Student Leadership Awards
Each spring the University of Northern Iowa recognizes outstanding student leadership through a series of awards presented to students and student organizations.
Nominations are now closed.
Winners of awards will be announced at our Student Leadership Awards event held on Tuesday, April 15th at 7pm in the Maucker Union Ballrooms.
2025 Student Leadership Awards
Northern Iowa Student Government Above and Beyond Awards
These awards are given by students to recognize faculty and staff for their commitment to student development and success. Two awards will be given out, one focusing on student learning and the other on student success.
Nominate a staff member for the Student Success Award
Nominate a faculty member for the Student Learning Award
Panther Pantry Awards
Military & Veteran Affiliated Scholarships
Boots to Books is a program designed to help veterans transition to civilian life and the college environment. Although many military and veteran students are eligible for G.I. benefits, more than half of them are still in need of financial assistance. In an effort to support the educational endeavors of our military and veteran students, the Boots to Books scholarship was created by Military and Veterans Student Services.
Beverly Funk Barnes Student Excellence Award
This award recognizes students who continually create new value through dedication, passion, and creativity for the benefit of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Based on the principle of "Fred the mailman" from Denver, Colorado, this award focuses on rewarding UNI students whom embody "The Fred Factor." Fred is the rare type of person who is extraordinary who puts others before himself and looks for ways to improve the lives of others.
Promising Young Alumni Award
The Promising Young Alumni Award recognizes one or more seniors who demonstrate qualities desired of engaged alumni. A Promising Young Alumnus demonstrates their potential as a future alumni leader for the UNI community through their commitment to service, leadership, and pride while enrolled.
Award for Excellence in International Engagement
This can be awarded to UNI Students, Faculty, Staff, or Cedar Valley Community members. The nominees should be committed to promoting global understanding, research, and advocating for international exchange locally and globally. They should be an active participant with international students/scholars/dependents in the UNI community. All criteria and nomination form found here.
UNI Fraternity/Sorority Chapter of the Year
The Office of Student Involvement is committed to recognizing the great achievements of our fraternal organizations on campus. In order for a chapter to win, the chapter must be in good standing with the university, and not have any conduct issues in the 23/24 academic year. The Office of Student Involvement will evaluate all submissions and determine the Chapter of the Year based off criteria surrounding recruitment, community service, academics, and impact on the student body.
Most Promising New Leader in a Student Organization Award
This award is designed to recognize a member in a student organization that has demonstrated emerging leadership in the organization, a commitment to developing their leadership ability, and has exceeded the expectations of the membership of the organization.
Outstanding President in a Student Organization Award
This award recognizes a student organization president who has played a major role in the development and execution of their student organization.
Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award
This award is designed to recognize a student organization advisor who has excelled and exemplified outstanding service, dedication, and leadership to the organization they advise.
Servant Leadership Award
The Servant Leadership Award recognizes those who have worked for the common good while putting the needs of others first.
Drake Martin Gold Star Award
The Drake Martin Gold Star Award is the highest individual student honor in the residence system at the University of Northern Iowa. It is named in memory of Drake Martin. Drake worked at the University of Northern Iowa for 31 years. Drake brought creativity, compassion and enthusiasm to projects and initiatives that had a positive impact on students. His greatest influence over time was through individual interactions that challenged, affirmed and encouraged others. In all he did, Drake exemplified the qualities of those who are recognized with the Gold Star Award.
Dr. Sue Follon Scholarship for Leadership
This scholarship recognizes students for their leadership contributions during their tenure at UNI and potential to model leadership.
Dr. Charlotte West Scholar-Athlete Award
The Missouri Valley Conference will present the Dr. Charlotte West Award annually, to one female and one male student-athlete who have completed intercollegiate eligibility in their primary sport, to recognize outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Nominees from UNI will be recognized at the Student Leadership Awards.
Mental Health Ally Award
The UNI Counseling Center, with the support of the Northern Iowa Student Government recognize individuals, programs, organizations or departments that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mental health advocacy.
Emerging Philanthropist
The Emerging Philanthropist Award recognizes a student who is dedicated to giving their time, talent, and treasure to the university, their community or cause(s) of their choice and shows promise as a future philanthropic leader.
Rising Global Star Leader Award
The Rising Global Star Leader Award is for students in any stage of their education and has made significant contributions to their department, unit, institution, organization, community, and the field of international education. The Rising Star will have demonstrated a commitment to internationalization and ingenuity of thought that has the potential to have a substantial and lasting influence on global education.
Greek 360 Award
This award is intended to recognize a member of the UNI Fraternity & Sorority Life community who also is an outstanding member of other student organizations on campus.
Most Promising New Student Organization Award
New organizations are ones that have been started in the past year (August 2024).
Outstanding Officer in a Student Organization Award
This award recognizes a student organization officer who provides exemplary service, commitment, and strong leadership to their student organization and UNI.
Student Organization Program of Distinction Award
This award is designed to recognize significant achievements by student organizations in the planning and implementation of programs, either a one-time event or a series of events marketed as a single program.
Student Organization of the Year Award
This award is designed to recognize a student organization that has exemplified excellence among its peers by contributing to the UNI community and fulfilling the mission of the organization.
Outstanding Student Leader Award
The Outstanding Student Leader Award is designed to recognize students who have demonstrated dedication and leadership through their involvement in one or more campus activities.
LUX Award
The Lux Service Award is the most prestigious award given to graduating senior students each academic year to acknowledge the culmination of their overall involvement. Recipients consistently go above and beyond, leaving a lasting legacy upon graduation.
2024 Award Recipients
Panther Pantry Awards
Sam's Club
TheMOVEment
St. Steven the Witness Catholic Student Center
UNI C.A.R.E. Award
Awards are intended for UNI students, faculty, staff, organizations or programs that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to create a positive impact through sustainability at UNI or in the local community.
Kelly Biscoglia
Military & Veteran Affiliated Scholarships
Boots to Books is a program designed to help veterans transition to civilian life and the college environment. Although many military and veteran students are eligible for G.I. benefits, more than half of them are still in need of financial assistance. In an effort to support the educational endeavors of our military and veteran students, the Boots to Books scholarship was created by Military and Veterans Student Services.
Darrel O’Doss Boots to Books Scholarship:
Carrick Johnson and Austin Wood
Iowa American Legion Scholarship:
Keevan Jones and Marvin Carr
Robert J. Hibbs VFW Post 3896 Spouse or Dependent Scholarship:
Rachel Stephany
American Legion Becker Chapman Post 138 Spouse or Dependent Scholarship:
Samantha Dick
Beverly Funk Barnes Student Excellence Award
This award recognizes students who continually create new value through dedication, passion, and creativity for the benefit of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Based on the principle of "Fred the mailman" from Denver, Colorado, this award focuses on rewarding UNI students whom embody "The Fred Factor." Fred is the rare type of person who is extraordinary who puts others before himself and looks for ways to improve the lives of others.
Madelyn Stepanek
Mental Health Ally Award
The UNI Counseling Center, with the support of the Northern Iowa Student Government recognize individuals, programs, organizations or departments that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mental health advocacy.
Kayla Kellogg
Promising Young Alumni Award
The Promising Young Alumni Award recognizes one or more seniors who demonstrate qualities desired of engaged alumni. A Promising Young Alumnus demonstrates their potential as a future alumni leader for the UNI community through their commitment to service, leadership, and pride while enrolled.
Kaylee Oskvig
Savannah Soltero
Award for Excellence in International Engagement
This can be awarded to UNI Students, Faculty, Staff, or Cedar Valley Community members. The nominees should be committed to promoting global understanding, research, and advocating for international exchange locally and globally. They should be an active participant with international students/scholars/dependents in the UNI community. All criteria and nomination form found here.
Qingshan (Sam) Liang
Darci Jarnagin
UNI Fraternity/Sorority Chapter of the Year
The Office of Student Involvement is committed to recognizing the great achievements of our fraternal organizations on campus. In order for a chapter to win, the chapter must be in good standing with the university, and not have any conduct issues in the 23/24 academic year. The Office of Student Involvement will evaluate all submissions and determine the Chapter of the Year based off criteria surrounding recruitment, community service, academics, and impact on the student body.
Alpha Delta Pi
Most Promising New Leader in a Student Organization Award
This award is designed to recognize a member in a student organization that has demonstrated emerging leadership in the organization, a commitment to developing their leadership ability, and has exceeded the expectations of the membership of the organization.
Ashlyn Utech
Mahedi Islam
Morgan Mescher
Tarik Miljkovic
Outstanding President in a Student Organization Award
This award recognizes a student organization president who has played a major role in the development and execution of their student organization.
Madison Duong
Sam Adams
Tienna Trettin
Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award
This award is designed to recognize a student organization advisor who has excelled and exemplified outstanding service, dedication, and leadership to the organization they advise.
Jordan Rockwell
Sarah Craw
Timothy Lindquist
Servant Leadership Award
The Servant Leadership Award recognizes those who have worked for the common good while putting the needs of others first.
Jenna Becker Cameron Opkis
Allison Flanscha Issabela Sullivan
Lizbeth Garcia Tellez Kimberly Walljasper
Will Krueger Sam Zimmerman
Alondra Morteo Valenzuela
LUX Award
The Lux Service Award is the most prestigious award given to graduating senior students each academic year to acknowledge the culmination of their overall involvement. Recipients consistently go above and beyond, leaving a lasting legacy upon graduation.
Emily Clouser
Noah Hackbart
Diamond Roundtree
Northern Iowa Student Government Above and Beyond Awards
These awards are given by students to recognize faculty and staff for their commitment to student development and success. Two awards will be given out, one focusing on student learning and the other on student success.
Student Learning Award: Katie O'Brien
Student Success Award: Staci Mueller
Dr. Sue Follon Scholarship for Leadership
This scholarship recognizes students for their leadership contributions during their tenure at UNI and potential to model leadership.
Geneva Bell
Drake Martin Gold Star Award
The Drake Martin Gold Star Award is the highest individual student honor in the residence system at the University of Northern Iowa. It is named in memory of Drake Martin. Drake worked at the University of Northern Iowa for 31 years. Drake brought creativity, compassion and enthusiasm to projects and initiatives that had a positive impact on students. His greatest influence over time was through individual interactions that challenged, affirmed and encouraged others. In all he did, Drake exemplified the qualities of those who are recognized with the Gold Star Award.
Kehde Campbell Hannah Krejci
Amalie Gassman Emily Waldon
Kylee Klimes
Dr. Charlotte West Scholar-Athlete Award
The Missouri Valley Conference will present the Dr. Charlotte West Award annually, to one female and one male student-athlete who have completed intercollegiate eligibility in their primary sport, to recognize outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Nominees from UNI will be recognized at the Student Leadership Awards.
Griffin Parker
Samantha Heyer
Emerging Philanthropist
The Emerging Philanthropist Award recognizes a student who is dedicated to giving their time, talent, and treasure to the university, their community or cause(s) of their choice and shows promise as a future philanthropic leader.
Nathanial Madden
Tinashe Chigudu
Rising Global Star Leader Award
The Rising Global Star Leader Award is for students in any stage of their education and has made significant contributions to their department, unit, institution, organization, community, and the field of international education. The Rising Star will have demonstrated a commitment to internationalization and ingenuity of thought that has the potential to have a substantial and lasting influence on global education.
Dinithi Ferdinando
Yanting Wang
Mahedi Islam
Diversity Matters Award:
Diversity describes the rich differences that people bring to the University of Northern Iowa community. It can refer broadly to culture, identity and ideology, or more specifically to age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, gender identity, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, marital status, national origin, or veteran status. Diversity is a dynamic concept, shaped by history, and change as our understanding of the world and its people evolves. The Diversity Matters Award is presented in recognition of dedication and service to the University of Northern Iowa in advancement of its diversity-related goals.
Students of Gender Sexuality Services
UNIdos
Greek 360 Award
This award is intended to recognize a member of the UNI Fraternity & Sorority Life community who also is an outstanding member of other student organizations on campus.
Laura Harms
Most Promising New Student Organization Award
New organizations are ones that have been started in the past year (August 2023).
Language Exchange Club
Outdoor Education and Leadership Alliance
Outstanding Officer in a Student Organization Award
This award recognizes a student organization officer who provides exemplary service, commitment, and strong leadership to their student organization and UNI.
Jenna Heinen
Student Organization Program of Distinction Award
This award is designed to recognize significant achievements by student organizations in the planning and implementation of programs, either a one-time event or a series of events marketed as a single program.
Halloween House
LGBTQ+ Ball: Glam and Gore
School of Music Welcome Event 2023
Student Organization of the Year Award
This award is designed to recognize a student organization that has exemplified excellence among its peers by contributing to the UNI community and fulfilling the mission of the organization.
Connecting Students to Alumni
International Student Promoters
UNIdos
Outstanding Student Leader Award
The Outstanding Student Leader Award is designed to recognize students who have demonstrated dedication and leadership through their involvement in one or more campus activities.
Caroline Christensen Griffin Parker
Hattie Dukes Kate Rogers
Wyatt Heideman Taylor Short
Samantha Heyer Tienna Trettin
Jaylie Hicklin