We are excited to announce the date for the Student Orgs Excellence Awards! This celebration will take place on Monday, April 13th at 5:30 in Popp Martin Student Union, room 340.

Join us for an evening of celebrating the student organizations community and all you have accomplished this year! Come enjoy sweet treats and heavy hors d'oeuvres alongside the student orgs community as we announce the 2025-2026 Student Orgs Excellence Award Winners! 

The Student Involvement Office will be sending out invitations in mid-March to the top 5 finalists of each award category. Save the date and be on the lookout!

Award Descriptions (all awards open January 15 - March 6): 

Advisor of the Year: This award recognizes a Staff or Faculty member who advises a Student Organization. Please consider Staff or Faculty members who have not only performed their duties as assigned, but provided comprehensive support for the organization they advise. Examples include referrals to campus resources, extensive knowledge of University policy and procedures, as well as other acts of kindness or aptitude for advising. The winning advisor(s) will get a $100.00 bookstore shopping spree.

Student Organization Leader of the Year: Recognizes a student leader who provided exemplary service, commitment, and strong leadership to a student organization and UNC Charlotte; made a meaningful contribution to members of the organization; motivated the group; made themselves available to student organization members and brought out strengths and talents of individuals in the group; exemplified integrity; and demonstrated initiative by seeking ways to challenge the present and enrich the future. The winning student(s) will get a $100.00 bookstore shopping spree.

Unsung Hero Award: This award recognizes a student who made significant contributions to their organization behind the scenes. This award honors individuals who consistently show up, support their peers, demonstrate reliability, and elevate the organization without seeking recognition. Ideal nominees embody humility, dedication, and a commitment to the group’s success. The winning student(s) will receive a $100.00 bookstore shopping spree.

Student Organization of the Year (Above 25 members): This award recognizes the student organization that demonstrated consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perseverance; made a meaningful contribution to students, the University, and/or the surrounding community; remained visible, and provided consistent programming or content that has had a significant impact on UNC Charlotte. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Student Organization of the Year (Below 25 members): This award recognizes the student organization that demonstrated consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perseverance; made a meaningful contribution to students, the University, and/or the surrounding community; remained visible, and provided consistent programming or content that has had a significant impact on UNC Charlotte. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

New Student Org of the Year: This award recognizes our new Student Organizations, specifically those organizations that were created after April 1st, 2025. Additionally, this award recognizes an organization that fills a new niche, caters to a previously unsupported or unrecognized demographic, or one that had successes in programming, recruitment and retention of their members during their first year. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Outstanding Social Media Presence: This award recognizes the student organization who created a robust online presence. This recognizes organizations that effectively use social media platforms to help folks learn about their organization and the wonderful things that their group has to offer. We are looking for groups that have used innovative strategies to engage with their users specifically with social media platforms. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.
 
Outstanding Niner Engage Presence: This award recognizes the student organization who created a robust online presence. This recognizes organizations that effectively use Niner Engage and other social media platforms to help folks learn about their organization and the wonderful things that their group has to offer. We are looking for groups that have used innovative strategies to Engage with their users specifically with Niner Engage and other platforms. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.
 

Community Impact: This award recognizes the Student Organization that dedicated significant time and effort to support the Charlotte community or surrounding folks from marginalized communities. Service hours, volunteer opportunities and other acts of philanthropy should be considered when nominating for this award. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Collaborative Program of the Year: This award recognizes a program created through meaningful collaboration between two or more student organizations. This award honors groups that combined their strengths, resources, and perspectives to deliver a well-planned and impactful program open to the UNC Charlotte community. Programs should demonstrate intentional partnership, shared leadership, and an outcome that was strengthened by the collaboration. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Programs of the Year: This award recognizes a student organization program that enhanced the University community. It is for events/programs that took place from April 1, 2025 to March 2026 are eligible to be nominated. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

• Philanthropic: This award recognizes a student organization program focused on service, giving, or charitable impact. This award honors events that addressed a community need, raised awareness, or mobilized students toward meaningful action. Successful nominations will highlight intentional planning, partnerships, and outcomes that contributed positively to the Charlotte community or a specific cause. 
• Social: This award recognizes a student organization program that fostered belonging, connection, and campus engagement through a social, community-building event. This award honors programs that thoughtfully created space for students to connect, have fun, and build relationships while demonstrating strong planning, creativity, and broad accessibility. 
• Educational: This award recognizes a student organization program that enhanced learning, awareness, or skill-building for the UNC Charlotte community. This award honors programs that presented information in engaging ways, fostered meaningful dialogue, and expanded participants’ understanding of a topic. Strong nominations demonstrate effective planning, intentional educational outcomes, and accessibility to all students. 

Graduate Organization of the Year: This award recognizes a graduate student organization that demonstrated excellence in leadership, programming, membership engagement, and service to the UNC Charlotte graduate community. The student organization must be classified as a Graduate Student Org on Niner Engage. This award honors groups that provided meaningful opportunities for involvement, fostered academic or professional development, and strengthened the overall graduate student experience. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Commitment to Wellbeing Award: This award recognizes a student organization that prioritized the wellbeing of its members and the broader UNC Charlotte community. This award honors organizations that intentionally incorporated wellness practices, promoted healthy habits, or created supportive environments within their programming or operations. Nominations should highlight initiatives that contributed to mental, emotional, social, or physical wellbeing. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Innovation Award: This award recognizes a student organization that demonstrated creativity, originality, and forward-thinking in its programs, operations, or outreach. This award honors groups that introduced new ideas, implemented unique strategies, or reimagined the student experience in impactful ways. Strong nominations highlight risks taken, lessons learned, and the positive outcomes of the organization’s innovative approach. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

Golden Org Award: This award recognizes a student organization that participated in the Student Org Leadership Development (SOLD) Incentive Program. This organization has acquired points for their org by demonstrating exceptional consistency, excellence, and engagement with the SOLD Program throughout the entire academic year. Ideal nominees embody reliability, strong internal operations, and sustained impact. Winners receive funding credit through our office to support their organization’s events, projects, or operations.

This award is only applicable to student organizations who have reached the “Gold Tier” within the SOLD Program and is not open for nominations currently. 

If you have any questions, concerns, or accommodation needs, please contact Ayana Cholula [acholula@charlotte.edu]