please do not inform candidates that they have been nominated, since only a limited number of awards are presented each year.

Questions about the process? Call the Office of Alumni Relations at 219.464.5142, fax 219.464.5467, or send an e-mail to alumni@valpo.edu.

Nominations for the 2013 awards are now closed. Nominations for 2014 will open in December.