This award is presented to a recognized student organization that has exhibited success in advancing the organization’s purpose, maintaining effective organizational operations, and making a meaningful contribution to the UCA Community and the surrounding community. An outstanding student organization shows commitment to offering its members a worthwhile experience and can demonstrate efforts to provide dynamic campus activities/programs, personify exemplary leadership, foster the idea of community service, and establish a presence within the UCA campus community.

• 2017 – Biology Club
• 2018 – Army ROTC
• 2019 – Beta Alpha Psi
• 2020 – Living Unleashed
• 2021 – Gospel Choir
• 2022 – PRISM
• 2023 – Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.

*Organization must have been formed/reformed in the last two years*
This award is presented to a new recognized student organization that has exhibited success in advancing the organization’s purpose, maintaining effective organizational operations, and making a meaningful contribution to the UCA Community and the surrounding community in its short time as a RSO. An outstanding new student organization shows commitment to offering its members a worthwhile experience and can demonstrate efforts to provide dynamic campus activities/programs, personify exemplary leadership, foster the idea of community service, and establish a presence within the UCA campus community.

• 2017 – Sisters in Action
• 2018 – Bear Patrol
• 2019 – Active Minds
• 2020 – UCA First Generation Scholars
• 2021 – The Blue Print
• 2022 – Pre-Law Society
• 2023 – Girls Who Code

This award is presented to a recognized student organization that has shown a commitment to providing service and outreach to UCA and the local community. Outstanding community outreach consists of ongoing interactions with a community organization or agency, seeks to raise awareness of a community need, demonstrates a genuine care and respect for members of the community, and fosters learning and development for those participating in the outreach effort. An outreach program is not strictly a fundraiser, philanthropic event, or an awareness campaign.

• 2017 – Food Recovery Network
• 2018 – Food Recovery Network
• 2019 – The Big Event
• 2020 – NAACP
• 2021 – Dance Marathon
• 2022 – Colleges Against Cancer
• 2023 – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Student Leader of the Year Award recognizes students who consistently demonstrate high academic achievement, seek out service to UCA and the local community, and display outstanding leadership qualities. Nominations should list campus and community involvement, highlight specific UCA honors and achievement, demonstrate the nominee’s leadership in academics, service, co-curricular involvement and/or campus employment, and provide rationale for why the nominee is deserving of this recognition.
Nominees must be a Junior/Senior student based upon total credit hours

• 2017 – Kelsey Broaddrick
• 2018 – Hayley Harp
• 2019 – Jaelyn Cooper
• 2020 – Karon Marbley
• 2021 – Dylan Garrison
• 2022 – Marvin Russell
• 2023 – Brad Lewis

This award is presented to a faculty/staff member who has served a recognized student organization above and beyond the established role as an advisor. This individual provided exemplary support to the organization he/she oversees. Nominations should include examples of how the advisor has provided exemplary support to the organization with specific attention on what going above and beyond the established role as advisor means to you and the organization.
Nominating organization must be in good standing with the university

• 2017 – Dr. Sherry Skaggs
• 2018 – Angela Jackson
• 2019 – Dr. Douglas George
• 2020 – Hank Phelps
• 2021 – Maria Negrete-Padron
• 2022 – Tajaro Hudson
• 2023 – Dr. Thomas Bruick

This award is presented to a student who makes volunteerism and service to UCA and the local/regional/global community a priority. This award is given to a student who has made an impact within an organization, community agency, and/or some other (less formalized) community partnership by leading with courage and being a positive role model to others. Nominations should highlight the community outreach efforts of the nominee and provide examples of the impact being made by the nominee through interactions with individuals within the community.

• 2017 – Jordan Sanders
• 2018 – Brooklyn Long
• 2019 – Chandler Baker
• 2020 – Lyric Lacy
• 2021 – Rachel Farhat
• 2022 – Lauren McDaniel
•  2023 – Maggie McGowan

The award recognizes a student whose commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence on campus and/or off campus has made a significant impact on various underserved groups in a positive way. This individual has improved conditions at UCA and within the community that have enhanced society.

• 2017 – Hershila Lallu
• 2018 – Jayda Williams
• 2019 – Cameron Willis
• 2020 – Winifred Brammer
• 2021 – Lana Thurman
• 2022 – Davonne Moore
• 2023 – James Buckley

This award recognizes a student who demonstrates outstanding initiative and contribution within the UCA campus community while maintaining high academic achievement. This award is given to a student who is dependable, dedicated to an organization, group, team or unit and has shown significant, positive growth in their leadership skills and consistent implementation of their leadership talents. Additional consideration will be given to the student who is committed to community service, builds and maintains beneficial relationships with others, and strives to be a positive example for his/her peers. Nominations should list any campus/community involvement, highlight specific aspects of personal growth and leadership and show how the nominee demonstrates being dependable and dedicated to some organization/group/team/unit.
Nominees must be a freshman or sophomore student based upon total credit hours

• 2017 – Mary Morrison
• 2018 – Will Teeter
• 2019 – Rachel Carmical
• 2020 – Annabelle Van Asche
• 2021 – Khoi Chu
• 2022 – Bailey Doss
• 2023 – Abigail Wells

Given to a recognized student organization, this award recognizes the planning and presentation of an outstanding campus event, program, or activity. An outstanding campus program demonstrates thorough event planning, effective utilization of budget and resources, and successful marketing strategies. Thorough nominations will highlight the value/impact of the program, the creativity of the event idea, the popularity (attendance) of the event, and will explain how the program met its intended purpose.

• 2017 – UCA’s Got Talent by Rotaract International Club
• 2018 – “Yes! Yes! Yes! A Conversation About Consent & Sexual Violence” by the Student Government Association
• 2019 – Party at the Polls
• 2020 – N/A
• 2021 – N/A
• 2022 – Late Night Breakfast by Resident Housing Association
• 2023 – Bruce and Sugar’s Birthday Party  by The Bear Den

Given to a recognized student organization, this award recognizes the planning and presentation of an outstanding campus event, program, or activity. An innovative campus program is one that introduces new ideas/activities to campus, engages students in unique learning activities, and considers the needs/concerns of diverse populations.  Programs should be initiated/organized primarily by students and have a high level of student involvement. Thorough nominations will highlight the value/impact of the program, the need the event addresses, the popularity (attendance) of the event, and will explain how the program met its intended purpose.

• 2017 – Screams for Dreams by Kappa Sigma
• 2018 – N/A
• 2019 – Embrace Your Superpower by Health Science Club
• 2020 – Roll Bounce with MMP by Minority Mentorship Program
• 2021 – Health Science Club
• 2022 – N/A
• 2023 – Virtual Law School Fair by Pre-Law Society

Given to a recognized student organization, this award recognizes the planning and presentation of an outstanding campus event, program, or activity that provides meaningful community service. A service program is one that provides service to either the UCA community or the central Arkansas community through direct volunteer involvement, capacity building, or philanthropy. It engages as many of the organizational membership or campus community as possible. This program directly contributes to the mission and purpose of the organization and University. This program should encourage students to engage in service beyond a one-time experience.

• 2017 – The Big Event
• 2018 – UCA’s Got Talent
• 2019 – Pie in the Face Fundraiser by Rotaract International Club
• 2020 – Food Recovery Network
• 2021 – Bears at the Ballot
• 2022 – The Big Event
• 2023 – Read-A-Thon

Given to a recognized student organization, this award recognizes the planning and presentation of an outstanding campus event, program, or activity that provides meaningful dialogue around or celebrates culture and diversity in its many forms. A cultural program is one that enables participants to gain greater insight, understanding and appreciation of culture and diversity. It engages as many members of the campus community as possible. This program directly contributes to the mission and purpose of the organization and University. This program should encourage students to engage in service beyond a one-time experience.

• 2017 – N/A
• 2018 – N/A
• 2019 – Amigo Fest by Latino Student Association
• 2020 – Purple Table Talk by NAACP
• 2021 – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• 2022 – Black History Month Live Museum of Notable African American Figures by Students for the Propagation of Black Culture
• 2023 – Latin American Music Fest by Latino Student Association

This award is presented to an RSO president who has consistently demonstrated passion for their organization and promoted activity on campus and within the community. Nominations should include an explanation of the president’s achievements with the RSO and demonstrate growth and activity on campus. Nominations may be submitted by an RSO president, member or advisor.

• 2017 – Mary Robin Clay
• 2018 – Morgan Sweere
• 2019 – Hannah Branton
• 2020 – Rose McGarrity
• 2021 – Jamaal Lockings
• 2022 – Ricardo Guevara

• 2017 – Jordan Hager
• 2018 – Kristen Jones
• 2019 – Katelyn Wilkinson

The Spirit of UCA Award recognizes students who bleed purple and gray through and through and who personify their love of UCA through their demonstration, support and promotion of school spirit and pride. Deserving students maintain a positive attitude, show true sportsmanship, and demonstrate outstanding leadership and integrity through creative expressions of their school spirit/pride, and loyalty to UCA. Further consideration will be given to those who demonstrate high academic achievement and support for a variety of campus programming including athletics, student organizations and the cultural arts.

• 2017 – Ty Hollowell
• 2018 – Aliyah Ellis
• 2019 – N/A
• 2020 – Bobby Adams
• 2021 – Natalie Burklow
• 2022 – Mattie Neighbors

This award recognizes a local business who has gone above and beyond to help students and student organizations at the University of Central Arkansas. Students and organizations can nominate businesses throughout the year who have been of great support to an RSO, their functions, and activities.

• 2017 – N/A
• 2018 – Central Arkansas Trophies
• 2019 – Stoby’s Restaurant
• 2020 – Don Pepe’s Gourmet Burritos and Tacos
• 2021 – N/A
• 2022 – Billy’s Trophies & Awards