For more than 50 years, the UW’s Awards of Excellence have celebrated outstanding faculty, staff, students and alumni whose achievements exemplify the University’s mission. Make an impact by submitting a nomination today.
Overview:
-
- Each award recipient will be honored at the annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony held at Meany Hall in June of 2027.
- Explore the Awards of Excellence Archive to learn about previous recipients.
- Looking for promotional materials? View the Awards of Excellence media kit.
- Questions? UW employees can contact uinsider@uw.edu or contact the award organizers directly.
Explore the various awards below:
AWARDS FOR FACULTY & ACADEMIC PERSONNEL
David B. Thorud Leadership Award
Honors
Extraordinary faculty and staff leaders at the UW.
Highlights
Nominees receive a congratulatory letter and copy of their nomination; two nominees are selected for a $2,500 award.
Nominations encouraged from
Current faculty and staff.
Nominate by Dec. 11, 2026
Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award
Honors
A UW faculty member who has taught and/or designed courses for at least two years in non-degree programs and designed for professional development, personal interest or career redirection. Both part- and full-time faculty members are eligible.
Highlights
This award carries a $5,000 stipend for the recipient.
Nominations encouraged from
All current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Dec. 14, 2026
Distinguished Librarian Award
Honors
An outstanding librarian from any UW campus whose contributions advance the mission of the UW Libraries and the UW.
Nominations encouraged from
All current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 30, 2026
Distinguished Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award
Honors
A UW retiree or team of UW retirees for excellence in service post-retirement that exemplifies the University’s values with special distinction.
Highlights
The award carries with it a $1,500 prize funded by the UW Retirement Association.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty and staff, and alumni.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
Distinguished Service Award
Honors
Outstanding Alumni Association members or volunteers who have made a significant impact on the Alumni Association and the UW community.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty and staff, and alumni.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
Distinguished Teaching Award for Teams
Honors
This award is granted to instructional teams/collaborators (two to five people) from any UW campus. The teams may include faculty, students, TAs, staff educators, librarians and/or other members of the UW who support instruction.
Highlights
The team will receive $5,000.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 12, 2026
Distinguished Teaching Awards
Honors
Six extraordinary individual faculty members — four from the Seattle campus and one each from the UW Bothell and UW Tacoma campuses.
Highlights
The recipient will receive $5,000.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 12, 2026
Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award
Honors
An extraordinary UW teacher who has influenced and inspired students after they graduated.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty and staff, and alumni.
Note: Nominators must have taken at least one class from the nominee. Consideration is given to interactions outside of the classroom.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
Excellence in Global Engagement Award
Honors
Honors faculty and staff at the UW for their leadership in global engagement. The award alternates each year between faculty and staff honorees. The 2027 award will honor a UW faculty member that has led or undertaken activities that connect UW students, faculty and staff to global communities locally, nationally and internationally.
Highlights
The recipient will receive $5,000.
Nominations encouraged from
All current UW faculty, staff and students.
*Faculty can self-nominate.
Nominate by Nov. 13, 2026
Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
Honors
An outstanding faculty member who mentored a graduate student.
Highlights
A single award, accompanied by $5,000 in discretionary funds that can be used to support the awardee’s scholarly activities.
Nominations encouraged from
Graduate students and graduate alumni.
Nominate by Nov. 4, 2026
Outstanding Public Service Award
Honors
A faculty member, academic appointee or staff member who has made exemplary contributions to the common good through public service.
Highlights
The recipient will receive a $5,000 award.
Nominations encouraged from
UW faculty or staff, or by a member of an organization that has benefited from the public service activity.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
University Faculty Lecture Award
Honors
Current or emeriti faculty whose research, scholarship or art has been widely recognized by their peers and had a substantial impact on their profession, on the research or performance of others and perhaps on society as a whole.
Highlights
Recipient will give an all-campus lecture.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 18, 2026
AWARDS FOR STAFF
David B. Thorud Leadership Award
Honors
Extraordinary faculty and staff leaders at the UW.
Highlights
Nominees receive a congratulatory letter and copy of their nomination; two nominees are selected for a $2,500 award.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty and staff.
Nominate by Dec. 11, 2026
Distinguished Staff Award
Honors
Staff and teams primarily composed of staff that exemplify excellence.
Highlights
Nominees receive a congratulatory letter and copy of their nomination and five nominees are selected for a $5,000 award.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Dec. 11, 2026
Distinguished Teaching Award for Teams
Honors
This award is granted to instructional teams/collaborators (two to five people) from any UW campus. The teams may include faculty, students, TAs, staff educators, librarians and/or other members of the UW who support instruction.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 12, 2026
Outstanding Public Service Award
Honors
A faculty member, academic appointee or staff member who has made exemplary contributions to the common good through public service.
Highlights
The recipient will receive a $5,000 award.
Nominations encouraged from
UW faculty or staff, or by a member of an organization that has benefited from the public service activity.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
AWARDS FOR STUDENTS
Distinguished Teaching Award for Teams
Honors
This award is granted to instructional teams/collaborators (two to five people) from any UW campus. The teams may include faculty, students, TAs, staff educators, librarians and/or other members of the UW who support instruction.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 12, 2026
Excellence in Teaching Award
Honors
Outstanding contributions of a graduate student instructor(s)/TA(s) to student learning.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty, staff and students.
Nominate by Nov. 12, 2026
AWARDS FOR ALUMNI
Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award
Honors
An outstanding alum, distinguished for service and achievement over a period of years since graduation from the UW.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award
Honors
A living UW alumnus veteran who made a positive impact on the local, national or international community, the University of Washington or the veteran community.
Nominate by May 1, 2027
*Note, the 2027 recipient has already been selected. Nominations are open for the 2028 cycle.
Distinguished Service Award
Honors
Outstanding Alumni Association members or volunteers who have made a significant impact on the Alumni Association and the UW community.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026
Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award
Honors
An extraordinary UW teacher who has influenced and inspired students after they graduated.
Nominations encouraged from
Current UW faculty and staff, and alumni.
Note: Nominators must have taken at least one class from the nominee. Consideration is given to interactions outside of the classroom.
Nominate by Dec. 31, 2026