Annual awards are presented to faculty and staff in recognition of their excellence in volunteer service outside their normal work capacity. Each recipient receives an engraved plaque and a one-time $1,500 cash award funded by the Missouri State University Foundation.

Nominate a deserving faculty and/or staff for the 2027 awards.

Nomination process

Nominations are due Nov. 6, 2026, for the 2027 recipients.

Nominations may be submitted at any time during the year for both faculty and staff. However, the selection process for this award is determined during the fall semester.

Any student, employee or community member may nominate a full-time staff or faculty member for consideration. Nominations may be made at any time of the year. Early nominations will be held until the fall deadline.

To nominate, please fill out the online nomination form. Nominees will be notified of their nomination and have an opportunity to provide additional information about their volunteer work.

Nominee eligibility

At the time of nomination, faculty and staff nominees must have a minimum of three years of full-time service at the university to be eligible for the award. This award is intended to recognize employees who volunteer their time in significant ways outside of their normal university positions and work responsibilities.

Selection process

A university committee reviews all nominations and selects award recipients by committee consensus. Nominees who are not awarded will automatically be added to the next year’s pool of applications, unless otherwise directed by the nominee.

Award recognition

Recipients are typically recognized during their respective annual recognition/appreciation events. Staff are recognized at the January Staff Awards Luncheon and faculty during the May Faculty Recognition Reception.

Submit a nomination