Council of Alumni & Friends Award Descriptions
Emerging Professional Award
The Emerging Professional Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated superior performance in her/his field of endeavor and has made a significant contribution to the well being of families and consumers and is less than 15 years from graduation.
Professional Achievement Award
The Professional Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated superior performance in her/his field of endeavor and has made a significant contribution to the well being of families and consumers and is 15 years or more from graduation. Preference will be given to an individual who has received a degree from the University of Arizona in Family and Consumer Sciences.
Judy Mellor Alumni Volunteer Service Award
The Judy Hansen Mellor Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the well being of families and consumers through outstanding leadership and volunteer service to the community and/or to the School and the University.
Faculty Award
The Faculty Award is presented to a faculty member of the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences for outstanding service and support for the Council of Alumni and Friends.
University Staff Award
The University Staff Award is presented to a University Staff member of the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences for outstanding service and support for the Council of Alumni and Friends.
FCS Special Recognition
The Special Recognition Award is presented to an individual or group in recognition of special service provided to the John & Doris Norton School and/or students.
All awards will be presented as follows:
* Form of Award: Certificate
* Time of Award: Homecoming or Council/Faculty Luncheon
* Number of Awards: Maximum of two per year per category
It is expected that the Award Recipients will return to campus to share their expertise with student, faculty, and administrators at the time of the awards usually at Homecoming.
The FCS Council of Alumni and Friends will also consider nominations for additional CALES and UA Alumni Foundation Awards nominations on your behalf. Please see the Award Descriptions below for more information.
College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences (CALES) Awards
Early Achiever
The Early Achiever is for individuals forty year old and younger, who have demonstrated superior performance in activities reflected in the mission of the College. The Award is intended to emphasize the wide diversity of the College by recognizing outstanding accomplishments and activities directly affecting agriculture sciences, renewable resources, the marketplace, families and consumers
CALES Outstanding Achiever
The Outstanding Achiever Award is for individuals forty-one years old, to fifty-nine years old, who have demonstrated superior performance in activities reflected in the mission of the College. The Award is intended to emphasize the wide diversity of the College by recognizing outstanding accomplishments and activities directly affecting agriculture sciences, renewable resources, the marketplace, families and consumers.
CALES Alumni Achievement
The CALES Alumni Achievement Award is made to an individual who has attained success in his/her field of endeavor. Preference will be given to an individual who has received a degree from CALES, but that need not be a requirement. Service to the University need not be a requirement as well.
Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement - Individual/Organization
The Eugene G. Sander Lifetime Achievement Award is for individuals at least sixty years old, or an organization who has demonstrated superior performance in activities reflected in the mission of the College. The Award is intended to recognize outstanding accomplishments and activities of individuals and organizations directly affecting Arizona agriculture, renewable resources, the marketplace, families and consumers in a superior and sustained manner..
Extensionist of the Year
This award recognizes a resident of the State of Arizona who has contributed time and talent, through Cooperative Extension, to citizens of his/her community and the state. Letters of nomination from faculty and staff in Extension should state the nature and extent of the service that the individual has performed and how it has benefited the community, the state and its citizens.
Friend of CALES
The Friend of CALES Award will be given to alumni/non-alumni who, on a particular occasion or occasions has performed noteworthy or meritorious service or services on behalf of agriculture, family and consumer sciences, natural resources or the College or the University of Arizona.
Heritage Family Award
The Heritage Family Award was established in 2007 to honor a multi-generational family who has a history of dedicated service on behalf of agriculture, family, and consumer sciences, natural resources,
Carol Knowles Award for Excellence in Development and Alumni Relations
The award is presented to the outstanding staff member from CALES for their contributions to development and alumni affairs. This award will be given periodically.
University of Arizona Alumni & Association (UAAA) Awards
Advocacy Award
The UA Advocacy Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary efforts in promoting education and the needs of the University of Arizona. Preference is given to an alumnus or alumna of the University of Arizona but is not a requirement.
Alumni Achievement Award
The Alumni Achievement Award is given to an alumnus or alumna who has attained prominence in his or her field of endeavor and demonstrated outstanding service to the University of Arizona. This award is the highest honor the UA Alumni Association can bestow upon alumni, and is presented during Commencement ceremonies.
Alumni Association Recognition Award
The Alumni Recognition Award honors individuals for a particular accomplishment.
Bear Down Award
The Bear Down Award is given to an individual who has performed noteworthy or meritorious service on behalf of the University of Arizona.
Distinguished Citizen Award
The Distinguished Citizen Award is given to a person in recognition of extraordinary service to the public or in nonprofit organizations or outstanding volunteer service. Special consideration is given to an individual who has attended the University of Arizona, but it is not a requirement.
Extraordinary Faculty Award
The Extraordinary Faculty Award is presented by the Alumni Association to a faculty member who brings honor or distinction to the University of Arizona.
Global Achievement Award
The Global Achievement Award recognizes alumni who have brought honor and credit to the University of Arizona and their profession in the global arena through professional achievement or humanitarian service.
Honorary Alumnus/Alumna Award
The Honorary Alumnus/Alumna Award is given to nonalumni of the University of Arizona who have demonstrated continued interest in and exceptional loyalty and service to the university for 10 years or longer. Particular consideration is given to individuals who have responded to requests for service from the university.
Leo B. Hart Humanitarian Award
The Leo B. Hart Humanitarian Award is given for outstanding contributions to social justice and welfare.The award is named after the late Leo Brown Hart, a UA alumnus who recognized the plight of children who had migrated west during the Great Depression. Immortalized in Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, these children were ostracized as “dumb Okies” and turned away from California schools … until Hart stepped forward. He and 50 migrant children built their own school — referred to as the School at Weedpatch Camp — in a nearby field. Hart then recruited teachers who shared his concern for outcast children. Together, they turned the school from a place for outcasts into an overwhelming success. Many children went on to become judges, professors, and business persons.
Marvin D. “Swede” Johnson Service to Students Award
The Marvin D. “Swede” Johnson Award for Volunteer Service to Students is given to an individual whose personal involvement with University of Arizona students has enhanced the quality of student life at the UA. Preference is given to an alumnus or alumna of the University of Arizona but is not a requirement.The award is named in honor of Marvin D. “Swede” Johnson, a long-time loyal alumnus who arrived at the University of Arizona in 1946 from Willcox, Arizona. “Swede” became very involved on campus as president of the State Future Farmers of America, AZ Assoc., Sigma Chi Fraternity and Bobcats, Senior Honorary. He also was on the Livestock Judging Team, a member of Alpha Zeta, national agricultural honorary, Chain Gang, junior honorary and the ASUA Board of Control, overseeing the finances for the University Student Body and their organizations. Graduating with a major in Animal Science in 1950, “Swede” never left the University until 1977, serving as a graduate assistant in the Athletic Department, director of the Student Union, president of the Alumni Association and UA Vice President of University Relations. “Swede” personified the spirit of volunteerism and youth through his service to the University as a student, employee and an alumnus. The Alumni Building is named in his honor.
Outstanding Young Alumni Volunteer Award
The Outstanding Young Alumni Volunteer Award is given to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated continued interest in and loyalty to the University of Arizona for a minimum of two years. The award will be given to an individual who has been out of school less than 10 years. Particular consideration is given to alumni who have taken the initiative to serve effectively on behalf of the university and who have responded to requests for service from the university.
Professional Achievement Award
The Professional Achievement Award is given to a person who has attained prominence in his or her field. Service to the university is not a requirement.
Public Service Award
The Public Service Award recognizes individuals who are present or past holders of public office. Recipients have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the public. Preference is given to an alumnus or alumna of the University of Arizona but is not a requirement. Service to the university is not a requirement.
Sidney S. Woods Alumni Service Award
The Sidney S. Woods Alumni Service Award is given to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated unwavering interest in and loyalty to the University of Arizona for a minimum of five years. The award is given to an individual who has been out of school for more than 15 years. Particular consideration is given to alumni who have taken the initiative to serve effectively on behalf of the university and who have responded to requests for service from the university.
The award honors the late Sidney S. Woods, a long-time loyal alumnus of the University of Arizona, who graduated in 1939. After a military career as a much decorated ace pilot in World War II, he became prominent in the field of agriculture and also was a member of the Arizona Board of Regents.
Slonaker Award Alumni
The Slonaker Award is given to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated continued interest in and loyalty to the University of Arizona for a minimum of five years. The award is given to an individual who has been out of school less than 15 years. Particular consideration is given to alumni who have taken the initiative to serve effectively on behalf of the university and who also have responded to requests for service from the university. Special consideration will be given to an individual who has received a degree from the university. The award recognizes the late Alter Louis Slonaker, a versatile University of Arizona athlete who lettered four times each in football, basketball, and baseball. He was the graduate manager of athletics from 1922 through 1947 and the dean of men from 1947 through 1963.
Veterans Award for Distinguished Service
The University of Arizona Veterans Award for Distinguished Service is given to a University of Arizona alumnus or alumna veteran who has made a positive impact on their local, national, international or veteran community, the University of Arizona or through their active military service as defined below.
To be eligible, the nominee must be a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who received an Honorable Discharge. In general, active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Science Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. When submitting the nomination for this award please reference the active full-time military service that qualifies the nominee for this Veterans Award for Distinguished Service.
Young Professional Achievement Award
The Young Professional Achievement Award recognizes alumni age 40 and under who have attained prominence in their field.