Nomination Deadline for 2026 Awards: Friday, December 12, 2025
Student Leadership Award
The Maureen McDermott Student Leadership Award recognizes a student who contributes positively to the community, empowers others, and inspires those around them. They need not hold a leadership position; rather, they demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and role model inclusive and ethical leadership in their actions. Scroll for nomination form below.
General
- Undergraduate student enrolled in a degree program full time both semesters (Fall and Spring) during the academic year they are nominated.
- In good standing with the University
- Minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA at the time of application.
Specific
- Student does not have to hold a leadership position in the group
- Student makes significant contribution to their club/group that moves the organization forward
- Student’s contribution makes a positive impact on the University community
- Student demonstrates outstanding leadership skills, empowers others, inspires a shared vision, role models inclusive and ethical leadership
Servant Leadership Award
The Robert L. Carothers ecognizes a student who supports the growth of others and the community by embodying the tenets of the Servant Leadership Model (Greenleaf, 1977). Students in this category demonstrate a long-term commitment to making a positive and measurable impact related to a specific cause or social issue that affects URI, RI and/or the global community. Their practice of leadership develops other leaders and encourages others to serve. Scroll for nomination form below.
General
- Undergraduate student enrolled in a degree program full time both semesters (Fall and Spring) during the academic year they are nominated.
- In good standing with the University
- Minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA at the time of application.
Specific
- Demonstrates a long-term commitment to making a positive and measurable impact related to a specific cause or social issue that affects URI, RI and/or the global community
- Demonstrates the 10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader (Spears, 2010) in practice including: listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of the people, and building community
- Applies the Servant Leadership Model (Greenleaf, 1977) to their practice of leadership in a way that develops other leaders and encourages others to serve
Student Employee Excellence Award
Recognizes a student’s contributions that provide a positive impact on the University community through their campus employment. They make a significant contribution to the work environment, consistently providing quality service to others, and demonstrating outstanding employment traits. Scroll for nomination form below.
General
- Undergraduate student enrolled in a degree program full time both semesters (Fall and Spring) during the academic year they are nominated.
- In good standing with the University
- Minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA at the time of application.
Specific
- Student must be salaried employee working on-campus (work study or institutional pay)
- Student must have worked for at least one semester by April 2025 and for more than four hours per week
- Student makes a significant contribution to work environment and moves group forward in goals and mission
- Student’s work contribution makes a positive impact on the University community and student consistently provides quality service to others
- Student demonstrates excellent or outstanding employment traits such as honesty, credibility, punctuality, focus, responsibility, professionalism, strong conflict management skills, organizational skills, and supervisory skills