2025 Leadership Awards (by nomination only)
The following awards are reserved for individuals who have been nominated by others inn recognition of their exceptional contributions and achievements in leadership. These awards highlight students and community members who have gone above and beyond in their leadership, academic excellence, innovation, and commitment to social change. Nominations can be submitted by peers, faculty, staff of community partners to ensure these remarkable individuals are celebrated for their impact. Winners will be invited to attend the 2025 Leadership Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 25th, 2025, where they will be celebrated for their achievements and honored for their contributions.
Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Award
The Carol Tomlinson-Keasey Award recognizes an undergraduate or graduate student graduating during the 2024 - 2025 academic year who has excelled academically and shown leadership in their community. these Academic Scholars influenced ideas and activities through their college career, who have taken initiative in creating lasting and positive impacts on campus and throughout the Merced community for future generations of scholars to come. The minimum GPA requirement is 3.0. No self-nominations are permitted for this award.
NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE CAROL TOMLINSON-KEASEY AWARD HERE
Steven and Mia Kang Leadership for Social Change Award
This award honors Steven & Mia Kang's commitment to UC Merced students 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 sudent 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.
Key Elements of Social Change Leadership:
- Vision for Equity and Justice: A commitment to addressing societal, socioeconomic, and environmental issues.
- Collaborative Pursuits: Foster collective problem-solving and shared ownership of solutions.
- Empowerment: Elevating others' capacities and inspiring them to contribute to meaningful change.
- Systemic Thinking: Identifying and addressing root causes rather than focusing solely on symptoms.
NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE STEVEN AND MIA KANG LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD HERE
Margo F. Souza Trailblazer Award
The Margo F. Souza Trailblazer Award honors a student who has demonstrated extraordinary vision, innovation, and leadership by creating new clubs, organizations, events, and/or programs that significantly enrich the UC Merced community. Named in recognition of Margo F. Souza's legacy of groundbreaking leadership, this award celebrates individuals who have forged new paths, inspired change, and left a lastong impact on campus life. No self-nominations are permitted for this award.
NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THE MARGO F. SOUZA TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Community Partner Impact Award
The Community Partner Impact Award recognizes an inspiring and thoughtful community partner who has worked with UC Merced during the past year in bridging the campus and community to collaborate and address community-identified challenges. With the dedicated leadership of this partner, we have been able to take action to address these challenges in an empathetic, resourceful, and reciprocal approach. No self-nominations permitted for this award.
NOMINATE A COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR THE COMMUNITY PARTNER IMPACT AWARD
Deadline to submit nominations is Friday, March 7th, 2025 at 5PM
Winners and nominees will be invited to attend the Leadership Awards Ceremony happening on Friday, April 25th at 4PM at UC Merced. If you have any questions, please contact the Margo F. Souza Student Leadership Center at lead@ucmerced.edu or by visiting in-person at KL 172.
