Leadership Engage

The David Wain Coon Student Leader of the Year Award goes to a Student Leader for their exceptional work and continuous dedication to the success of Central Washington University. This student leader goes above and beyond the duties of their leadership responsibilities by executing initiatives and uplifting student voices at (micro and/or macro level). They impact the CWU community, develop student leaders, encourage involvement, and foster a sense of collaboration, CWU pride, and community. This award is named for Dr. David Wain Coon (CWU Class of ’86) who began his career serving as an exceptional student leader. During his time as a student at CWU, Dr. Coon was involved throughout the campus serving as a residence hall group advisor, leader in ASCWU, and musical performer. Dr. Coon has dedicated his career to creating positive social change and leadership development for college students at CWU and across the country. Throughout his career, he has committed his work to increasing access for students from historically marginalized communities and offers support to students navigating obstacles in their leadership journey. This award honors Dr. Coon’s on-going legacy and recognizes an exceptional student leader who has and will continue to contribute as an exception leader. Additionally, Dr. Coon is further honoring the student recipient with a $1000 award for their student leadership at Central.

Dr. Coon will retire in December 2023 after 33 years in higher education administration, including the last 18 years as a president in the California Community College system.

Eligibility: This award goes to a current student leader involved in a club, organization, campus position or other forms of student involvement at CWU for at least one year.

A successful nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Leadership and contribution to their direct and campus-wide community
• Demonstrated committement to equity, belonging, and justice
• Goes above and beyond in a student leadership position (club, organization, student employment, volunteering or any additional student involvement)
• Serves as an advocate for the student voice for the CWU community
• Exhibits a positive attitude and willingness to go beyond what is expected when supporting students and peers
• Brings energy and enthusiasm to their position
• Motivates and inspires other CWU students
• Sincerely and consistently fulfills their responsibilities at a high level of performance

The Rising Student Leader Award recognizes a CWU student who has contributed to the success of a student organization, leadership role, or other student involvement. We believe leadership capacity exists in everyone and leadership can be modeled in anyone. This individual models leadership in their respective involvement by taking personal initiative, demonstrating critical thinking skills, and exemplifies leadership within their area. This student can include new first-year and new transfer students who have recently gotten involved and are anticipated to continue their leadership journey at CWU and beyond.

Eligibility: This award goes to a current student leader or member involved in a student organization, leadership role, campus position, or other forms of student involvement at CWU. This student can be a new CWU student (as early as their first quarter at CWU).

A successful nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrates personal initiative to help their area of involvement be successful.
• Models leadership and shows strong initiative in their area of involvement.
• Serves as an advocate for the student voice within their area of involvement.
• Brings energy, enthusiasm, and a new perspective to their area of involvement.
• Sincerely and consistently fulfills their responsibilities at a high level of performance.

The Registered Student Organization (RSO) of the Year award goes to a Registered Student Organization (RSO) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and contribution to the CWU campus community. This award recognizes the RSO that has demonstrated excellence in program planning, community service, and providing safe, educational spaces for student engagement.

A successful nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Be an active Registered Student Organization (RSO) for at least 1 full quarter.
• Frequently engage with various groups in the university, including other clubs, organizations, campus departments, and students, through collaboration and engagement.
• Has a strong campus presence by registering all meetings and events for other students to view and attend.
• Shows a clear dedication to serving the community through the completion of service projects.
• Maintains membership retention and consistently recruits new members.
• Cultivates community and positive change at CWU.

The Equity & Services Council Organization of the Year award goes to the ESC organization who goes above and beyond to support and develop students.

• Consistently remains in good standing and follows all ESC processes in a timely manner.
• Frequently engages with various groups in the university through collaborations, community service, and advocacy for their community.
• Bridges their organization with the greater CWU community by developing thoughtful programs that aligns with the mission of the Org and ESC.
• Cultivates lasting, sustainable change for the advancement of their identity and the greater CWU community through voting, committees, and advocacy initiatives.

The Sport Club of the Year award goes to the CWU Sport Club organization who goes above and beyond to support and develop students. This club should be one that fosters relationships and friendly competition. This award recognizes the Sport Club that has demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship.

A successful nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Provides their members with the skills and support necessary when handling challenging obstacles.
• Exhibits positive attitudes and demonstrates exceptional sportsmanship.
• Sincerely and consistently fulfills their responsibilities at a high level of performance.
• Allows and empowers the club/organization to be fully student led while providing guided support, and advice, while ultimately allowing the student leaders to make their own informed decisions.

The Positive Social Change Award recognizes outstanding students who have made exceptional efforts and contributions in the areas of equity, access, diversity, inclusion, and general social change. These individuals are leaders who focus on making our university and/or local community more inclusive by creating an environment where all individuals are respected and valued.

Eligibility: This award goes to a current student leader or group of students that serves a role model for other students, staff, and faculty at CWU in the role of positive social change. These student(s) create a supportive environment within their team, advocate for others and model inclusivity and belonging.

A successful nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate initiatives or an ongoing commitment towards areas of positive social change, such as equity, access, diversity, and inclusion.
• Actively serves a role in the university and/or local community as a leader and a volunteer.
• Works to promote an inclusive campus and/or community.
• Understand that positive social change is an integral part of CWU mission.
• Goes beyond their student responsibilities or organizations’ description to accomplish these objectives.

The Senior Student Leader Spotlight Award recognizes graduating seniors that have exhibited leadership through co-curricular involvements, leadership positions, student employment, & more throughout their time at CWU. Nominees should be students that are graduating from CWU in 2023, and are students that bring the CWU vision, mission, and values to life.

The Outstanding Service Award recognizes students who have made exceptional efforts and contributions to the CWU and local community through civic engagement. These student(s) have demonstrated commitment to voluntary service in the greater community during the past academic year. A successful nominee addresses community needs by actively participating in on & off-campus volunteer experiences throughout their time as a CWU student.

Nominees should have demonstrated any of the following:

• Regular and frequent participation in service experiences via a SLICE, campus department, student organization, or a community organization
• Engage in authentic community partnerships to benefit a specific need
• Develop meaningful relationships with one or more community partners

The Rising Star Award recognizes employees who have contributed to the success of the Division of Student Engagement & Success (SES) and their individual departments through their use of personal initiative, analytical and critical thinking skills and problem-solving capability. This individual is successful in moving a team toward goals that are consistent with the vision of a department, group, committee or University organization.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

• Be a current Division of Student Engagement & Success employee
• Be a full-time employee
• Have a minimum of one year of professional service in SES at CWU

CRITERIA

1. Taking initiative to improve areas in their department, division and/or University.
2. Dedication and commitment within their role and department at the university.
3. A team contributor within the department and division.
4. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students and/or student groups by promoting an environment that encourages student success
5. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

The Commitment to Equity, Belonging, & Justice Award is awarded to an individual, department, or team who has demonstrated their commitment to the promotion and celebration of equity and inclusion within their department, the Division of Student Engagement & Success, and/or the greater University community. The recipient creates an environment that celebrates equity, advocates for the inclusion of minoritized groups and identities, and infuses social justice into their work for students, faculty and staff.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

• Nominations should be based on the current academic year, and may include summer programming (for the summer preceding the start of fall semester of the current academic year)
• Nomination may be for an individual staff member, a department or a team/group of SES staff connected through program/initiative

CRITERIA

The Division of Student Engagement & Success recognizes the individual or team/department that demonstrates the following:

1. Seeks to educate students, faculty, and staff about topics related to diversity and inclusion through informal and formal opportunities
2. Engages in conversation about diversity, difference, equity, inclusion, and social justice with students, faculty, and staff through formal and informal opportunities
3. Strives to collaborate with others in the division and University community to promote an inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff
4. Seeks to further develop their understanding of diversity, difference, inclusion, and social justice through formal and informal educational opportunities
5. Advocates for underrepresented groups to create an inclusive environment where all students, faculty, and staff can be successful and welcome

The Behind The Scenes award recognizes full-time staff who work “behind the scenes” for the good of Student Engagement & Success as well as CWU, while not being publicly celebrated, demonstrates meaningful impact through dedication and service. Any individual in an area that provides services or support for students directly or indirectly is eligible for nomination.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

• Be a current Division of Student Engagement & Success employee.
• Be a full-time employee.

CRITERIA

1. Taking initiative to support students, student organizations, the department, and/or the division with no tangible benefits for doing so.
2. Dedication and commitment within their role and department at the university as shown through being resourceful, approachable, and trustworthy.
3. A team contributor within the department and division.
4. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students by promoting an environment that encourages student success.
5. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

The Outstanding Program/Initative award recognizes a Student Affairs employee or team/department that has shown quality programming/initiatives through innovative and creative ideas/solutions that support divisional and/or institutional goals and promotes student success.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

• Be a current Division of Student Engagement & Success employee, department, or area

The Division of Student Engagement & Success recognizes the individual or team/department that demonstrates the following:

1. Supports current issues and interests of students and/or staff;
2. Provides a quality program/initiative with innovative ideas and goals;
3. Demonstrates a cutting-edge style, a new initiative, and/or a new spin on an old program/initiative;
4. Goes above and beyond expectations in the planning and delivery of a program/initiative.

The CWU Career Champion Award recognizes full-time staff who who has contributed to your career development or exploration. This can be a CWU community member (outside of the Career Services staff) who helped you explore majors or define purposeful career paths, who took the time to help you articulate your strengths, or who introduced you to opportunities to build professional networks.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

• Be a current Division of Student Engagement & Success employee.
• Be a full-time employee.

CRITERIA

1. Helping students plan for their future by encouraging self-discovery, clarifying values and/or gaining meaningful experience.
2. Helping students articulate their skills, transferable skills, and professional identity.
3. Connecting students with people, opportunities, and/or resources within their field/industry.
4. Compassionately providing support for students’ needs using a diversity, equity, and social justice lens.

The RSO Advisor of the Year goes to a Registered Student Organization (RSO) advisor who goes above and beyond to support and develop students. This individual strives to make connections with studnets and provides unique leadership within their respective RSO.

Eligibility: This award goes to a current faculty/staff advisor of a Registered Student Organization (RSO) at Central Washington University.

• A successful nominee must meet the following criteria:
  • Commitment to the organization’s growth by challenging membership when needed and providing members support when navigating challenges.
  • Exhibits a positive attitude and willingness to go beyond what is expected when supporting students.
  • Brings energy and enthusiasm to their organization through their role and position.
  • Sincerely and consistently fulfills their responsibilities at a high level of performance.
  • Allows and empowers the club/organization to be fully student led while providing guided support, and advice, while ultimately allowing the student leaders to make their own informed decisions.