NOMINATION APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
Nomination applications for the 2025 Leadership Awards Ceremony will open in Fall 2024.
The Souza Student Leadership Center defines leadership as the act of being proactive to address needs and lead individuals to make a collective positive impact in a program, organization, or community. Leadership happens within formal leadership roles. However, leadership also happens when a student without a formal role is proactive and sees a need in the community that they then work to address. Every year the Margo F. Souza Student Leadership Center recognizes student leaders who have created a positive impact at UC Merced and beyond.
Review our Leadership Awards Nomination Application Questions & Guidelines and when you are ready to submit your nomination, select one (or more) of the awards below.
Distinguished Leadership Award
The Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes an undergraduate student who demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in the past academic year. This individual has made a significant impact within the UC Merced community through their exemplary leadership. More than one recipient may be awarded. Self-nominations are permitted for this award.
APPLY FOR THE DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD HERE
Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Award
The Carol Tomlinson-Keasy Award recognizes a student graduating during the 2024 year (undergradaute or graduate) whose influence, ideals and activities throughout their college career have left a lasting, positive impression on the institution and raises the standard of excellence for future generations. The minimum GPA Requirement is 3.0. No self-nominations are permitted for this award.
Legacy Award
The Legacy Award recognizes a graduating student during the 2024 year (undergraduate or graduate) who epitomizes the "best of leader" within the UC Merced community through actions consistent with the University's Principles of Community. This individual has displayed actions and ideals throughout their time as a student at UC Merced that will leave a lasting, positive impression on the institution and has raised the standard of excellence for future generations. Self-nominations are permitted for this award.
APPLY FOR THE LEGACY AWARD HERE
Steven and Mia Kang Leadership for Social Change Award
This award honors Steven and Mia Kang's commitment to UC Merced student and inspires current students to strive to become change agents in society and continue to lead by example. The prize will be awarded annually to an outstanding student who has distinguished themselves by their demonstrated leadership in social change either on campus or the community. No self-nominations are permitted for this award.
APPLY FOR THE STEVEN AND MIA KANG LEADERSHIP OF SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD HERE
Bobcat Well-Being Champion Award
This award is in partnership with Health Promotions and the award honors a staff or faculty member that has demonstrated extraordinary care, exhibited prioritization of the well-being of their students and has culitvated spaces for students to thrive. To be eligible this individual has to have shown care for students' well-being, shown interest in students' lives outside of academics, is sensitive to students' unique circumstances, and encourages students to adopt healthier habits. Students may nominate a staff or faculty member and no self-nominations are permitted for this award.
NOMINATE STAFF/FACULTY FOR THE BOBCAT WELL-BEING CHAMPION AWARD
