Awards
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This award is given annually to a select number of graduating seniors who have demonstrated and been recognized for the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, campus involvement, community service, and/or creative and performing arts. New for 2021: SUNY has introduced a Special Award for which students may be nominated in the categories of: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Military; Special Service (COVID-19); or Overcoming the Odds. Please note: Students nominated for a General Award may also be nominated for a Special Award (optional).
Eligibility . Stony Brook undergraduates graduating between June 2020 and May 2021 who have received recognition for outstanding achievement AND have a GPA of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to complete the online nomination/application form (see below), and to submit a current CV/resume to Karen Kernan, Campus Representative, for consideration of campus nomination/endorsement. Note: Nomination letters/letters of support from University faculty/staff are encouraged but not required. Students can self nominate.
Campus nomination & SUNY selection process. The student's nomination materials (i.e. the completed online application plus a CV/resume) will be forwarded to the internal campus nomination selection committee which can recommend up to 3 students for consideration for the SUNY award (general award category); and 1 student for the new Special Award category. All applicants/nominees will be notified by the end of January as to whether they have been recommended as a candidate for this SUNY award. If recommended as a campus nominee/finalist for the SUNY award, the nominee's application materials will then be forwarded to Albany for consideration. The Stony Brook-recommended nominees will be notified directly by SUNY of their award status, and if selected by SUNY as a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence will be officially recognized at a virtual ceremony on April 14, 2021.Per SUNY guidelines, nominated students with measurable, long-term accomplishments and achievements will be measured (scored) at a higher level than other achievements. In addition, students’ achievements that affect the greater campus community and/or a large number of students and/or community members will be valued higher than other achievements.
Application instructions. The online application/nomination form should be completed by the student being nominated. (Attention Nominators: please send the link to eligible students and encourage them to apply!) Please note that in completing the online application, students are asked to provide descriptions/summaries of their awards, honors, accomplishments and/or achievement in 3 primary areas, from the following list: Academic Excellence, Leadership, Campus Involvement, Community Service, Arts. Students who choose to apply for the Special Award category will be asked to provide descriptions of accomplishments in one of the following categories: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Military, Special Service (COVID-19), or Overcoming the Odds.Students completing the nomination/application form should be prepared to write in the third person and to detail accomplishments in these areas, including specifics such as the name of any awards previously received, the organization(s) sponsoring the award/recognition, leadership positions held, and dates. A student may list and/or describe as many recognitions/honors as space permits in any one category but should avoid duplicating entries in multiple categories. In some cases, there may be multiple categories available to detail a particular activity or accomplishment and the applicant/nominee must choose the best category among several valid options. (For example, an applicant who served as an officer of a club or an honor society could potentially describe relevant accomplishments in either the Leadership or the Campus Involvement category, but not both. If that same applicant spent the majority of time volunteering and organizing food drives, then Community Service might be the best category for detailing this activity). Please note that awards/achievements/honors from another college or high school should not be included as part of the application/nomination.
If you have questions as to how to complete the form, please do not hesitate to contact Karen Kernan, Campus Representative. Nominators who wish to submit a letter of nomination to supplement the application package (optional) may send a letter detailing student's outstanding accomplishments to karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Application Form:
Nomination Package (application) includes: Online form (to be completed by student) + a current CV or resume (please upload) + letter (optional)
Campus Deadline. January 8, 2021
Contact: Karen Kernan, URECA. Tel: 631.632.7114. Email: karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Supporting letters of nomination are encouraged but are not required, and may be emailed to Karen Kernan. -
The Distinguished Community Service Award is presented annually by the Stony Brook Foundation to a graduating senior in recognition of outstanding contributions to public service in the Long Island region. Each recipient will receive a check and a plaque which will be presented at the Undergraduate Recognition Awards Ceremony in the Spring semester.
Please note that a student does not have to be nominated for an Undergraduate Recognition Award in order to be eligible to receive the Distinguished Community Service Award.
Campus Deadline. March 26, 2021
Contact: Ellen Driscoll at: ellen.driscoll@stonybrook.edu -
This award is given annually to a very select number of graduating seniors who have shown true academic excellence, not just in the classroom, but in other ways as well, in research or creative activities, or in building an academic community.
Faculty/staff interested in nominating a graduating senior for this award should send a letter summarizing the reasons for the nominee's candidacy to Karen Kernan in early April.Please also include the nominee's ID#, a resume, and a description of the student's achievements beyond the classroom (e.g. co-authorship of a paper, presentation at national meetings and/or professional conferences, development of an outstanding creative project).
*Note that students previously nominated for the Chancellor's award for Student Excellence will be automatically be considered for the Provost's award (additional letters of support are encouraged).
Campus Deadline. April 5, 2021
Contact: Karen Kernan: 631.632.7114 (tel); karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu -
This award is given on the basis of an essay on a selected legal topic that changes annually. The essay has a maximum length of 2,000 words excluding the biblioography. University endorsement is required: each participating SUNY campus may submit up to 3 essays.
Competition is open to students in junior and senior years at SUNY State-operated campuses who are interested in legal issues, or are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field. Awards include: $1,500-First prize for best essay describing the role and relevance of law in dealing with a current legal issue; $1,000 - Second Prize.Application Instructions. This year's topic (2021): Incorrect Criminal Suspect and Ensuing Chase
Application Form: 2021 Scharps legal essay: application cover sheet and detailed instructions
Campus Deadline: April 19*, 2021 (*internal campus deadline).
Contact / campus coordinator: Karen Kernan, URECA. Tel: 631.632.7114. Email: karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
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NEW FOR 2021: Undergraduate Recognition Awards : Honoring Leadership and Service Through A Global Pandemic
This year we ask the Stony Brook community to nominate individual students or groups of students who did something this past year to help another. Whether their leadership and service was in the Stony Brook community or in their home community, many of our students kept moving when the world stopped. They volunteered at food pantries where they were also customers. College students became heads of household, while still adhering to their academic responsibilities, when their parents became ill or even died. Many found ways to lift the spirits of their friends, teammates, and neighbors through videos on social media or creative zoom gatherings. There are many examples of extraordinary leadership and service during extraordinary times, not because students were asked or required to go Far Beyond, but because it was in their heart.
Please think back on the stories of students you know and use this year’s nomination process to tell their story of leadership and service. You are encouraged to submit group or individual student nominations via the two links included at the end of this message. No student story is too small or large to share.
Led by President McInnis, we will honor our Stony Brook student heroes on April 14, 2021 at 7:00 pm during a virtual ceremony.
Campus Deadline: Friday, March 26, 2021
Contact: Ellen Driscoll at: 631-632-7230 or ellen.driscoll@stonybrook.edu -
Ward Melville Valedictorian Award
In honor of the first chairperson of the Stony Brook Council, the University presents its most distinguished undergraduate honor, the Ward Melville Valedictorian Award, to the graduating senior who has attained the highest academic average during four years at Stony Brook. Note: no application is necessary for consideration; awards are based on academic achievement/GPA. Awards are announced annually at the May commencement ceremony (including those awardees who were recent December and/or August graduates).
H. Lee Dennison Award
The H. Lee Dennison Award, named in honor of Suffolk County's first chief executive, is presented by the University to the graduating senior who entered Stony Brook as a transfer student, completed at least 60 credits of letter grade work at Stony Brook, and attained the highest academic average in that work. Note: no application is necessary for consideration; awards are based on academic achievement/GPA. Awards are announced annually at the May commencement ceremony (including those awardees who were recent December and/or August graduates).
Contact: Karen Kernan: 631.632.7114 (tel); karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Please contact Karen Kernan (URECA) if you have further questions regarding these valedictory awards. -
This award is presented annually by the University in honor of Justice William J. Sullivan, late chairperson of the Stony Brook Council. It is the most prestigious service award the University presents to a graduating senior. The award represents the University's recognition of particularly outstanding service contributions to the development of academic and student life on the campus. Each recipient will receive a check and a plaque which will be presented at the Undergraduate Recognition Awards Ceremony in the Spring semester.
Please note that a student does not have to be nominated for an Undergraduate Recognition Award in order to be eligible to receive the William J. Sullivan Award.
Campus Deadline. March 26, 2021
Contact: Ellen Driscoll at: ellen.driscoll@stonybrook.edu