Featured Awards

Henry G. Rhone DSA Peer Leader Excellence Award

The DSA Peer Leader Excellence award is awarded to a peer leader within the Division of Student Affairs who has gone above and beyond to develop and engage their peers, has contributed to the success of their department and the division, and has provided distinguished service to the Division through their peer leadership and involvement.

Students must be in good academic standing to be considered. This is open to all DSA peer leader positions, regardless of experience or years in the position.

Criteria: 2.7 cumulative GPA or greater, 2 or more semesters of academic work, demonstrated leadership and involvement in the organized student community.

Dr. Richard I. Wilson University Service Award

Presented to undergraduate and graduate/professional students who have provided outstanding service and commitment to university committees, student organizations and/or the Richmond community. Criteria: 2.5 cumulative GPA (3.0 cumulative GPA for graduate students).

William H. Duvall Award

This award is presented to students who have provided exemplary service, beyond normal expectations, in student activities, student groups and/or organizations and are in good academic standing. Criteria: 2.5 cumulative GPA (3.0 cumulative GPA for graduate students)

Student Organization of the Year Award

Registered student organizations applying for this award should demonstrate success in organization development, leadership, service, and membership engagement.

Registered Student Organization Awards

Belonging Award

New for 2022, this award recognizes a student organization that has built a safe and welcoming community, created connections among members, and fostered a supportive and trusting organizational culture.

Creativity at Work Business Student Organization Award

This award goes to a business student organization which has made an impact in the VCU business community, larger VCU community, and/or within the Richmond community by delivering exceptional programs that foster a sense of ‘Creativity at Work’.

For award consideration applicants answer the following questions:

• How has your organization exemplified the VCU Business School’s tagline of Creativity at Work in your programs this academic year?
• What professional and/or leadership development opportunities has your organization provided for your members?
• How has your organization used the School of Business resources this year?

Requirements:
Be a registered student organization in Ramsconnect
Be a registered student organization at the School of Business

Outstanding Community Service Award (Clubs and Organizations)

This award recognizes a student organization’s overall community service efforts for an ongoing program or a series of programs. Service must have been completed between March 2, 2021 and March 7, 2022.

Outstanding Graduate & Professional Student Organization Award

This award recognizes a graduate or professional student organization that has made a significant contribution to the VCU community through programming, special initiatives and/or community service between March 2, 2021 and March 7th, 2022.

Outstanding New Student Organization Award

This award recognizes a new student group who has demonstrated significant success and development in following the mission and goals of their organization. Student organizations applying for this award must have start date after July 1, 2021.

Student Organization Advocacy and Inclusion Award

This award recognizes a student organization’s commitment to inclusion and/or social justice issues through active advocacy. This can be illustrated through sponsoring programming and initiatives across campus or in the community. Programs and initiatives must have been completed between March 1, 2021 and March 7, 2022.

Outstanding Student Organization Program Award

This award recognizes a student organization’s success for an individual program that enhanced the VCU community. The program described must have been completed between March 2, 2021 and March 7, 2022. The winner of this award will receive $100 in their on-campus account.

Student Organization Advocacy and Inclusion Award

This award recognizes a student organization’s commitment to inclusion and/or social justice issues through active advocacy. This can be illustrated through sponsoring programming and initiatives across campus or in the community. Programs and initiatives must have been completed between March 1, 2021 and March 7, 2022.

RamsConnect Super User Student Organization Award 2022

This award recognizes the student organization’s optimization of the features in RamsConnect to strengthen member communication, event planning, partnerships, and overall group administration. This award is selected by staff at The Commons and is based on data collected from RamsConnect.

Fraternity & Sorority Life Awards

Outstanding Chapter President Award

This award was designed to recognize outstanding contributions from a fraternity and sorority chapter president. There will be one president awarded from each council (CPC, IFC, MGC, NPHC). Each chapter may nominate their chapter president for this award. There is a section for the nominee to complete, and a section for the chapter to complete.

The criteria for this award are as follows:

• Must have served as a chapter president during the 2020-2021 academic year
• Must exemplify the ideals that are the basis of fraternal values (scholarship, service, brotherhood/sisterhood, and inter-fraternalism)
• Must show a commitment to improving the Fraternity and Sorority Life community at Virginia Commonwealth University, through the betterment of their organization
• Must promote a positive image of Fraternity and Sorority Life
• Must have attained a good balance of participation in all aspects of student life
• Must have demonstrated leadership ability
• Must be well respected by students, faculty, and staff
• Must have demonstrated a high level of integrity

Chapter of the Year Award

This award is presented to one chapter per council who demonstrates the highest accomplishments. It is evaluated based on GPA, campus involvement, commitment to Greek Unity, excellence in philanthropy and/or service, strong sisterhood or brotherhood, and upholding standards of their national organization and council.

The following will serve as indicators of excellence within a chapter being considered for this honor:

• Maintains compliance with Fraternity and Sorority Life Standards and Academic Policies
• Demonstrates a high level of involvement and presence on campus
• Promotes overall Greek unity
• Achieves excellence in philanthropy and/or service
• Upholds a strong sense of sisterhood or brotherhood
• Demonstrates a commitment to upholding the standards of its national organization, its council, and the University

FSL Member of the Year Award

Please nominate a junior or senior member of your chapter or a member from another organization. Please complete the nomination form by answering the questions below. A resume may be submitted for additional documentation.

Advisor Awards

Advisor of the Year Award

This award recognizes an advisor that has shown dedication to their student organization over the past year. The successful advisor for this award should be an individual who has been committed to the organization and contributed to the organization’s success. This could be demonstrated through helping organization members carry out mission and goals; providing guidance, support, and encouragement to members; being available to members and was approachable and open to new ideas; utilizing different and creative approaches to educating and assisting members; serving as a positive role model.

William R. Auchmoody Chapter Advisor of the Year (FSL)

The advisors to our fraternities and sororities are incredible resources. Even after graduating, they still feel the desire to contribute to the community. These individuals sacrifice their time in order to share personal experiences and knowledge about the importance of being a values-based organization. The Advisor of the Year not only encompasses all of these traits, but exceeds all expectations of the position and deserves special recognition for his or her continual commitment to the VCU Fraternity and Sorority community.

This award is named for Bill Auchmoody, a long-time advisor to Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity. Nominate your own advisor if you feel they have contributed greatly to the success of your chapter this past year. Please be very specific in articulating why your advisor should win this award.

Alumni Awards

Lynne Chambers Alumni Involvement Award (FSL)

The alumni of our fraternities and sororities are incredible resources. Even after graduating, they still feel the desire to contribute to the community that they themselves were once a part of. These individuals sacrifice their time in order to share personal experiences and knowledge about the importance of being a values-based organization. The Alumni Involvement Award not only encompasses all of these traits, but exceeds all expectations of the position and deserves special recognition for his or her continual commitment to the VCU Fraternity and Sorority community.

This award is named for Lynne Chambers, a long-time advisor to Alpha Sigma Alpha at VCU, who continues to serve her organization locally and internationally. Please nominate one alumni/ae member of your chapter who has offered outstanding service to the chapter over the past year. The goal of this award is to encourage alum to remain involved in their organization throughout their life.

VCU Alumni Award

This award is presented to a Monroe Park Campus undergraduate senior who has exhibited exemplary characteristics in the areas of scholastics, leadership, and service to VCU and the Richmond Community.

Criteria:

• Students must have a graduation date of December or May of the current academic school year and a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
• Students must apply for the award and complete an essay.
• This award includes a $500 gift from VCU Alumni.

Peer Leadership Awards

Emerging Peer Leader Award

Presented to undergraduate students who have provided distinguished service in their first leadership role(s) at VCU and demonstrated a potential for continued leadership.

Graduate and/or Professional Peer Leader Award

The Graduate and Professional Student Peer Leader of the Year Award is awarded to a graduate assistant or professional student peer leader who has gone above and beyond to develop and engage their peers and who has contributed to the success of their department and/or division.

Graduate and professional students must be in good academic standing to be considered. This is open to all GA and professional student Peer Leader positions, regardless of experience or years in the position.

Senior Peer Leader Award

The Senior Peer Leader Award is awarded to Peer Leaders in their senior year with more than one year of experience in the position who has significantly contributed to their department and/or division.

Students must be undergraduates in good academic standing and must be graduating seniors (May 2022 or December 2022) to be considered.