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Annual Service and Awards Criteria

Each year the Alumni Association's Executive Committee seeks nominees for its annual service awards.  These awards are presented to individual alumni, faculty, staff, or friends who enrich the UMUC community through intellectual, social, cultural, and service contributions.

There are three categories of awards:

  1. The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award
  2. The Edward A. Parnell Outstanding Alumnus/a Service Award
  3. Achiever Awards

The nominations are due by February 28.

Award Presentation

The Distinguished Alumnus/a Award is presented during the May commencement ceremony.  The recipient also receives recognition (and a presentation) at the Alumni Association's Annual Meeting and Awards Reception event and the university's Academic Awards dinner.  A special recognition event may also be hosted for the recipient. All former recipients are invited and are recognized at the event.

The Edward A. Parnell Outstanding Alumnus/a Service Award recipient and all recipients of the Achiever Award are to be conferred at the Alumni Association's Annual Meeting in June.

Nomination Procedures and Guidelines

  1. College Deans, University Academic Department Chairs (or the equivalent), Alumni Association Board of Directors, Alumni Chapters, Regional Directors, and the alumni body in general may nominate candidates for the awards.  The UMUC Alumni Association Nominations and Awards Committee will carry forward the names of candidates and keep them on the active consideration list for three years.  Those suggesting candidates are welcome and encouraged to submit additional information for candidates not selected in a given year.
  2. Full-time University employees are not eligible for the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award.
  3. UMUC Alumni Association Board directors are not eligible for the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award until they have been off the Board for three years.
  4. Nomination letters must include the following:  (1) which award the nominations is for; (2) the name of the nominee; (3) statement of support for the nominee, specifically why a nominee deserves the award and include a description of nominee's contributions; and (4) the name and contact information of the nominator.
  5. The nomination should be received on or before February 28.  Include background materials (e.g. resume or curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, etc.) or other attachments only if they help to highlight one or more listed criteria.  Include materials to give a complete picture of your nominee's accomplishments, but keep the nomination as concise as possible. 
  6. The Alumni Association Nominations and Awards Committee will review the submitted names, add any of its own and then select one or two as finalist(s) for each award.  The number of Achiever Awards will depend on merit of nominee submissions.
  7. The Alumni Director will submit the name or names to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement who then will submit the name or names to the University President for approval.

*The Procedures and Guidelines listed above are recommendations for the nomination and selection process.

Nominations can be submitted by e-mailing info@umucalumni.org. Nominations for all categories must be submitted to Alumni Relations by February 28. The nominations will be reviewed and recommendations will be forwarded to the president of the university.  The president will then select each award recipient.  All award recipients will be honored at the Alumni Association's Annual Meeting and Awards Reception in June.

For more information, contact Alumni Relations toll free at 1-800-888-UMUC (8682) ext. 5125 or 240-684-5125.