These are among the honors and awards the University of Washington bestows upon alumni, faculty, staff, retirees and students who contribute to the richness and diversity of the University community.
Past nominations for the 2021 season
Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award
Established in 2012, this award is given to 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.
- Selection
- Summer Quarter
- Selection made by
- A committee comprised of alumni, student, faculty, staff and members of the broader community
- Presentation
- UW Veterans Day event and the Awards of Excellence
- Administration
- Alumni Association
- Additional information
- UWAA alumni awards
Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award
The Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award, established in 2003, is given to a full-time University of Washington faculty member who has taught for at least two years in innovative, non-degree programs sponsored by the University and designed for professional development, personal interest, or career redirection.
- Selection
- Spring Quarter
- Selection made by
- A committee appointed by the Vice Provost for Continuum College
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Continuum College
Distinguished Staff Award
The Distinguished Staff Award honors outstanding University of Washington staff and teams. All individual and team nominees are recognized for their achievements at a campus-wide reception. Five individuals or teams are selected to be the award recipients based on their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to their departments and the University.
- Selection
- Winter Quarter
- Selection made by
- A committee of staff appointed by the Vice President for Human Resources
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Office of Human Resources
- Additional information
- Distinguished Staff Award
Distinguished Teaching Award for Innovation with Technology
This annual award recognizes a current faculty member from our Seattle, Tacoma or Bothell campuses who has improved student learning or engagement through an inventive use of technology. The award is open to individual instructors and instructional teams.
- Selection
- Winter Quarter
- Selection made by
- The DTA, DTA-I, & Clowes Selection Committee is comprised primarily of faculty members, as well as two or three staff members.
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Center for Teaching & Learning
- Additional information
- Center for Teaching & Learning – Teaching awards
Distinguished Teaching Award — Seattle
The Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA) is given annually to seven faculty members — five from the Seattle campus and one each from the UW Bothell and UW Tacoma campuses.
Recipients are chosen based on their mastery of the subject matter; enthusiasm and innovation in the teaching and learning process; ability to inspire independent and original thinking in students; innovations in course and curriculum design; and service as a mentor, collaborator and consultant to other faculty members and teaching assistants.
- Selection
- Winter Quarter
- Selection made by
- The DTA, DTA-I, & Clowes Selection Committee is comprised primarily of faculty members, as well as two or three staff members.
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Center for Teaching & Learning
- Additional information
- Seattle teaching awards
Excellence in Teaching Award
This award recognizes stellar teaching by graduate students. The recipients are honored for demonstrating extraordinary teaching ability as graduate instructors or as a graduate teaching assistant.
- Selection
- Winter Quarter
- Selection made by
- The ETA Selection Committee is comprised of faculty members, staff members, and graduate students.
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
- Additional information
- Center for Teaching & Learning – Teaching awards
Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Medals
The president annually presents the Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Medals to undergraduate students for outstanding academic achievement. The Freshman Medal is awarded to the sophomore having the highest scholastic standing for the first year of his or her course. The Sophomore Medal is awarded to the junior having the highest scholastic standing for the first two years of his or her course. The Junior Medal is awarded to the senior having the highest scholastic standing for the first three years of his or her course. Freshman and Sophomore medals were first given for the 1974-75 academic year and the first Junior Medal was awarded for the 1994-95 academic year.
- Selection
- Fall Quarter
- Selection made by
- Faculty Honors Committee, a subcommittee of the Faculty Council on Academic Standards
- Presentation
- Winter Quarter at a private reception
- Administration
- Office of Student Life
Gates Volunteer Service Award
This award, established in 2002, is presented annually to recognize and honor an individual whose extraordinary volunteer efforts have encouraged others to support the University of Washington through time, service and philanthropy.
- Selection
- Spring Quarter
- Selection made by
- Award and Recognition Committee
- Presentation
- Annual Recognition Gala, Fall
- Administration
- UW Foundation
- Additional information
- The Gates Volunteer Service Award
James D. Clowes Award for the Advancement of Learning Communities
This award was established in 2003 in memory of James D. Clowes, who was a leader of the Comparative History of Ideas Program and a member of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. The Clowes Award recognizes a faculty or staff member who transforms undergraduate learning at the UW through the development of learning communities.
Recipients are chosen based on their demonstrated capacity to connect cohorts of students with one another and with faculty members to advance learning; transform traditional classroom communities into shared experiences beyond the classroom; and to develop service/community-based learning opportunities for undergraduates that are integrated into their programs of study.
- Selection made by
- The DTA, DTA-I, & Clowes Selection Committee is comprised primarily of faculty members, as well as two or three staff members.
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
- Additional information
- Center for Teaching & Learning – Teaching awards
Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
The Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award recognizes a faculty member who excels at the intense, one-on-one teaching that is the hallmark of graduate study. First awarded in 1999, the award was renamed in memory of Marsha L. Landolt, who served as dean of The Graduate School from 1996-2004.
- Selection
- Winter Quarter
- Selection made by
- A committee appointed by the Dean of The Graduate School
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- The Graduate School
- Additional information
- Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Mentor Award
President’s Medals
Each year since 1932, the President has presented a medal to the graduating senior who has achieved the most distinguished academic record at the University. In 2004, the President began giving the medal to two graduating seniors: one medal to a student who has completed at least three-fourths of his or her degree requirements at the University of Washington and one medal to a student who entered the University with at least 60 transfer credits from a Washington community college.
- Selection
- Spring Quarter
- Selection made by
- Faculty Honors Committee, a subcommittee of the Faculty Council on Academic Standards
- Presentation
- Awards of Excellence, June
- Administration
- Office of Student Life