CAS Student of the Year

CAS  will recognize and present awards to our most outstanding undergraduate and graduate students for the College of Arts and Sciences Student of the Year (CAS SoTY) to students who demonstrate outstanding collegiality and commitment to the mission and guiding principles of FGCU's College of Arts & Sciences. These awards include:

• Undergraduate Student of the Year: Awarded to an undergraduate student who is in academic good standing, has completed a minimum of 12 credits in the College of Arts & Sciences and is registered for, and successfully completing, at least nine (9) credits in both the fall and spring semesters during the academic year in which the award is given. For example, for the award given in the spring, they must have taken at least nine (9) credits during the fall, and at least nine (9) credits during the current spring term.
• Graduate Student of the Year: Awarded to a graduate student who is in academic good standing, has completed a minimum of 9 credits in the College of Arts & Sciences and is registered for, and successfully completing, at least one (1) credit in both the fall and spring semesters during the academic year in which the award is given. For example, for the award given in the spring, they must have taken at least one (1) credit during the fall, and at least one (1) credit during the current spring term.

Criteria: The student receiving each award will demonstrate excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service to the FGCU College of Arts & Sciences and to the community.

Selection Committee: The College of Arts & Sciences Student Affairs Committee will review all CAS SoTY submissions and select one undergraduate and one graduate CAS SoTY.

Nominations: should be submitted to the office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, care of Dr. Menaka Navaratna. Nominations must come from individuals with direct knowledge of the nominee's qualifications and achievements. This may include students, peers, administrators, staff, or community members. Students may not solicit nominations, nor may they nominate themselves. Nominators can only nominate one person for each award and may do so in writing (on paper or via email).

The one-page nomination letter must include:

• How the nominator knows the nominee (relationship between the nominator and nominee)
• How long the nominator has known the nominee
• How the nominee meets the award criteria
• Complete contact information for the nominee, including telephone numbers and the nominee’s eagle email address, to facilitate SoTY committee contact with the nominee.

All who accept the nomination must submit an electronic copy of their portfolio to the office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, care of Dr. Menaka Navaratna , accepting the nomination and authorizing the committee members to access their academic file.

Candidates for the College of Arts & Sciences Student of the Year Awards prepare a brief portfolio containing materials that demonstrate their achievements. All portfolios must contain: For the Graduate Student of the Year Award, this does NOT include any time the student may have spent here as an undergraduate student.

All portfolios must contain:

1. Completed Cover Page
2. A statement (no more than 2 pages in length) from the student that supports his/her nomination. This statement demonstrates the achievements of the student. The statement must be divided into following sections.
   1. 1. Leadership
      2. Scholarship
      3. Service
         1. 1. University Community
            2. Local Community
            3. Global Community
3. A minimum of one letter of reference from a faculty member in the student's major who supports and can describe to the SoTY committee how this student's efforts, projects, presentations, or other output in their major exemplifies the qualities of a student in this program.
4. A reference contact (including name, title, email address, and phone numbers) from a person who has direct evidence of the student's commitment to service.
5. Evidence (letters, articles, web pages, videos, collages, etc.) as to the achievements of the student in the categories of leadership, scholarship and service.

Students must show evidence of achievement in the categories of leadership, scholarship and service may include (but is not limited to):

Leadership

• Evidence that the candidate upholds the standards of the university
• Evidence of initiative
• Evidence of significant participation in organizations
• Evidence of time management skills
• Evidence of honor and integrity
• Evidence of respect for peers
• Evidence of leadership within the student's program or college

Scholarship

• Academic honors
• Letters from faculty
• Evidence of the spirit of intellectual curiosity in the learning environment
• Enthusiasm for learning
• Conference participation
• Conference attendance
• Class projects
• Submissions to journals, including Aquila or others within the broader university community.
• Submissions/presentations/performances/etc. in more discipline-specific contexts

Service

• University Community
  • Student Government
  • Eagle News
  • Greek Letter Organizations
  • Participation in student organizations
  • Participation with University Services
  • Peer tutoring
  • College organizations
  • Department organizations
• Local Community
  • Fund raising opportunities
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Red Cross
  • March of Dimes
  • Walkathons
  • Homeless shelters
  • Activities at area schools (K-12)
  • Local service learning opportunities
• Global Community
  • Participation in environmental issues
  • Participation in the global learning community (i.e. web pages)
  • Study Abroad Experiences
  • International Service Learning Opportunities