Celebration of Involvement

 Celebration of Involvement | Thursday, April 23, 2026

Every year, students are recognized at the Celebration of Involvement Reception where campus-wide awards for service and leadership are presented, including the Edward T. Foote II Award for Excellence in Student Leadership, the Vice President's Award for Service, the Sherwood Weiser Memorial Fund for Student Community Service, the Robert Bates Cole Award for Volunteer Leadership, the Ann S. Waldman Endowed Scholarship and the Vivian Berger Giller Impact award.

Students, faculty and staff, and community partners are welcome to nominate outstanding students engaged in service and leadership through the nomination links included below. Nomination applications will be open from January 12, 2026, to February 15, 2026.

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  • Edward T. Foote II Award for Excellence in Student Leadership

    Senior | 1 Recipient

    Students who have best demonstrated exemplary involvement, leadership, and achievements in their college experience. To be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with senior academic standing (by credits) and graduating in Spring 2026.
    • Nominees must have a minimum of a 3.0 overall cumulative grade point average.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated extensive involvement, leadership, and achievements in university and community programs and activities.
    • Nominees must demonstrate personal integrity and exemplary character through specific leadership and actions.
    • Nominees must have a commitment to helping other students by encouraging, supporting, and nurturing their involvement in leadership opportunities.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated future leadership potential.

  • Vice President's Award for Service

    Senior | 2 Recipients

    Students who have best demonstrated exemplary community service in their college experience. To be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with senior academic standing (by credits) and graduating in Spring 2026.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated extensive participation in community service activities which benefited the campus, local and/or community.
    • Nominees should have assisted in developing or organizing projects which address community service, social, political, or economic issues affecting the local and/or global community.
    • Nominees should have demonstrated leadership through policy-making or serving as an advocate for social change.

  • Sherwood Weiser Memorial Fund for Student Community Service

    Junior | 4 Recipients | $2,000 scholarship 

    Students who possess a combination of character and compassion along with exhibiting a strong commitment to community service while at UM. To be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with junior academic standing (by credits). If you are unsure about your academic standing by credits, please see your unofficial transcript or Cane Navigator.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated extensive participation in community service activities which benefited the campus and/or Miami community.
    • Nominees Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

  • Magaly Santos Llaca Endowed Memorial Scholarship

    Sophomore or Junior | 1 Recipient| $10,000 scholarship 

    Preference is given to first-generation college students of Cuban descent with a history of demonstrated active involvement in being civically engaged within the UM and greater Miami area. To be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with sophomore and/or junior academic standing (by credits). If you are unsure about your academic standing by credits, please see your unofficial transcript or Cane Navigator.
    • Nominees Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated extensive participation in community service activities which benefited the campus and/or Miami community.
    • Nominees should exemplify a strong character, show compassion toward the community and involvement in being civically engaged.
    • Show strong financial need and be a first generation college student.
    • Preference will be given to a Cuban American Student.

  • Ann S. Waldman Endowed Scholarship

    Freshman, Sophomore or Junior | 1 Recipient | $10,000 scholarship 

    Recognizes students who excelled academically while being civically engaged within the campus and local community. Preference will be given to a first-generation college student. To be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with freshmen, sophomore and/or junior academic standing (by credits). If you are unsure about your academic standing by credits, please see your unofficial transcript or Cane Navigator.
    • Nominees Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
    • Nominees should exemplify a strong character, involvement in being charitably and civically engaged.
    • Show strong financial need.
    • Preference will be given to a first-generation student.

  • Vivian Berger Giller Endowed Impact Award

    Junior | 1 Recipient | $3,000 scholarship

    Recognizes a student who has made a significant impact on campus through their leadership experiences and/or involvement with volunteering activities, student organizations and special projects. In order to be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with junior academic standing (by credits). If you are unsure about your academic standing by credits, please see your unofficial transcript or Cane Navigator.
    • Nominees must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated participation in involvement through volunteering activities, leadership experiences, student organizations and special projects that have benefited the campus and/or Miami community.
    • Nominees must have made a significant impact on campus or within the community by developing an innovative project/initiative, creating a student organization, or creating a new event that has not previously been on campus prior to their arrival as a student.
    • Nominees should exemplify a strong character, show compassion toward the community while making significant impact on campus.

  • Robert Bates Cole Award for Volunteer Leadership

    Sophomore | 1 Recipient | $2,000 scholarship 

    Students that exemplify the characteristics of integrity and dedication through exceptional, committed, and unassuming participation in community service activities. To be considered eligible for this award, nominees must meet all of the following conditions:

    • Nominees must be a current full-time student at the University of Miami with freshmen, sophomore and/or junior academic standing (by credits). If you are unsure about your academic standing by credits, please see your unofficial transcript or Cane Navigator.
    • Nominees must have a minimum of a 3.0 overall cumulative grade point average.
    • Nominees must have demonstrated extensive participation in community service activities which benefited the campus and/or Miami community.
    • Nominees should have assisted in developing or organizing projects which address community service, social, political, or economic issues affecting the local and/or global community.

Should you have any more questions regarding Celebration of Involvement or any of the awards, please contact the Butler Center for Service and Leadership at 305-284-4483 or at leadandserve@miami.edu.

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