At CU Boulder, we believe higher education is invaluable for students, allowing them to expand their worldviews, influence their networks and add to their quality of life. That’s why we’re proud to recognize some of the outstanding students around Colorado pursuing their higher education dreams and the educators who support these students along the way. Learn more about the awards and how to nominate a member of your community.
CU Boulder Outstanding High School Educator Award
The University of Colorado Boulder would like to recognize an outstanding member of your staff, who goes above and beyond to support students as they pursue their higher education dreams.
HS Educator Nomination Details & Instructions
Staff selected for the CU Boulder Outstanding Colorado High School Educator Award will receive an award certificate and an invitation to our Outstanding Colorado Student and Educator Award Night in April, where they will be honored for their dedication to supporting students' higher education dreams.
Please work with your colleagues to nominate one staff member from your school who has demonstrated commitment to helping students achieve their higher education goals. The individual may be a principal, counselor, teacher or member of the support staff.
We hope you will collaborate with your colleagues, who may also have been invited to submit nominations, to nominate one member of your staff.
Nominate an Outstanding High School Educator now!
CU Boulder Outstanding High School Student Award
The CU Boulder Outstanding Colorado High School Student Award is a partnership between Colorado high schools and the university. The University of Colorado Boulder would like to recognize one of your school’s outstanding juniors.
HS Student Nomination Details & Instructions
Students selected for the Outstanding Colorado High School Student Award will receive a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000 per year), which will be automatically added to their financial aid package if they are admitted to and enroll at CU Boulder. Outstanding Colorado High School Student Award recipients and their families will also be invited to a special evening awards ceremony on the CU Boulder campus in April. Finally, as a special offer of congratulations, we will waive the admission application fee for these students.
- Students selected for this award should exemplify academic excellence, leadership and school and community service.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.6 (weighted or unweighted) is required for award selection.
- One student from each Colorado high school may be selected. Multiple nominations will not be accepted.
- Student must be a junior in the 2023-2024 academic year.
- We encourage you to select a student who is interested in CU Boulder. However, we understand that you may not yet know about juniors’ plans for higher education. The award will be automatically added to the student's financial aid package if they are admitted to and enroll at CU Boulder.
- Student must be a Colorado resident.
- Please note that this award is not solely reserved for the top-ranked student at your high school. Please feel free to consider students that are outstanding in other categories as well. Assuming a nominee has at least a 3.6 GPA, we encourage you to consider those students that go above and beyond to support their high school and community through leadership, volunteerism, etc.
We hope you will collaborate with your colleagues, who may also have been invited to submit nominations, to nominate your school’s Outstanding Colorado Student.
Outstanding Colorado High School Student Award recipients will also be considered for the CU Boulder Esteemed Scholars Program, which recognizes top Colorado resident students for their outstanding academic achievement. Students applying as freshmen for the fall semester are automatically considered for this scholarship program upon submission of an admission application by the January 15 admission application deadline. The CU Boulder Esteemed Scholars Program is merit based and awarded to a select group of entering Colorado resident freshman students.
President Joseph A. Sewall Award
Named for CU Boulder’s first president, who served from 1877 to 1887, the President Joseph A. Sewall award is a four year, renewable scholarship which awards $28,000 over four years, which is $7,000 per year.
President Horace M. Hale Award
Named for CU Boulder’s second president, who served from 1887 to 1892, the President Horace M. Hale award is a four year, renewable scholarship which awards $16,000 over four years, which is $4,000 per year.
Learn More About Scholarships
Nominate an Outstanding High School Student now!
CU Boulder Outstanding Community College Educator Award
Each year, the University of Colorado Boulder community is delighted to see so many talented and excited Colorado community college students join us to advance their academic careers. We have created the Outstanding Colorado Community College Educator Awards to recognize the hard-working community college professionals who support these exceptional incoming transfer students in achieving their educational goals.
CC Educator Nomination Details & Instructions
Each Colorado community college campus or two-year institution may submit nominations for the Outstanding Colorado Community College Educator. Staff selected for the CU Boulder Outstanding Colorado Community College Educator Awards will receive an award certificate and an invitation to our Outstanding Colorado Student and Educator Award Night in April, where they will be honored for their dedication to supporting students' educational advancement.
We will also invite award recipients to our Annual Advisory Board Meeting and Reception in 2025. We are excited to be able to offer accommodations and a dinner reception for those Outstanding Colorado Community College Educator Award recipients able to attend.
Nominations will be reviewed and one educator per community college will be selected to receive an award. Nominees should be educators who consistently exceed expectations in their efforts to support students as they strive to achieve their higher education goals. The nominated employee may be a director, counselor, advisor, faculty, or support staff.
Nominate an Outstanding Community College Educator now!
