Involvement Awards
Each year the Center for Student Involvement and the Colorado Creed join together to recognize leadership and engagement across campus. The CU Involvement Awards is a free and open event that celebrates students, student organizations, faculty and staff who exemplify leadership and passion across the Boulder community.
2025 Involvement Award Winners
| Award Name | Winner |
| Cultural Event of the Year | "Diwali" by Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers |
| New Student Organization of the Year | Art in Public Spaces |
| Student Organization of the Year | CU Emergency Medical Services (CUEMS) |
| Student Organization Event of the Year | "Race for the Cure" by Humans versus Zombies |
| Student Program of the Year | Distinguished Speakers Board |
| Colorado Creed | Information Science Graduate Student Association |
| Graduate Student Leader of the Year | Anna Rahn |
| Lasting Legacy | Helen Do |
| Leigh Wyman Family | Enya Bayaraa |
| Ripple | Manas Kastragadda |
| Rising Star | Nicole Cho |
| Student Organization Advisor of the Year | Jerry Nguyen |
| Stumpie | Craig Kuehnert |
| Supportive Staff Member of the Year | Madeline Azari |
| Social Action | Distinguished Speakers Board |
| Community Service | National Residence Hall Honorary |
| Innovation | CU GOLD |
Award Descriptions
Read full award descriptions and scoring rubrics . Award names, who is eligible and descriptions can also be found below.
| Award Name | Award Description |
| Social Action Award | This award recognizes a student group that possesses awareness of current issues and has demonstrated activism to create a positive impact within their community. With a clear voice, this organization has acknowledged the power students can have in effecting change. |
| Community Service Award | This award recognizes a student group whose community service is exemplary. This student organization is actively involved in adding positive change to the CU campus, Boulder community and beyond, through volunteerism and compassion. |
| Cultural Event of the Year Award | This award celebrates a recognized student organization (RSO) or recognized social Greek organization (RSGO) who increased awareness and empathy for CU students through an event hosted on campus this year. This organization’s event was inclusive to all in the Boulder community, resonating with students and serving as an impetus to continued cultural exchange and exploration. |
| Innovation Award | This award recognizes an innovative student group who successfully created an impact on CU’s campus this academic year. They challenged themselves by thinking creatively or trying something new with their operations, events, services or other areas, which had great results. |
| New Student Organization of the Year Award | This award is given to a Recognized Student Organization that registered for the first time with the Center for Student Involvement during the 2024-2025 academic year. This new organization has contributed to campus spirit by offering fresh perspectives and including members all across the CU community. |
| Student Organization of the Year Award | This award is presented to a recognized student organization (RSO) who is registered with the Center for Student Involvement and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership on campus. This organization has shown active involvement, encouraged positive change and has made a difference on campus. |
| Student Organization Event of the Year Award | This award is presented to one event that was organized by a Recognized Student Organization (RSO) or Recognized Social Greek Organization (RSGO) during the 2024-2025 academic year. This event was hosted on campus, enhanced the campus community, built connections between students and left a significant impact on attendees. |
| Greek Organization (RSGO) of the Year Award | This award is presented in collaboration with Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) to a recognized social Greek organization (RSGO) who is registered with the Center for Student Involvement and who has demonstrated outstanding leadership on campus. This organization has shown active involvement, encouraged positive change and has made a difference on campus. |
| Colorado Creed Award | This award recognizes a recognized student organization (RSO) or recognized social Greek organization (RSGO) who reflects all the values of the Colorado Creed: Act, Honor, Integrity, Accountability, Respect and Contribute. |
| Student Program of the Year Award | This award recognizes a student-led board or organization that is considered a university-sponsored program funded by university funds or departments. They create lasting impact on campus through their activities including but not limited to leadership development, community engagement, mission-driven planning and have a direct influence on the quality of life for students on campus. Please note recognized student organizations (RSOs) and recognized Social greek organizations (RSGOs) are not eligible for this award. |
Nominees for any individual student award are also automatically eligible for the Forever Buffs Student Award. The Forever Buffs Student Award is presented by the CU Boulder Alumni Association to honor CU Boulder students who demonstrate the Forever Buffs tenets of connecting, contributing and celebrating their CU pride through extraordinary service to the university. Forever Buffs student award recipients will be honored in a ceremony to kickoff Homecoming weekend.
| Award Name | Award Description |
| Graduate Student Leader of the Year Award | This award honors a currently enrolled graduate student who serves as an outstanding leader in the CU campus community. This student exemplifies what it means to be a graduate student leader through their efforts to make a positive impact at CU and beyond. Examples of ways in which this student models leadership may include activism, community service, on-campus involvement or showing initiative in creating or spearheading efforts to make the campus a welcoming place for all graduate students. |
| Lasting Legacy Award | This award is in collaboration with the Senior Class Council, and honors a graduating student in the current academic year fall or spring (undergraduate or graduate) who has left their mark at CU. This person is someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, spearheaded a cause on campus and whose impact will be seen for years to come. |
| Leigh Wyman Family Award | This award recognizes a student whose contribution to campus exemplifies the ways to live the Colorado Creed: Act, Honor, Integrity, Accountability, Respect and Contribute, whether it is in the classroom or in extracurricular activities. The winner must hold high moral character and consistently work to enhance the culture at CU. |
| Ripple Award | This award is in collaboration with the Dennis Small Cultural Center and honors a student who seeks to enhance cross-cultural awareness and a greater appreciation for diversity and inclusion. This individual has gone above and beyond in advocating for and facilitating cultural programming. This person has had an impact far beyond the original source. |
| Rising Star Award | This award recognizes a first- or second-year undergraduate student who is an emerging leader on campus and who has shown the potential to greatly impact the campus community in the future. This leader is someone who has worked hard and already made a difference during their time at CU. |
| Award Name | Award Description |
| Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award | This award honors a faculty/staff advisor to a recognized student organization (RSO) or recognized social Greek organization (RSGO) who exemplifies commitment to helping and supporting student organization leaders. The advisor of the year utilizes institutional knowledge coupled with an understanding of student and group development in a demonstrated commitment to working with students beyond the classroom and helping student organization leaders be successful. |
| Stumpie Award | This award recognizes a staff or faculty member whose contribution to campus exemplifies the ways to live the Colorado Creed: Act, Honor, Integrity, Accountability, Respect and Contribute, whether it is in the classroom or in extracurricular activities. The winner must hold high moral character and consistently work to enhance the culture at CU. This award is given in honor of Ronald Stump, a retired vice chancellor of Student Affairs. |
| Supportive Staff Member of the Year Award | This award is presented to a staff member who recognizably helps and supports students across campus. This staff member is committed to helping their students become as successful as possible by going above and beyond their job title. |
Submission Criteria and Guidelines
- Nominations should be a minimum of 200 words and may not exceed 500 words.
- Nominations should be submitted for actions and activity occurring from July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024, although some awards may allow for a wider range of consideration.
- Nominations submitted for actions and activity occurring after the awards ceremony may require additional information.
- Submissions that are word for word duplicate, or strikingly similar, will be reviewed as one submission.
- Scores will not be based on number of submissions but on the quality of nominations.
- After initial reviews, nominations that do not meet qualification standards for an award will be notified with an opportunity to change the award category.
- Only one winner will be selected for each award category. As such, nominations should not contain multiple nominees. If you are looking to nominate more than one individual or group, please do so by submitting separate nominations.
Nominations that do not fall within these criteria will not be considered for an award.
Definitions
- Student group: A student-led program or club on campus, including RSOs, RSGOs or any entity that is not formally recognized by the Center for Student Involvement.
- Recognized Student Organization (RSO): A student organization that is officially registered with the Center for Student Involvement.
- Recognized Social Greek Organization (RSGO): A Greek organization that is officially registered with the Center for Student Involvement and the Fraternity and Sorority Life office.
- University-sponsored program: A student-led board, governing body or entity that functions as an official part of a university department.
- University department: An officially funded and recognized department, office or cost center on the CU Boulder campus.
- Student: A fully enrolled, fee-paying student at CU Boulder.
- Staff: A non-teaching university employee.
- Faculty: An academic/instructor/professor employee.