Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is Western Colorado University’s newest tradition, celebrating the remarkable accomplishments our alumni have achieved since graduation. This award highlights graduates who exemplify professional achievement, leadership, philanthropy, or service to community, and serves as a reminder of the many ways Western alumni make a lasting impact on the world around them.
Members of the Alumni Advisory Council review all nominations and select honorees. Each nomination represents an extraordinary alum, and the selection process is always challenging. To make the best decisions, Council members must have complete and specific information. Ultimately, the strongest nominations are those that provide detailed examples of how the nominee meets the award criteria.
The criteria for the award include:
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Professional and/or Academic Accomplishments: Demonstrates exceptional achievement and recognition in their field of work or advanced studies (i.e., pursuing graduate school/PhD programs/professional degrees).
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Leadership: Inspires others through initiative, innovation, and influence within their profession, community, or beyond.
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Philanthropy: Shows generosity and commitment to making a difference through charitable giving, volunteerism, or mentorship.
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Service to Community: Enhances the lives of others through active participation, advocacy, and civic engagement.
Eligibility:
Nominees must have earned a degree from Western Colorado University. Alumni from all class years are eligible.
Submission Process:
Nominations will only be accepted via the online form. Instead of submitting a traditional nomination letter, nominators will address each of the award criteria individually in a maximum of 500 words each. An additional 500 words may be used to include any other information relevant to the nomination. We recommend drafting responses in Word before pasting them into the form.
Not every section must be completed for a nominee to be considered; however, nominators are strongly encouraged to provide information for as many criteria as possible. The Alumni Advisory Council considers all available details when making selections, and fuller nominations offer a more complete picture of the alum’s impact.
Nominations will be accepted until November 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM Mountain Time. No late submissions will be accepted.
Questions? Contact Megan West, Director of Alumni Relations, at 970.943.2493 or mwest@western.edu.