Excellence in Leadership Awards

The Excellence in Leadership Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of Washington University students and their co-curricular experience.

Excellence in Leadership Awards Ceremony

Award recipients will be honored during the Excellence in Leadership Awards Ceremony, held in the Danforth University Center in Tisch Commons on April 14, at 2 p.m.

Recognizing Student Leaders and Student Groups

Students mingling in Holmes Lounge

Students at Washington University regularly achieve great success. Through the Annual Excellence in Leadership Awards, Campus Life honors student leaders and student groups who actively pursue and demonstrate excellence in leadership within the campus community.

Those recognized for Excellence in Leadership will have:

  • Gone above and beyond the expectations of the campus community
  • Consistently proven to be exemplary amongst the campus community in all aspects of their campus involvement
  • Fostered positive relationships with campus resources / departments and other student organizations
  • Intentionally pursued the organization’s ideals through the attainment of established goals and continual reflection and development.

Who can nominate a student leader?

Any Washington University community member may nominate a student leader or a student group believed to exemplify excellence in leadership.

A student group can also apply directly for an award. Individuals may nominate themselves, but it is recommended to include a resume and references who can attest to their leadership qualities.

How do I apply on behalf of my student organization or nominate a student organization or an individual student?

Any established group/group effort believed to exemplify excellence in leadership may apply or be nominated. Student group applications/nominations will need to provide information about the officers & the group, as well as respond to the award criteria.

Individuals may nominate themselves, but it is recommended to include a resume and references who can attest to their leadership qualities.

When and where are nominations/applications due?

Nominations for Spring 2024 are due by March 31, 2024.

Questions about the EIL Awards

Contact Campus Life

Nominate for an Excellence in Leadership Award


The Awards

Excellence in Leadership presents 13 awards, honoring eight individuals and five student groups, in recognition of their outstanding achievements at Washington University.
An award may have more than one recipient.

Individual Awards

Sharon Stahl Rising Leader Award

The Sharon Stahl Rising Leader Award, established in 2006, recognizes a first- or second-year student for exemplary leadership, service, and commitment to the University community.

Eligibility and Criteria For Sharon Stahl Rising Leader Award

Eligibility: First-years and Sophomores

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Self-Awareness:
    • Individual has defined and articulated their personal values
  • Valuing Others:
    • Individual seeks to understand the community in which they are a part
    • Individual undertakes opportunities to serve their communities
  • Ethics and Integrity:
    • Individual makes decisions in alignment with their personal and organizational values
    • Individual demonstrates ethical and equitable behaviors through their decisions and actions

Unsung Hero Award – “demonstrated leadership, not necessary to have a title”

The Unsung Hero Award recognizes a student for work they do behind the scenes. The individual may not hold an executive leadership position within an organization, but consistently works to improve his or her organization or cause. This award will recognize someone who goes above and beyond their responsibilities as a general member and does so to enhance the overall outcome of the student organization, a program or an initiative.

Eligibility and Criteria for Unsung Hero Award

Eligibility: Undergraduate students from all academic years

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Ethics and Integrity:
    • Individual understands their actions, both public and private, are reflective of their values.
    • When faced with ethical issues, individual challenges themselves and others to act in ways congruent with their personal and shared values.
    • Individual demonstrates the highest level of integrity in all aspects of their lives.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Individual seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Individual understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Individual finds ways to motivate, utilize, and incorporate others to move their vision forward.
    • Individual creates a safe, open and trustworthy environment.
    • Individual understands and values the process as well as the final outcome.

Ripple Award – “committed to social justice”

The Ripple Award was established in 1995 by the Student Union, the Committee Organization for Rape Education, Residential Advisors, Office of Residential Life, and Office of Student Activities to recognize an individual who stands up for their ideals, strikes out against injustice, bestows unconditional respect upon all beings, enables groups and individuals to flourish, and recognizes the significance of small acts in the effort to attain a greater vision.

Eligibility and Criteria for Ripple Award

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Valuing Others:
    • Individual understands the value of having diverse perspectives within the community.
    • Individual seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as a contributing to the improvement of global society.
    • Individual creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop synergistic results.
  • Ethics and Integrity:
    • Individual understands their actions, both public and private, are reflective of their values.
    • When faced with ethical issues, individual challenges themselves and others to act in ways congruent with their personal and shared values.
    • Individual demonstrates the highest level of integrity in all aspects of their lives.
    • Integration and Meaningful Action:
  • Individual is able to translate ideas into action.
    • Individual seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as contributing to the improvement of a global society.
    • Individual creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop synergistic results.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Individual seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Individual understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Individual finds ways to motivate, utilize, and incorporate others to move their vision forward.

Helen Davis Humanitarian Award – “committed to education and service”

The Helen Davis Humanitarian Award was established in 1995 by the Office of Student Activities as a tribute to the dedication shown by Ms. Davis to Washington University and the St. Louis community. The award will recognize a student who promotes human welfare in the St. Louis community through education and service.

Eligibility and Criteria for Helen Davis Humanitarian Award

Eligibility: Undergraduate students from all academic years

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Valuing Others:
    • Individual understands the value of having diverse perspectives within the community.
    • Individual seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as a contributing to the improvement of global society.
    • Individual creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop synergistic results.
  • Ethics and Integrity:
    • Individual understands their actions, both public and private, are reflective of their values.
    • When faced with ethical issues, individual challenges themselves and others to act in ways congruent with their personal and shared values.
    • Individual demonstrates the highest level of integrity in all aspects of their lives.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Individual seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Individual understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Individual finds ways to motivate, utilize, and incorporate others to move their vision forward.
  • Vision and Strategy:
    • Individual understands the importance of challenging the status quo and applying creative and innovative solutions to affect positive change.
    • Individual has developed a vision for change.
    • Individual has formulated goals and action steps necessary to bring their vision into reality.

Farwell Student Leader of the Year Award – “leadership demonstrated this academic year ”

The Farwell Student Leader of the Year, named after Victor H. Farwell, was established in 1994, and is the highest mark of honor in the Excellence in Leadership Awards Ceremony. This award recognizes a junior or senior who has demonstrated exceptional leadership this academic year through self-awareness, collaboration, service, commitment to a cause, and community impact.

Eligibility and Criteria for Farwell Student Leader Award

Eligibility: Juniors and Seniors

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Self Awareness
    • Discern and describe their personal leadership style, strengths, and limitations
    • Appropriately apply their learning and leadership style and strengths.
    • Recognize their own multiple identities, experiences and biases and how these affect their ability to lead.
  • Vision and Strategy
    • Define and articulate a vision for their organization, community, or cause.
    • Identify and employ innovative solutions to challenges as well as current conditions.
  • Valuing Others
    • Seek to understand the communities in which they are a part.
    • Appropriately integrate differing viewpoints and experiences for maximum organizational performance.
    • Undertake opportunities to serve their communities.
    • Integration and Meaningful Action
    • Employ creative problem solving and critical thinking behaviors.
    • Demonstrate resiliency in the face of challenges.
    • Demonstrate the ability to take appropriate action.
  • Ethics and Integrity
    • Make decisions in alignment with their personal and organizational values.
    • Demonstrate ethical and equitable behaviors through their decisions and actions.
    • Define and articulate the importance of role-modeling.
  • Connection and Collaboration
    • Empower, utilize and motivate others.
    • Understand and value the process as well as the final outcome.
    • Address and resolve conflict with civility.
    • Prepare and empower future leaders to ensure sustained community effectiveness.

Shepley Outstanding Senior Award – “Senior’s leadership demonstrated throughout their entire college career”

The Shepley Outstanding Senior Award is presented to outstanding seniors who have excelled in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and service to the University community over their entire collegiate career. This award acts as the capstone leadership award for a senior who has worked throughout their four years to better the Washington University community (and beyond) and their own leadership skills.

Eligibility and Criteria for Shepley Outstanding Senior Award

Eligibility: Seniors

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Excellence as a leader in the Washington University community.
  • Excellence as a scholar in their academic discipline.
  • Service to and improvement of the community during their time as a student.

W. Alfred Hayes Award

The W. Alfred Hayes Award is presented to outstanding senior athletes who by personal example have provided constructive leadership at Washington University.

Eligibility and Criteria for W. Alfred Hayes Award

Eligibility: Senior Athletes

Winners of this award will have demonstrated the following:

  • Excellence as an athlete.
  • Excellence as a leader on their team or in the Washington University community.

Advisor of the Year Award

The Advisor of the Year Award was new in 2012 and recognizes the outstanding contributions of a faculty or staff member to a student group.

Eligibility and Criteria for Advisor of the Year Award

Eligibility: Faculty and Staff. Doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal adviser, but a faculty or staff member who has advised student groups to success.

Advisors serve as guides, mentors and leaders to their respective student organizations. Individuals recognized for this award demonstrate an exceptional commitment to working with students outside of the classroom as well as both an interest and expertise that benefits their respective student organizations. Special consideration will be given to advisors who do not advise student groups as part of their job responsibilities.

Group Awards

Innovation Award

Student groups frequently put on excellent programs. Groups recognized in this category will have been innovative, collaborative, motivated, and will have produced an outstanding program or event.

Criteria for Innovation Award

At Washington University in St. Louis, we believe that innovation is the heart of progress. We want to recognize student groups who have been creative and innovative, whether it is in their programming ideas, organization structure, initiatives, projects, or partnerships. These creative initiatives should be meeting the needs of the community and will have produced an outstanding product.

Groups receiving this award will demonstrate the following:

  • Vision and Strategy:
    • Group understands the importance of challenging the status quo and applying creative and innovative solutions to affect positive change.
    • Group will have developed a vision for change.
    • Group will have formulated goals and action steps necessary to bring their vision into reality.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Group seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Group understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Group finds ways to motivate, utilize, and incorporate others to move their vision forward.
  • Integration and Meaningful Action:
    • Group is able to translate ideas into action.
    • Group seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as contributing to the improvement of a global society.
    • Group creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop synergistic results.
  • Valuing Others:
    • Group seeks to understand the communities in which they are a part.

Event of the Year

We would like to honor the Event of the Year amongst the thousands of events that student groups produce every year. Groups recognized in this category are innovative and collaborative and have produced an outstanding program or event. This program attracted a significant number of attendees, and had a meaningful impact on the WashU community.

Criteria for Event of the Year

Student groups frequently put on excellent programs and events. Groups recognized in this category will have been innovative, collaborative, motivated, and will have continued to produce an outstanding program or event that has been on campus for at least one year. It may even be seen as a tradition on campus.

Groups receiving this award will demonstrate the following:

  • Vision and Strategy:
    • Group understands the importance of challenging the status quo and applying creative and innovative solutions to affect positive change.
    • Group will have developed a vision for change.
    • Group will have formulated goals and action steps necessary to bring their vision into reality.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Group seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Group understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Group finds ways to motivate, utilize, and incorporate others to move their vision forward.
  • Integration and Meaningful Action:
    • Group is able to translate ideas into action.
    • Group seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as contributing to the improvement of a global society.
    • Group creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop synergistic results.
  • Valuing Others:
    • Group seeks to understand the communities in which they are a part

Community Impact Award

The Community Impact Award recognizes student groups for their commitment to service and making an impact within the WashU and St. Louis communities.

Criteria for Community Impact Award

Groups receiving this award will demonstrate the following:

  • Valuing Others:
    • Group understands the value of having diverse perspectives within the community.
    • Group seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as a contributing to the improvement of global society.
    • Group creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop synergistic results.
  • Ethics and Integrity:
    • Group understands their actions, both public and private, are reflective of their values.
    • When faced with ethical issues, the group challenges themselves and others to act in ways congruent with their personal and shared values.
    • Group demonstrates the highest level of integrity in all aspects of their lives.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Group seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Group understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Group finds ways to motivate, utilize and incorporate others to move their vision forward.
  • Vision and Strategy:
    • Group understands the importance of challenging the status quo and applying creative and innovative solutions to affect positive change.
    • Group has developed a vision for change.
    • Group has formulated goals and action steps necessary to bring their vision into reality.

Program with Purpose Award

The Program with Purpose Award recognizes student groups who are intentional in designing their programs to be co-curricular in nature. Their program(s) had a meaningful learning component for their participants and embodied the truth that learning happens outside of classrooms as well.

Criteria for Program with Purpose Award

Groups receiving this award will demonstrate the following:

  • Vision and Strategy:
    • Group understands the importance of challenging the status quo and applying creative and innovative solutions to affect positive change.
    • Group will have developed a vision for change.
    • Group will have formulated goals and action steps necessary to bring their vision into reality.
    • Group has learning outcomes clearly outlined for their programs
  • Integration and Meaningful Action:
    • Group is able to translate ideas into action.
    • Group seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as contributing to the improvement of a global society.
    • Group creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop
    • Group integrates learning into their programs for the betterment of society

Outstanding Student Group Award

The Outstanding Student Group Award recognizes exemplary leadership and commitment by a student group to the Washington University community. The group worthy of this award will have shown progressive leadership and commitment consistent with the mission of Campus Life.

Criteria for Outstanding Student Group Award

Groups receiving this award will demonstrate the following:

  • Ethics and Integrity:
    • Group understands their actions, both public and private, are reflective of their values.
    • When faced with ethical issues, the group challenges themselves and others to act in ways congruent with their personal and shared values.
    • Group demonstrates the highest level of integrity in all aspects of their lives.
  • Communication:
    • Group seeks understands that effective communication is a crucial component of successful leadership.
    • Group demonstrates proficiency across multiple modes of communication and effectively and appropriately utilizes technology.
    • Group is able to engage in meaningful conversations and interactions with others.
  • Vision and Strategy:
    • Group understands the importance of challenging the status quo and applying creative and innovative solutions to affect positive change.
    • Group will have developed a vision for change.
    • Group will have formulated goals and action steps necessary to bring their vision into reality.
  • Connection and Collaboration:
    • Group seeks out meaningful relationships to foster positive change.
    • Group understands these relationships not simply as a means to an end but as an integral component of creating an effective community.
    • Group finds ways to motivate, utilize, and incorporate others to move their vision forward.
  • Integration and Meaningful Action:
    • Group is able to translate ideas into action.
    • Group seeks opportunities to develop cultural competency and understand themselves as contributing to the improvement of a global society.
    • Group creates opportunities for the inclusion of multiple perspectives to develop