Student Organization and Achievement Recognition (SOAR)


Student Involvement, Leadership, & Transitions is pleased to announce that nominations for our annual awards are LIVE.

Now under the name Student Organization Achievement & Recognition (SOAR) Awards, the Emory community is invited to recognize the key players in organizational and leadership development across campus for their outstanding achievements and service.

Nominations for 2023/2024 are now closed

Please see full descriptions and criteria below.

We are proud of this community and are thrilled to launch this season of gratitude and celebration with you.

Individual Awards

The Advisor of the Year is presented to an organization advisor or advising team who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the positive growth and development of their organization and its student leaders. The Advisor(s) of the Year should inspire their students to reach new intellectual and programmatic heights, empower their organization to take on new challenges, seek out new ways of thinking, and engage in socially-responsible, ethical leadership.

Requirements:

  • Individual(s) must be affiliated in some way with the Emory community.
  • Individual(s) serve as an advisor in a formal capacity to a chartered or non-chartered student organization, group or program.

The Mentor of the Year award is presented to the staff or faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional organizational advisement or personal mentoring. This can be accomplished through any of the following means: (a) a formal mentoring program; (b) an informal relationship with a student, group of students, or student organization. This individual will go above and beyond the basic expectations of a mentor. Nominations should focus on a nominee’s efforts as a mentor.

The Undergraduate Student Leader of the Year is bestowed upon a student who holds a leadership position for a chartered or departmental predominately undergraduate organization. The individual(s) who receive this award should be lifelong leaders who are committed to ethical decision-making, principled behavior, and inspire positive transformation in the world. The recipient(s) of this award will have made their fellow undergraduate peers and their experiences a priority through their leadership position by virtue of their dedicated actions and service to the Emory undergraduate community.

Undergraduate students in good standing enrolled at the Atlanta campus and must have served in their leadership position for the organization within the current academic year.

The Graduate Student Leader of the Year is bestowed upon a student who holds a leadership position for a chartered or departmental predominately graduate organization. The individuals who receive this award should be a graduate or professional student who have demonstrated a commitment to advocating for and bettering the experiences of the Emory graduate community through their service and leadership. This individual should exhibit the highest level of care and concern for proactive, positive contributions to the academic, personal or professional lives of their graduate peers, ultimately aiding in amplifying and unifying the Emory graduate community.

Graduate students in good standing enrolled at the Atlanta campus and must have served in their leadership position for the organization within the current academic year.

The Heart of Emory is an award of highest honor bestowed upon six (6) individuals, three (3) undergraduates and three (3) graduates, who represent the best of what Emory has been and will be. These individuals are active, passionate contributors to the Emory community; engaged individuals who have created a legacy through connection, creativity and a commitment to social justice.

Recipients of the Heart of Emory cultivate a flourishing community around them through ethical decision making, excellence through critical inquiry, cultural humility and demonstrate a dedication to living out a life of courageous integrity. These six individuals represent what makes Emory worth ‘hailing the gold and blue.’

Requirements:

  • Individuals must be students in good standing with the university (Title IX, Conduct, Academic Honor Code) and enrolled at the Atlanta campus.

Programmatic Awards

This award is given to one (1) undergraduate and (1) graduate student organization that exemplifies a commitment to the betterment and strengthening of Emory and/or the greater Atlanta community.

These organizations have hosted programs and/or events that reflect their mission and have demonstrated a commitment to professional excellence, creativity, and social justice. Furthermore, the organization embodies the Emory spirit through its commitment to leadership development, collaboration amongst groups, and programmatic efforts to enhance the quality of campus life at Emory University.

Organization Awards

The Small Program of the Year Award is given to an Undergraduate/Graduate student organization's program. This award is to recognize a successful program that has a significant impact on the Emory community to 300 or less people. This program has exemplified at least one of the following: social justice, personal and professional excellence, critical inquiry and promoting a flourishing community.

Small Program of the Year Requirements:

  • Budget Breakdown (must be $2,000 or below for small scale program)
  • Participation must be verifiable (sign-in sheets, attendance tracked via the Hub, or similar).
  • Open to entire Emory Community
  • Organization must be in good standing with Emory University and Campus Life
  • Must explain how their program exemplify at least one of the following Campus Life Values

The Large Program of the Year Award is given to an Undergraduate/Graduate student organization's program. This award is to recognize a successful program that has had a significant impact on the Emory community to 301 or more people. This program has exemplified at least two of the following: social justice, personal and professional excellence, critical inquiry and promoting a flourishing community.

Large Program of the Year Award Requirements:

  • Budget Breakdown (must be $2,001 or above for a large-scale program)
  • The event must be registered on the Hub
  • Participation must be verifiable (Sign-in sheets, the Hub attendance tracking, or similar)
  • Open to the entire Emory community
  • Organization must be in good standing with Emory University and Campus Life
  • Must explain how their program exemplify at least two of the following Campus Life Values