Wildcat Excellence
Wildcat Excellence End-of-Year Gratitude Celebration
May 28 | 6:00-8:00 PM | Louis Room - Norris
The Wildcat Excellence Awards is an annual event that recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of our students, student organizations, and their advisors. Award categories align closely with Northwestern’s Leadership Framework, using this original model as how Northwestern’s Division of Student Affairs celebrates leadership.
Learn more about the Northwestern Leadership Framework by visiting the Leadership Development & Community Engagement website. The Wildcat Excellence Awards event date and time and will be announced here soon. The Student Recognition Committee encourages faculty, staff, students, and community members to nominate students, groups, and advisors to be celebrated. See below for nomination forms for each award category.
Wildcat Excellence Awards Descriptions
The Rock Award: Distinguished Contribution
This award is given to undergraduate students who will participate in 2022 Commencement, have displayed outstanding leadership through involvement at Northwestern University and have contributed significantly to the advancement of the campus community. They also display congruence in convictions and morals when leading and have an approach that empowers others, serving as a strong role model for his/her peers. The award is named after The Rock, one of the iconic symbols of Northwestern’s Evanston campus for its lasting legacy, serving as the site of many historic campus events. Learn more about the Rock and other student traditions on the Student Affairs website.
Click Here to Nominate someone for the Rock Award
Purple Pride Award: Recognizing an Outstanding Third-Year Student
This award is given to a student on track to graduate in 2023 who has modeled one or more of the competencies of Northwestern’s Leadership Framework, enhanced the campus community, and demonstrated a commitment to Northwestern University’s values. The name of this award originates from the official university color donned by Northwestern's athletics teams since 1892.
Click Here to nominate someone for the Purple Pride Award
The Lake Award: Recognizing an Outstanding Second-Year Student
This award is given to a student on track to graduate in 2024 who has modeled one or more of the competencies of Northwestern’s Leadership Framework, enhanced the campus community, and demonstrated a commitment to Northwestern University’s values. The namesake of the award is Lake Michigan, on which Northwestern’s Evanston campus is built, providing magnificent scenery for all who visit.
Click Here to Nominate someone for the Lake AwardThe Arch Award: Recognizing an Outstanding First-Year Student
Outstanding Student Organization of the Year
This award is presented to a registered student organization, residence-based organization, competitive sports club, fraternity or sorority chapter, religious or spiritual group, or student-led department-sponsored program for enhancing the Northwestern community in the 2021-22 academic year through events, initiatives, and enriching the campus community.
Click Here to Nominate a Student Organization for Student Organization of the Year
Outstanding Advisor
This award is presented to an advisor who has supported overall development and played a role in improving organizational practices of the group they advise and encouraged individual students’ growth. Any advisor of the following groups is eligible: undergraduate registered student organization, graduate student organization, residence-based organization, sports club, fraternity or sorority chapter, religious or spiritual group, or student-led department-sponsored program.
Click Here to Nominate someone for Outstanding Advisor
Outstanding Student-Led Campus Event or Initiative
This award is presented to sponsoring organizations who planned and executed an event or initiative that was either new or went above and beyond previous iterations, identified and addressed a need on campus, showcased initiative and follow-through, evidenced the power of collective impact, and reflected the leadership competency of building relationships.
Click Here to Nominate for Student-Led Campus Event or Initiative