Office of Student Life
Leadership and Community Engagement

Leadership Awards

The Student Life Leadership Awards is an annual awards ceremony that celebrates members of the Ohio State community who demonstrate exceptional skills in leadership, advocacy, community engagement, and more. Over the past 64 years, The Ohio State University has recognized hundreds of students, advisors and organizations who demonstrate leadership skills, collaboration, and a commitment to the Ohio State community. The Ohio State Leadership Awards are sponsored by the Office of Student Life.  

Who is Eligible for Ohio State Leadership Awards?

Any Ohio State student, faculty or staff member is eligible. You do not need to hold a formal title or leadership position in order to be recognized. Leadership Award judges focus more on learning, attitudes, action, and accomplishments than on previous awards or titles. In some cases, an award may be designed for specific students, faculty, or staff (example: Outstanding First Year, or Outstanding Advisor). 

Who Can Write Letters of Recommendation 

Some of our awards require letters of recommendation for the nominee. All letters of recommendation should be written/submitted by a current OSU faculty, staff, or student. Extremely rare exceptions may be given on a case by case basis. In the case that you are nominating someone else for an award which requires a letter of recommendation, you must ask someone else to write that letter of recommendation.  

How to Apply for Leadership Awards 

Applications for the 2024 Leadership Awards are now CLOSED. 

 

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS 

  • Boehm Holistic Wellness Leadership Award (application or nomination) 

  • Community Engaged Leader Award (application or nomination) 

  • Dean’s Leadership Award (application or nomination) 

  • Dr. Ellamae Simmons Award (application, resume, and recommendation letter) 

  • Belonging and Community Impact Award (application or nomination) 

  • Kaplan Humanitarian Award (application, resume, and recommendation letter) 

  • Outstanding First-Year Student Award (application or nomination, resume, and recommendation letter) 

  • Outstanding Senior Award (application, resume, and recommendation letter) 

  • Outstanding Graduate/Professional Student Award (application or nomination, resume, and recommendation letter) 

  • Outstanding Green Buckeye Award (application or nomination) 

  • Phyllis Bailey Excellence Award (application, resume, and recommendation letter) 

  • Stanley D. Gottsegen Leadership Award (application, resume, and interview) 

  • Willie J. Young, Sr. Staff Impact Award (application or nomination) 

  • Willie J. Young, Sr. Student Impact Award (application or nomination) 

STUDENT ORGANIZATION AWARDS 

  • Boehm Holistic Wellness Leadership Award 

  • Outstanding Overall Student Organization Award 

  • Outstanding New Student Organization Award 

  • Student Organization Excellence Awards (4) 

  • Outstanding Student Organization Program 

  • Outstanding Collaborative Student Organization Program 

  • Belonging and Social Change Engagement in Programming Award 

  • Outstanding Green Buckeyes – Sustainable Student Organization Award 

NOMINATION-BASED AWARDS 

  • Outstanding Mentorship Award 

  • Outstanding SEE Student Employee Award  

  • Outstanding SEE Supervisor Award 

  • Student Organization New Member Individual Contribution Award 

  • Student Organization Emerging Leader Individual Contribution Award 

  • Student Organization Positional Leader Individual Contribution Award 

  • Student Organization Advisor Individual Contribution Award 

Past Leadership Award Recipients 

Click here to view a comprehensive list of all past Leadership Award recipients: Leadership Awards All Years