Student Leadership Awards

Celebrating Leadership at UMSL!

On Monday, April 20th, 2026, the UMSL community will came together for the 2026 Student Leadership Awards to honor the incredible individuals, organizations, and programs that made a meaningful impact in Student Involvement this year.

It will an inspiring evening filled with recognition, celebration, and a strong sense of community as we highlighted those who have gone above and beyond to make a difference on our campus.

Nominate an individual or student organization today to recognize their dedication to the campus community.

Nomination Form: https://cglink.me/2rA/s690

Individual Awards & Organization/Program Awards

OSI Award:  The Student Involvement Award is an award given to one individual or department that has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support UMSL students and contributed to improving Student Involvement and the UMSL community.

Winner: TBD

Campus Unity Award: The Campus Unity Award is presented to a recognized student organization that has planned and executed an event or program fostering a sense of unity, inclusivity, and belonging on campus. The initiative should promote meaningful connections, celebrate diverse perspectives, and strengthen the campus community through engagement, collaboration, and shared experiences.

Winner: TBD

Most Impactful Program Award: The Most Impactful Program Award is presented to a recognized student organization for planning an event or program that made a big impact on campus. This could include a student organization that plans an event to teach a new/useful skill, helps students with a certain goal, or a panel discussion that makes an emotional impact.

Winner: TBD

Most Innovative Program Award: The Most Innovative Program Award is presented to a recognized student organization for planning an event or program that exhibits creativity and originality. This could include a student organization that plans an event to fulfill a student need, exhibits creativity, or showcases something new.

Winner:TBD

Student Advocate Award: The Student Advocate Award goes to an individual student who boldly speaks out in support of a cause affecting the UMSL students or community at large. This could include a student who has stood up for another student, attends campus committee meetings to work toward change, or has raised money/donations to help an important cause.

Winner: TBD

Faculty/Staff Advisor of the Year Award: Faculty/Staff Advisor of the Year Award goes to an individual faculty or staff member who has displayed an exemplary level of dedication and commitment to a recognized student organization they have advised. Nominees must be an advisor for at least one year.

Winner: TBD

Legendary Triton Award: The Legendary Triton Award goes to an UMSL staff or faculty member who has made a difference in the lives of our UMSL students and community. This could include a staff or faculty member who advises a student organization, pushes students to do their best work, or makes an impact on the student body at whole.

Winner: TBD

Outstanding Service to the Community Award: The Outstanding Service To The Community Award goes to an individual student who exemplifies a character of service and giving to the UMSL community. This could include a student who has hosted many community events, consistently volunteers on campus, has raised money/donations for the campus, or who helps make the lives of students, faculty, and staff on campus better.

Winner: TBD

Organization of the Year Award: The Organization of the Year Award is presented to a student organization that has made outstanding contributions to students and the campus community. This could include a student organization that has planned impactful programs throughout the year, gained many new members, or achieved a big goal. Nominees must be in good standing with their fraternity/sorority chapter and inter/national headquarters (applies to fraternity and sorority chapters only).

Winner: TBD

Best Overall Program Award: The Best Overall Program Award is presented to a recognized student organization for conceiving, planning, and implementing an outstanding academic and/or co-curricular program that has enriched the UMSL community.

Winner: TBD

New Organization of the Year Award:The New Organization of the Year Award is presented to a student organization that is less than 2 years old and has made an impact on UMSL students and the community. This could include a new student organization that has planned an impactful program throughout the year, gained many new members, or achieved a big goal.

Winner: TBD

Fraternity & Sorority Life Leader of the Year Award: The Fraternity & Sorority Life Leader of the Year Award goes to an individual student who has displayed an exemplary level of dedication and commitment to the Fraternity & Sorority Life community at UMSL.

Winner: TBD

New Student Leader of the Year Award: The New Student Leader of the Year Award goes to an individual first-year student who has shown tremendous growth over the past academic year and has become a leader in UMSL community. This could include a student who has joined many student organizations, consistently volunteers on campus, attends and volunteers at campus events, or who helps make the lives of students, faculty, and staff on campus better.

Winner: TBD

Student Leader of the Year Award: The Student Leader of the Year Award goes to an individual upper-class/graduate student who has been a role model and leader in the UMSL community. 

Winner: TBD

Graduate/Professional Student Leader of the Year Award: The Graduate/Professional Student Leader of the Year Award goes to graduate or professional student who has made significant contributions to UMSL and the broader community. This award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional involvement, student employment, service, and leadership while maintaining academic excellence in their post-undergraduate career.
 
Graduate and professional students (non-full time faculty/staff) are defined as individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree and at least one semester of graduate or professional-level coursework. 

Winner: TBD

Judges: TBA

Office of Student Involvement Employees/Interns: Brayden Brown, Miracle Ezirike, Denver Gaitor, Kyra Greer, Kenden Hawkins, Aline Kellenberger, Sasha Lopez, Mansif Minan, Francisco Moreno, Brandan Nash, AJ Soma Ravichandran, Jose Yanez Caro, Nadia Agarwalla, Stacy Brown, Ashley Schauweckwer, Vanessa Guzman-Slater, Julee Chau, Giuliana Cunza Guevara, Sabrina Underwood, Remy Xa, Naudia Jackson, Aniah Powell, Alex Sandoval, Jaymi Dean, Kennedy McAlister and Jalen Walker Wright

Univeristy Program Board: Kavion Norman, Melanie Witt, Sabrina Underwood, Latrice Wilson

Eligibility Requirements: - Nominees must currently attend UMSL
- Nominees must be in good academic standing
- An individual, recognized student organization or program cannot win the same award two years in a row.
- Programs hosted between April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 are eligible for nomination.