Awards and Honors

Student Luminary Awards

The Student Luminary Awards are designed to shine a light on exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who make a difference through their leadership and extraordinary commitment to improving the campus or community while excelling in their academic pursuits.

The university community is encouraged to submit nominations starting Monday, December 8, 2025 through Monday, February 16, 2026.

Each student luminary recipient will receive a $1,000 monetary award. A program to honor recipients will take place Friday, April 17, 2026.

Nomination Process

The lead nominator should coordinate the nomination materials. Students are not responsible for soliciting nominations.

The nomination form must be completed in one session, as the form cannot be saved. All submission materials should be ready to enter/upload prior to completing the form.

Criteria for the Student Luminary Awards are rooted in the Husker Student POWER framework, which highlights the core elements that shape the Husker student experience. Each criterion reflects how nominees embody Purpose, Ownership, Well-being, Engagement, and Relationships in meaningful and transformative ways. These principles guide how students lead, connect, and create a lasting impact within the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community and beyond.

Upon opening the nomination form below, the lead nominator will be prompted to complete the following:

1. Nomination Form  
   The nominator should provide summaries to address first-hand knowledge to showcase the student’s exceptional abilities in each of the Husker Student POWER elements:
   • Purpose - Candidate embraces their “why” and intentionally uses their role or activities to support a meaningful mission or direction, while inspiring others in the Husker community.
   • Ownership - Candidate takes responsibility for their contributions and experience, demonstrates academic excellence and integrity, initiates action, and leads with accountability.
   • Well-being - Candidate prioritizes their whole self and supports others in achieving an optimal and dynamic state of well-being that allows every Husker to reach their full potential.
   • Engagement - Candidate actively participates and empowers others through curricular or co-curricular involvement, showing initiative and connecting their efforts to a broader community impact.
   • Relationships - Candidate cultivates supportive and meaningful connections with others, strengthening collaboration and a sense of belonging across the Husker community.
2. Letter of Recommendation  
   The lead nominator should solicit one letter of recommendation, preferably from a faculty mentor or staff advisor (suggested length is 1 page).
3. Waiver  
   Students must sign a release of information allowing Student Life to review violations to the Student Code of Conduct. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct may be taken into consideration. All signed waivers should be emailed to studentlife@unl.edu by the student being nominated by the nomination deadline.

Nomination Closed

Nominees and recipients will be notified the week of March 9, 2026.

Requirements

Undergraduate Student Luminary Awards

This award will recognize eight undergraduate students. Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum of junior standing (53 hours completed)
• Enrolled full-time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln when nominations are due
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Prior recipients will not be considered for awards

Graduate Student Luminary Awards

This award will recognize two graduate students. Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

• Enrolled full-time as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln when nominations are due
• Prior recipients will not be considered for awards

James V. Griesen Exemplary Service to Student Awards

Established in 1986 as the Chancellor’s Exemplary Service to Students Award and renamed in 2006 as the James V. Griesen Exemplary Service to Students Award, this award acknowledges extraordinary and sustained performance by individuals serving Nebraska students.

Students, faculty members, staff members and administrators are encouraged to submit nominations from Monday, December 8th through Monday, February 16th, 2026.

This award will be accompanied by a $1,500 stipend to be provided by private funds made available by the University of Nebraska Foundation. View past recipients.

Nomination Process

The lead nominator should coordinate the nomination packet.  

The nomination form must be completed in one session, as the form cannot be saved. All letters and information should be ready to enter/upload prior to completing the form. Each nomination packet should include:

1. Nomination Form  
   The nominator should provide summaries to address first-hand knowledge of the quality of service performed or the extraordinary effort contributed to students by the nominee, and an assessment of the perceived value of that service to the university. Nominees will be evaluated based on the following characteristics:
   • Indications that the nominee devotes time and energy toward service to students outside the normal job expectations
   • Indications that the individual has gone above and beyond the performance of their assigned responsibilities over an extended period of time
   • Indications that the nominee demonstrates a sensitivity to and understanding of a diverse student body
   • Indications of the direct impact the nominee's service has had on the lives of students
2. Letters of Recommendation  
   Letters should be from peers, students and former students with no more than three from each category.
3. Job Description  
   A listing of the nominee's professional position and job responsibilities should be included.
4. Résumé or Vita
5. Additional Support (Optional)   
   Documents that demonstrate evidence of the nominee's self-development efforts, evidence of creative activities in serving students and other pertinent information may be added.

Selection will be made by a committee comprised of students, faculty and staff. Nominees and recipients will be notified the week of March 9, 2026.

Nomination Closed

Requirements

All full-time University of Nebraska-Lincoln employees are eligible for nomination.