Celebration of Involvement | Thursday, April 24, 2025
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 in Spring 2025.
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 who will be graduating in the spring, summer or fall of 2025.
- 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.
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 undergraduate student at the University of Miami who will be graduating in the spring, summer or fall of 2025.
- 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.
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 who will be graduating in the spring, summer or fall of 2026.
- 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.
Sophomore or Junior | 1 Recipient| $5,000 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 who is a sophomore or junior.
- 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.
Freshman, Sophomore or Junior | 1 Recipient | $5,000 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 who is a freshman, sophomore or junior.
- 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.
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 with junior academic standing at the University of Miami who will be graduating in the spring, summer or fall of 2026.
- 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.
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 who will be graduating in the spring, summer, or fall of 2027, and who has completed at least two semesters at the University of Miami.
- 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.
