Criteria

These awards are a great opportunity for you to acknowledge the amazing contributions of a student or student organization for their leadership, commitment, and pride for Rutgers, and the community at large over the past year.

Eligible nominees must be:

  • in good academic standing and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA* or higher.
  • *in good academic standing and maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher to receive an award in the Chancellor’s Student Leadership award category.
  • in good disciplinary standing and demonstrate a balance of academic and co-curricular excellence.
  • enrolled at Rutgers University–New Brunswick.
  • either a full or part-time undergraduate student.

If you have any questions, please contact nbstudentgala@echo.rutgers.edu. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

Award Categories

Please note the selection committee may choose multiple honorees for each award category.

Chancellor’s Leadership Award

This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies excellence and truly embodies a commitment to leadership and involvement on campus and/or in the community.

Paul Robeson Renaissance Award

The recipient of this award should possess extraordinary talent, commitment, and intellectual energy across a range of disciplines.

Champion of Teaching and Learning Award

This award is given to a student who has taken full advantage of their collegiate experience by engaging fully inside and outside of the classroom and fostering learning opportunities for their peers.

Champion of Diversity and Inclusion

The award is given to a student who has committed their University experience to encouraging social justice, inclusion, and appreciation of the myriad of distinct and extraordinary perspectives of Rutgers community members.

Research Excellence Award

This award is given to a student who demonstrates high-quality research that exhibits critical thinking, analysis, and creativity.

Student Staff Excellence Award

This award is given to a student staff member who exceeds job expectations, and displays exceptional and exemplary initiative, dedication, and service as a student employee.

Competitive Excellence

This award is given to a student who has achieved academic success and performed in competitive sport activities with dedication, sportsmanship, and exemplary character.

Bridge Builder Award

This award is given to those who have demonstrated collaborative initiative across a variety of organizations (at least two) and activities with inspiring leadership that brings together stakeholders from across the university to create positive and substantial change and impact.

Spirit of Rutgers Award

This award recognizes a student organization that represents the values, traditions, and mission of Rutgers through their outstanding engagement, enthusiasm, and spirit in and commitment to the campus community.

Outstanding Service Award

This award is given to a student who enhances the quality of life at Rutgers and in the community through community and campus-based activities, service, philanthropy, and/or special activities on or off campus.

Revolutionary Award

This award recognizes a student leader or organization that demonstrates creativity, originality, ingenuity, and/or resourcefulness in addressing local and global issues.