2022 Outstanding Service Award recipient Katie Ryan Niznik (left) with Chancellor Maria Gallo (right).

This award was established in 1983 with the approval of the Faculty Senate and the administration. The award parallels the Distinguished Alumni Award in the manner in which it is presented and the exposure and publicity it receives. The award is presented at the fall commencement. 

The award was established to recognize those individuals outside of the university community that have made exemplary contributions to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls through their support of the university's goals and their volunteer efforts on our behalf. 

We realize that there are individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to the university of personal time and energy, leadership, support, and/or monetary donations. It is for these reasons that we are pleased to make this award available. 

The following criteria are to be followed by the committee in the selection process, realizing that there may be exceptions from time to time that would necessitate a suspension of one or more of the criteria in a given year. 

1. Demonstrated contributions of time, talent, and/or financial support to UW-River Falls over a period of at least five years. Length of service will be a major factor in determining the recipient.
2. Letters of recommendation in support of the candidate are strongly encouraged.
3. The deans of each of the four colleges will be asked to nominate one or more people for this award. In addition, other areas of the university are encouraged to nominate candidates as they see fit. The nominations will be due to the committee before the end of the spring semester.
4. At no time will more than three (3) awards be given in a single year.
5. University employees are not eligible for this award.
6. This award may also be presented to a company, organization, or other institution that has made a significant contribution to the goals and objectives of the university over a period of years.