Student Awards & Recognition

Convocation Recognition Ceremony

Graduating seniors and their family and friends are invited to the College's Convocation Ceremony at the end of the fall and spring semesters each year. Each student is individually recognized as they process across the stage.

Graduating Ph.D. and Master's students have a separate ceremony held at the end of the spring semester. 

Visit our Convocation website for details

Honors Recognition Celebration

Each fall we honor students who have had outstanding academic achievement in the previous academic year at our Honors Recognition Ceremony. Invitations to award recipients go out at the beginning of the fall term.

Event Details


Student Awards

We sponsor six different student awards to celebrate the diverse accomplishments of our outstanding undergraduates and graduate students. Awardees are recognized at the Winter or Spring Convocation Ceremonies, and are given a certificate and $250 award.

SBS faculty and instructors must nominate students to be considered. Each department may nominate no more than one student for each award. If you are nominated, you will be asked to submit additional materials such as CV or resume.

nomination details

SBS Outstanding Senior Award

This award is given to our “best all-around” graduating senior with a record of outstanding academic achievement, a history of active citizenship on campus and/or in the local Tucson community, and a demonstrated capacity for leadership.

SBS Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award

This award recognizes a graduating senior in the College of SBS who has demonstrated academic achievement, originality, and creativity in an independent, undergraduate research project.

SBS Excellence in Leadership and Community Engagement Award

This award recognizes a graduating senior who has demonstrated exemplary leadership through their involvement on and off-campus and their impact on the lives of others.

SBS Tenacity Award

This award recognizes a graduating senior in the College of SBS who has persevered in the face of significant adversity to earn his or her university degree.

SBS Student Success Award

This award is given to a graduating senior who is a first-generation college student.

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award

This award acknowledges the teaching contribution of our under-recognized GTAs. The award also serves to inform the larger community about GTAs’ invaluable contributions to the college’s instructional mission. The winner will be recognized at the Graduate Convocation (even if they are not graduating), and will receive a $250 award and a personalized certificate.

GTAs must have completed one full term of teaching and been responsible for teaching a lecture or laboratory class. Each department may nominate no more than one GTA for this award.