Each year, the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors honors a select group of alumni for their professional and personal achievements and service to the University. Awards are given in the categories of Outstanding Alumni of the Year, Distinguished Service, Rising Star, Outstanding Faculty, and Outstanding Staff Award.

Submit a Nomination

Alumni Awards Nominations: Do’s and Don’ts – How to submit a strong nomination:

• Do respond to each question fully in the allotted 300 words per question.
• Don’t respond to a question by saying “see previous response” or “Google them.”
• Do check your grammar and spell check before submission.
• Don’t repeat or copy and paste the same answer for multiple questions. Each question warrants its own, unique response.
• Do submit supplemental materials. Examples include letter of recommendation, resume, articles about the nominee’s impact. These materials should be emailed to alum@umbc.edu with the subject line “2025 Alumni Awards Materials.”

Please note the following:

• Past recipients of an alumni award, current members of the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors, and volunteer leaders in any active alumni group are not eligible for an award.
• Nominators can also submit a maximum of five pages of supplemental material.
• Alumni
  may make a nomination in any category and are the only group eligible
  to nominate for the Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Staff
  categories.

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Outstanding Alumni Of the Year

This award is given to a UMBC graduate who has brought distinction to
the university through personal and professional achievement. Awards can
be presented to alumni from the following colleges: Erickson School
of Aging Studies; College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences;College of Engineering and Information Technology; College of Natural
and Mathematical Sciences; and School of Social Work. While these alumni
are recognized by college, their impact and influence extend far
beyond, making significant contributions to a wide variety of fields. To be considered for this award, the nominee must have:

• Graduated from UMBC no less than five years ago.
• Achieved prominence in his or her field.
• Ideally, demonstrated involvement and support of UMBC and/or the Alumni Association.

Distinguished Service Award

This award may be given to  a UMBC graduate who has demonstrated dedication to UMBC through exceptional service to UMBC, its students, and alumni. To be considered for this award, the nominee must have:

• Graduated from UMBC no less than two years ago.
• Supported UMBC or the Alumni Association through either a single act or a record of service.

Rising Star Award

This award is given to an outstanding
undergraduate alum of the last decade who has demonstrated professional achievement. To be considered for this award, the nominee must have:

• Graduated from UMBC no more than 10 years ago.
• Achieved early career and professional achievement.
• Ideally, demonstrated ongoing
  involvement and support of UMBC, its students, and/or alumni.

Nominators, please complete the following questions (each question has a max of 300 words):*

1. What are the nominee’s significant contributions to their profession? (For nominees for the Rising Star Award, it is appropriate to include information that speaks to their achievements as a student, and how their potential is already shown in the early part of their career.)
2. How has the nominee been involved in the greater community through volunteer leadership or community service?
3. How has the nominee continued to support or be involved with UMBC as a graduate?
4. Please also provide any additional information you would like the committee to know about this nominee.

Outstanding Faculty Award

This award is given to one full-time faculty member to honor extraordinary teaching as demonstrated by the effectiveness in motivating students in ways that have a lasting influence on their lives. The nominee should have a record of commitment to student success, the ability to provoke student interest and enthusiasm, service to the UMBC community, and have constructively impacted and influenced campus life beyond the classroom. To be considered for this award, the nominee must:

• Be a current UMBC faculty member and employed at the university for a minimum of 5 years
• Be a full-time faculty member (any course instructor who is employed full-time, tenure or non-tenure track).

Nominators, please complete the following questions (each question has a max of 300 words):

1. Describe how the nominee contributed to your success or made a personal impact in your life.
2. In what ways did the nominee motivate you or fellow alumni inside and outside of the classroom?
3. What are/were the nominee’s significant contributions to their profession?
4. In what other ways has the nominee served the UMBC community in the past or present?
5. Please also provide any additional information you would like the committee to know about this nominee.

Outstanding Staff Award

This award is given to one full-time member of the UMBC staff or administration to honor extraordinary contributions as demonstrated by their significant direct or indirect impact on students and/or alumni. The nominees should have a record of outstanding performance, commitment to the values and mission of UMBC, service to the UMBC community, and positively influencing campus life. To be considered for this award, the nominee must:

• Be a current or former member of the UMBC staff or administration that has been employed at the university for a minimum of five years. Former members of UMBC staff or administration must be within three years of their last date of service to the university.
• Faculty and less than full time employees are not eligible for this award
• Members of UMBC’s Institutional Advancement staff who support alumni engagement and fundraising efforts are not eligible until such time they are no longer involved.

Nominators, please complete the following questions (each question has a max of 300 words):

1. Describe how the nominee contributed to your success and/or the lives of students and/or alumni
2. In what ways did the nominee impact the lives of students and/or alumni?
3. In what other ways has the nominee served the UMBC community in the past or present?
4. Please provide any additional information you would like the committee to know about this nominee.

To nominate a graduate, faculty member, and/or staff member for one of the above awards, please complete our online nomination form.