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2024 Student Organization Award Recipients

On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Student Engagement and the Student Government Association had the opportunity to recognize student organizations and student organization members for their dedication and hard work to better the student experience at Fort Hays State University. 

The following awards are presented:

Individual Awards 

  • Rising Star Member
  • Outstanding Student Leader
  • Outstanding Diversity Ally
  • Outstanding Advisor
  • Outstanding Tiger Spirit Award
  • Student Scholar Award
  • Unsung Hero Award

Rising Star Member

A successful student nominee for this award will be a new member (not necessarily a freshman) of the organization, who has already made a significant contribution to the organization. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Service to others.
  • Outstanding leadership skills.
  • Planning a program or activity that benefits students.
  • Helping to make the organization and campus culture a positive experience for students.
  • Going beyond what other students are contributing to campus. 

 Outstanding Student Leader

A successful student nominee for this award will have gone above and beyond in representing their student organization. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Outstanding academic achievement motivated and inspired others and exemplified integrity in words and actions.
  • Provided exemplary service, commitment, and strong leadership to Fort Hays State University community and demonstrated ongoing flexibility, creativity, and perseverance in efforts.
  • Made a meaningful contribution to students, University, and surrounding communities while working with and for others.
  • Willingness to address existing problems and valued feedback from others.
  • Made herself/himself available to group members and brought out the strengths of individual group members.
  • Demonstrated initiative by seeking ways to positively impact the future.

Diversity Ally

A successful student nominee for this award will have enhanced, supported or celebrated diversity within the Fort Hays State University community. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Recognizing absent or neglected perspectives.
  • Trained or educated leaders, members, and peers on diversity.
  • Recognizing systems and structures of privilege, specifically related to social identity groups.
  • Advocating for social justice.

 Outstanding Advisor

A successful advisor nominee for this award will have displayed significant effort to improve the organization and provided continuous support for the group. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Allowed students to take responsibility for their own learning and understanding of the organization while providing advice, encouragement, and support to all students.
  • Made himself/herself available to others, and was approachable and open to new ideas.
  • Valued initiative and student input.
  • Utilized different and creative approaches to educating and assisting members.
  • Served as a positive role model.
  • Helped organization reach their goals.

Outstanding Tiger Spirit Award

A successful student nominee for this award will have gone above and beyond showing school spirit. This could demonstrated through the following:

  • Involvement on campus and community.
  • Positive attitude and enthusiasm.
  • Supportive of FHSU events and programs.
  • Student Role Model.

Student Scholar Award

A successful student nominee for this award will have gone above and beyond in their academics and scholarly activities. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Above average grades/GPA
  • High attendance rates.
  • Scholarly success.
  • Participation and class performance. 

Unsung Hero

A successful student nominee for this award will have demonstrated behind the scenes work/involvement with a positive influence towards their organization or program. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Willingness to take on extra work.
  • Commitment to excellence.
  • Does not seek recognition for their contributions. 

Program Awards

  • Best New Program
  • Outstanding Community Service Project
  • Best Program
  • Diversity Program of the Year
  • Outstanding Virtual Program of the Year
  • Random Acts of Kindness Community Service Award

Best New Program 

A successful program/event nomination for this award should be a new program during the 2023-2024 academic year that made a meaningful contribution to the Fort Hays State University community. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • The program enhanced the Fort Hays State University community by utilizing a creative and unique approach.
  • Explored and fostered innovative and efficient ways of reaching and involving diverse student audiences.
  • The program was well planned and open to all University students.
  • This award will be presented to the organization that coordinated and managed the event.

Outstanding Community Service Project 

A successful program/event nomination for this award should have been a thoughtful and meaningful program that made a positive impact on the Fort Hays State University or the surrounding community. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • The program addressed an existing community need. 
  • Regardless of whether the project was a single day or long-term, it addressed a single need.
  • Volunteers were educated and actively involved in addressing the community's needs.
  • There is evidence this project benefited a group or groups of people.  

Best Program

A successful program/event nomination for this award should have made a meaningful contribution to the Fort Hays State University community. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • The program enhanced the Fort Hays State University community by utilizing a creative and unique approach.
  • Explored and fostered innovative and efficient ways of reaching and involving diverse student audiences.
  • The program was well planned and open to all University students.
  • This award will be presented to the organization that coordinated and managed the event. 

Diversity Program of the Year

A successful student led program for this award will have demonstrated and celebrated diversity and inclusion within the FHSU community. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Recognizing absent or neglected perspectives.
  • Training or educating leaders, members, and peers on iversity.
  • Recognizing systems and structures of privilege, specifically related to social identity groups.
  • Advocating for social justice. 

Outstanding Virtual Program of the Year

A successful virtual program for this award will have made a meaning contribution to the FHSU online community. This can be demonstrated through the following:

  • Program enhanced the FHSU online community by utilizing a creative and unique approach.
  • Explored and fostered innovative and efficient ways of reaching online students.
  • The program was well planned and open to all FHSU students.
  • This award will be presented to the virtual organization that coordinated and managed this program. 

Random Acts of Kindness Community Service Award

A successful program nominee for this award will have gone above and beyond making a difference in the lives of others through their kindness, compassion, or caring acts. This could include:

  • Serving others before oneself. 
  • Going out of their way to do something.
  • Going out of their way to serve others.
  • Going out of their way to show kindness to others.
  • Willingness to serve their organization and others in any capacity. 

Organization Awards

  • Civic Engagement Award
  • Most Improved Student Organization
  • Outstanding Small Student Organization
  • New Student Organization of the Year
  • Student Organization of the Year

Civic Engagement Award

The successful organization for this award demonstrates excellence in the areas of leadership and service and seeks to apply these abilities in innovative ways to improve the lives of others. A strong application would also display a commitment to equity and inclusion. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Leaders and members participated in activities that are designed to develop civic knowledge, skills, and values
  • Identified and acted on community or campus issue(s).
  • The action was taken that had a direct impact on the quality of life in the
  • Created public policy change or other positive changes for the campus or
  • Developed a plan for continued work on identified problems or issues.

*Projects in the Center for Civic Learning are not eligible for this award. 

Most Improved Organization 

The successful organization for this award will have displayed significant effort for the improvement of the organization and therefore exhibited considerable progress in the development of the group. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Revitalized membership (by improving recruitment and retention of new and diverse members)
  • Improved focus on the organization's mission and internal operation
  • Creation or improvement of programs or events
  • Intentional collaboration with other student organizations or University departments
  • Established a plan to ensure continued organizational growth and sustainability of the organization.

  

Outstanding Small Student Organization

This successful small organization has demonstrated that size doesn't matter and has significantly contributed to FHSU students. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Leaders and members have participated in development opportnities.
  • Offered personal development programming to members on a constant basis.
  • Organization has made a big impact on FHSU regardless of their size.
  • Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and perserverance.
  • Developed a responsible transition plan for the continued success of the organization.

New Student Organization of the Year

A successful new organization has demonstrated growth within the past three years (Fall of 2020). This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Constant or increased membership and participation.
  • Perseverance despite global pandemic.
  • Organization has made an impact on FHSU campus regardless of its new beginnings.

Student Organization of the Year

The successful organization for this award will have displayed significant effort and have made a meaningful contribution to Fort Hays State University students. This could be demonstrated through the following:

  • Leaders and members participated in development opportunities (Student Organization Leadership Retreat, Peer Mentor Institute, TigerLink Curriculums, etc.)
  • Offered personal development programming to members on a consistent basis.
  • Demonstrated consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perserverance.
  • Attracted members from different backgrounds, life experiences, and diverse perspectives.
  • Worked in collaboration with other organizations on campus to enhance the organization's goals.
  • Developed a responsible transition plan for the continued success of the organization.

 

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