UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Chancellor's Award for Students

2020 Chancellor's Award for Students Winners

The 2020 recipients are:


Whitney Baehr, Senior, Elementary Education major, from Withee

Rachel Harris, Senior, Psychology and Communications major, from Minneapolis, MN

Kiana Johnson, Senior, Field Biology major, from Janesville 

Mirza Naveed, Senior, Computer Science and Information Systems major, from Cottage Grove, MN 

Tate Schlichting, Senior, Political Science major, from Superior 

Bryanne Stites, Senior Elementary Education major, from Prescott 

Paul Tietz, Senior, Environmental Science major, from Waunakee 

Faith Velez, Junior, Psychology/Social Justice major, from Redgranite 

Amarea Witt, Senior, Biomedical Sciences major, from St. Paul, MN

  

Do you know a student who has significantly contributed to making UW-River Falls a better place? Nominate them for the Chancellor's Award for Students!                 


The Award

The university has long recognized academic achievement through the granting of awards, scholarships, and honors. In 1977, the Chancellor and the Student Affairs staff began considering a way of also honoring students who had made significant non-academic contributions to the university. In 1980, the Chancellor's Award for Students was first awarded to five recipients in recognition of their service to UW-River Falls. Since then, 5-12 students have been selected every year to receive this honor. 

This award has come to symbolize the institution’s recognition of those UW-River Falls upperclassmen or graduate students who demonstrate outstanding service and leadership. The students must be nominated and obtain letters of support during the annual nomination period in the spring. Nominees are reviewed by a selection committee that identifies finalists who are then called in front of the committee for an in-person interview, accompanied by their nominator.

Awards are presented at the annual Chancellor's Award Reception to which the recipients, their families, fellow students and faculty are invited. 

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:

  • 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. 

  •  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.

  •  Global Education and Engagement

Advocating for and participating in global and international campus programs; raising awareness of issues around the internationalization of our campus and world; showing qualities of being a citizen and leader with an informed global perspective. 

  •  Service to the Community

Exhibiting the traits of servant leadership; fostering hope and effecting real change within the community beyond campus.

  •  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:

  • nomination form (online)
  • a current resume of the nominee*
  • a letter of nomination*
  • at least two letters of support* 

*To be emailed as a PDF or Microsoft Word doc to studentaward@uwrf.edu. Please include the name of the nominee in all file names. Incomplete nominations will not be considered. 

Letters may come from UWRF faculty or advisers, UWRF staff, external organization leaders, fellow students, or the candidate themself.

All supporting documents must be submitted by midnight on March 6, 2020.

Selection Committee

  • Executive Assistant to the Chancellor (chair),
  • one appointee from Student Affairs,
  • one faculty member from each of the four academic colleges,
  • two appointees from Student Senate.