Chancellor's Awards

Requirements:

• Must have junior, senior or graduate student status.     
• Must be in good academic and non-academic standing.
• Must not be a past recipient of the award.

Criteria for Selection: A Chancellor’s Award for Students recipient should demonstrate:

1. Outstanding service and leadership on campus and/or in the community.
2. A commitment to the core values of the institution.
3. Positive and inspiring personal traits, including a proactive, motivating attitude; courage and resiliency; innovation and creativity.
4. Exemplary contributions, in terms of service and leadership, in one or more of the following areas:
   1. Undergraduate Research: Supporting and promoting a culture of undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activity across campus; showing exceptional leadership when attending professional meetings and conferences. 
   2. Inclusivity: Committing to creating an environment of mutual respect, professional behavior, academic freedom and appreciation of individual differences and rich cultural diversity; understanding the systemic concepts of social justice and promoting inclusivity in our campus community.  
   3. Service to the Community: Exhibiting the traits of servant leadership; fostering hope and effecting real change within the community beyond campus.
   4. Service to the University: Enriching the lives of fellow students, by building better student organizations and by contributing to a more just and caring campus. 

Nomination Process:

For each nominee, the following must be submitted:

1. Nomination form (submit online via this link)
2. A current resume of the nominee.
   1. This document needs to be uploaded at the time of completing the online nomination form.
3. A letter of nomination from the individual completing the nomination form.
   1. This document needs to be uploaded at the time of completing the online nomination form.
4. At least two letters of support (these are in addition to the nominator's letter of nomination).
   1. Letters of support can either be uploaded with the nomination form, choose UWRF students/employees to send a message to requesting that they write and upload a letter of support or submit letter(s) via email by the end of the day on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Please email attachments in PDF or Microsoft Word doc format to studentaward@uwrf.edu. Please include the name of the nominee in all file names. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
   2. Letters of support may come from UWRF faculty or advisers, UWRF staff, external organization leaders, fellow students or the candidates themselves. Please note that anyone outside of @uwrf.edu or @my.uwrf.edu email addresses, will need to submit their letter of support via email to studentaward@uwrf.edu. Please include the name of the nominee in all file names.

Any questions pertaining to the nomination process should be sent to studentaward@uwrf.edu.

Selection Committee

• Dean of Students (chair)
• one appointee from Student Affairs
• one faculty member from each of the three academic colleges
• two appointees from the Student Senate   

• 2025: Cassie Christian, Brendan Fernlund, Annika Gunderson, Eva Malm, Emy Murray, Nhi Nguyen, Sasha Resig, Jack Schindler Van Hoof, Katrina Steele
• 2024: Mark Buchmann, Chloe Heifner, Lexi Janzer, Kendra Jentz, Mayala Keita, Veronica Klenke, SirrNay Ku, Kalli Kubly, Samuel Peters, Lauren Schmelzer
• 2023: Samuel Anzai, James Bowers, Carisa Cleven, Matthew Fischer, Collin Gartner, Dylan Jensen, Linnea Milner
• 2022: Kaye Anderson, Courtney Carson, Ian Carter, Isabella Forliti, Brigitte Ledferd, Natalie Rodgers, Joe Schlies, Kit Zuelke
• 2021: Sophie Ackerman, Magdala Diersen, Dannie Esterline, Adam Leseman, Ezekiel Olakunle, Violet Penman, Morgan Leigh Anderson, Marie-Ange Kivi
• 2020: Whitney Baehr, Rachel Harris, Kiana Johnson, Mirza Naveed, Tate Schlichting, Bryanne Stites, Paul Tietz, Faith Velez, Amarea Witt
• 2019: Temi Abiodun, Lamah Bility, Soobin Lee, Caleb Rossin, Ali Slaughter, Michelle Stage
• 2018: Alanna Bram, Zain Kaiser, Samantha Pedek, Kristy Strain, Abby Wendt
• 2017: Alexandra Klapoetke, Christopher Morgan, Pang Tao Moua, Brittany Rambatt, Kate Theisen, Xiaoqi Wang
• 2016: Jessica (JJ) Knapp, Madeline Pemberton,  Emma Sweet, Angela Ludvigsen, Marie-Morrella Kponou, Mohammad Battah
• 2015: Lyndsay Hage, Haley Klinker, Cheng-Yen (Peter) Lee , RJ Pfeifer, Daniel Saunders, Sam Tauchen, Julie Vang
• 2014: Anwar Abda, Gustavo Jose Cavalheiro, Liyuan Feng, Katrina Hanson, Danielle Peterson, Erica Stafford
• 2013: Elizabeth Byers, Karen Edlebeck, Lauren Evans, Ashley Goettl, Amy Graham
• 2012: Grace Adofoli, Danielle Hammer, Becky Jones, Camryn Nelson, Kim Schadrie, Adam Sibenaller, Lee Underdahl
• 2011: Katie Anderson, Kellie Claflin, Nene Eze, Bradley Kerschner, Colleen Kopel, Whitney Peissig, Nikki Shonoiki
• 2010: Ross Bender, Bryan Bodrog, Jordan Harshman, Teresa Pollock, Amie Stillman, Hiya Zhang
• 2009: Jacob Cavanaugh, Krista Hasselquist, Joshua Lambert, Amanda Leisch, Rebecca Peine, Melissa Ploeckelman, Charles Sowa
• 2008: Anthony Anderson, Stephen Baisden, Elizabeth Barnett, Catherine Bollig, Natalie Hagberg, Tanya Hartwig, Chunlan Li, Shelby Rubbelke, Hli Vang
• 2007: Joseph Eggers, Lacey Felmlee, Jonathan Hill, Kathryn Krtnick, Natsumi Kubo, Katharine Leisch, Vang Lo, Ashley Olson, Nicole Peters
• 2006: Nicholas Cluppert, O'Neal Hampton, Stephanie Jicinsky, Jessica Kopp, Kristofer Kulsrud, Megan Learman, Carolyn Schenk
• 2005: Leon Gbee, Jeremy Kalal, Kendra Plant, Nicholas Sirek, Lindsay Starr, Mary Vang
• 2004: Joanna Arguello, Brandon Bruder, Amanda Bryan, Ashley Ryan Hawke, Mindy Naef, Angela Roggenbuck
• 2003: Megan Clarke, Terrence Galbreath, Manjesh Gurnani, Ryan Perkl, Dawn Puro, Nicole Schoenemann
• 2002: Jill Englmann, Anne Moberg, Diane Reese, Christopher Silver, Jennifer Sweet, Rhonda Willers
• 2001: Leah Addington, Derek Anderson, Rustin Callier, David Chell, Tawana Hanamann, Rebecca Liegl, Paige Steele
• 2000: Sarah Egerstrom, Amy Sue Gaede, Amy Jurgens, Jennifer Russell, Jared Schaffner, Ezra Zeitler
• 1999: Nelda Bailey, Robin Boles, Jeremy Daus, Julie Giese, Jamie Gugala, MacKenzie Guptil, Jonathan Platson, Scott Schlichter, Susan Sharma, Sharaine Smith, Kristopher Thompson
• 1998: Wendy Baier-Gruber, Renee Carlson, Karen Geske, Richard Herod, Kristen Koch, Isaac Mbiti,  Lisha McLean, Nathan Thompson
• 1997: Christopher Emerson, Deanna Munoz, Michelle Sands, Grant Staszak, Amy Stenson, Catherine Tank, May Xiong
• 1996: April Daniels, Shawn Gudmunsen, Heather Holle, Shawn Kelly, Bridget Neu, Christopher Patton, DeAnn Rambo, Bryan Sanders, Melissa Wilson
• 1995: Christine Albright, David Anderson, Nancy Beskar, Joy Erath, David Kruse, Patrice Peterson, Dolf Schmidt, Doua Vang, Ana Vasquez-Lutz
• 1994: Michelle Donovan, Lynette Empey, Kevin Jarek, Christopher Laib, Melody Milroy, Barry Olson, Wolanda Shelton, Joel Wondra
• 1993: Danielle Hartman, Michael Henke, Corrine Ihm, Peggy Schmidt, Ricardo Suarez, Stephen Walker,
• 1992: Laura Bestler-Wilcox, Audrey Bomberry, Margaret Corrente, Amanda Fox, Jacqueline Gruber, Paula McCarty
• 1991: Pamela Garvey, Mary Howatt, Daniel Johnson, Farahnaz Khosravani, Chris Malek, Kristina Overgaard, Jeffery Pilgreen, Jennifer Wilke, Steve Young
• 1990: Kristin Best, Price Davis, Peter Elsch, Thomas Evans, Blane Huppert, Dawn Kelly, Joe Matzek, Brian Nelson, Rebecca Peterson, Gregory Tauchen
• 1989: Karin Beckstrand, Vicki Datt, Steven Drazowski, Todd Elkerton, Lorna Rodriguez, Wendy Schmalz, Gary Staszak, Paul Uhren
• 1988: Robbie Bignell, Karen Braun, Fooi Chai, Linda Christopherson, Marilyn Gandera Whalen, Linda Schoettle, Timothy Yost, Dawn Zernicke, Teresa Zube
• 1987: Martinas Barney, Rick Block, Richard Dado, Tamara Frank, Royce Keehr, Randall Meyer, Sharon Timko
• 1986: Wesley Chapin, Linda Conner, Terence Jones, Randall Meyer,  Susan Moriarty, Renee Radcliffe
• 1985: Linda Gunderson, Tracy Humphreys, Keith Knutson, Todd Kurtz, Nona Nesseth, John Oehlke
• 1984: Dale Braun, Elizabeth Braun, Brenda Crews, Claudia Dumont, Melinda Etheridge, Basil Hanna, Boyd Huppert, Nancee Melby, Denise Sinclear
• 1983: Bradley Bittorf, Jay Coggins, Donna Duerst, Lorry Erickson, Heidi Lemke, Thelma Nayquonabe, Sally Vissers, Elizabeth Wysocki
• 1982: James Abbs, Joann Bares, Bryan Belson, Susan Bystrom, Mary Donaldson, Bruce Jacobson, Sonja Maki, Anthony Ogbozo
• 1991: Roxanne Emmerich, Melinda Erdal, Bonnie Hagen, Mark Lenz, Calvin Scott, Robert Whitcomb, Jon Williamson
• 1980: Jay Bailey, Kent Fenske, Heidi Hong, Daniel McGinty, Bruce Nagel

• Individual recipients will receive a $500 payment through payroll.
• Recognized programs will be awarded a $500 Foundation grant.
• Recipients will be invited to the All-Campus Awards Breakfast held prior to fall Opening Meeting.

Current employees and students can nominate eligible individuals or program/unit/departments that demonstrate excellence.

• Nomination Process:
  • Complete the nomination form.
  • Submit at least one letter of support (see form for submission options).
  • Please note that nomination materials, including the nominator’s comments and any letters of support submitted, will be shared with the nominee. The nomination packet will be shared with each recipient so they know the positive impact they’ve had and the thoughtful recognition offered by through the nomination process.

Award Categories:

• Five individual Chancellor’s Excellence Awards:
  • Non-Instructional Academic Staff
  • Instructional Academic Staff
  • Limited Appointee
  • University Staff (Blue Collar/Technical/Law Enforcement) and
  • University Staff (Admin/Fiscal/HR)
• Two Program/Unit/Department Awards: Recognizing Academic Staff-led and University Staff-led units. 

Individual Award criteria:

• Demonstrated success in fulfilling job responsibilities, including:
  • Going above and beyond expectations.
  • Significant contributions, improvements or innovations within the unit or university.
  • Supporting the fulfillment of the UWRF mission.
• Participation in initiatives beyond primary job responsibilities, such as:
  • Volunteering for campus initiatives.
  • Participation on committees.
  • Providing exceptional support to colleagues or students outside of assigned duties.
• Exemplifying professionalism and positive relationships through:
  • Helpfulness, teamwork and customer service.
  • A positive attitude and strong work ethic.
  • Professional conduct and integrity.

Unit/Program/Department Award criteria:

• Excellence in Performance: Demonstrates high standards, professionalism and efficiency, serving as a model of excellence.
• Initiative and Creativity: Showcases innovation, improved performance or enhanced productivity.
• Outstanding Achievement: Contributes meaningfully to the UW-River Falls mission and enhances the distinctiveness of the campus.

Selection is made by a committee that is charged with reviewing nomination materials and makes a recommendation to the Chancellor for final approval. Membership of the committee includes:

• University Staff Excellence Awards:
  • The Chancellor's designee (chair)
  • Provost
  • Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
  • Member appointed by each of the following groups: University Staff Senate, Academic Staff Council and Student Government Association.
     
• Academic Staff Excellence Awards: Selection is made by a committee that is charged with reviewing nomination materials and makes a recommendation to the Chancellor for final approval. Membership of the committee includes:
  • The Chancellor's designee (chair),
  • An instructional academic staff member
  • Member appointed by each of the following groups: University Staff Senate, Academic Staff Council and Student Government Association.