Excellence in Community Engagement Awards

The Cole Unger Excellence in Social Action Award recognizes a student or student group who have used innovation, creativity, partnerships and passion to make a change in our community.  

Eligibility

Must be a full or part-time undergraduate student enrolled at West Virginia University during the current Academic Year. If a student group, the group must be considered an active and University-recognized student group.

Criteria

The student or student group receiving this award will have made a meaningful contribution to the community through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Supported the increased participation in volunteer service or dedicated time and support for social action
• Curiosity - Used innovative, creative means of to serve the community
• Respect - Promoted civility or inclusion through an action project
• Accountability - Served an identified community need
• Appreciation - Participated in a project that promotes community/campus relationships

The Undergraduate Student Award for Excellence in Community Engagement is presented to recognize an undergraduate student at West Virginia University who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community that embodies the mission and vision of West Virginia University through the values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.

Eligibility

Must be a full or part-time undergraduate student enrolled at West Virginia University during the current Academic Year.

Criteria

The student receiving this award will have made a meaningful contribution to the community through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Engaged in service with others from campus or surrounding communities in order to solve a new or existing problem.
• Curiosity - Sought out new, innovative ways to improve the community and lives of others.
• Respect - Gave respect to others.
• Accountability - Demonstrated the motivation and commitment to long-term engagement. 
• Appreciation - Enriched the lives of others in the campus and surrounding community through positive commitment to change.

The Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Community Engagement is recognizes a graduate student at West Virginia University who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community that embodies the mission and vision of West Virginia University through the values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.

Eligibility

Must be a full or part-time graduate student enrolled at West Virginia University during the current Academic Year.

Criteria

The student receiving this award will have made a meaningful contribution to the community through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Engaged in service with others from campus or surrounding communities in order to solve a new or existing problem.
• Curiosity - Sought out new, innovative ways to improve the community and lives of others.
• Respect - Gave respect to others.
• Accountability - Demonstrated the motivation and commitment to long-term engagement. 
• Appreciation - Enriched the lives of others in the campus and surrounding community through positive commitment to change.

The Student Group Award for Excellence in Community Engagement is presented to recognize a student group at West Virginia University who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community that embodies the mission and vision of West Virginia University through the values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.

Eligibility

Must be an active and recognized student group at West Virginia University.

Criteria

The student group receiving this award will have made a meaningful contribution to the community through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Engaged in service with others from campus or surrounding communities in order to solve a new or existing problem.
• Curiosity - Sought out new, innovative ways to improve the community and lives of others.
• Respect - Gave respect to others.
• Accountability - Demonstrated the motivation and commitment to long-term engagement. 
• Appreciation - Enriched the lives of others in the campus and surrounding community through positive commitment to change.

The Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Engagement is presented to recognize a faculty member at West Virginia University who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community that embodies the mission and vision of West Virginia University through the values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.

Eligibility

All full- and part-time faculty members.

Criteria

The faculty member receiving this award demonstrates a commitment to community engagement, values reciprocal relationships with the community and inspires those around them to make a positive community impact. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service -  Demonstrates integration of community engagement in one’s teaching, research, and/or service
• Curiosity - Explores and contributes to positive change on issues of public concern
• Respect - Demonstrates commitment to reciprocal community partnerships
• Accountability - Creates institutional impact through development of culture, programs or policies that promote meaningful engagement at WVU
• Appreciation - Commitment to community stakeholders, such as recognition of partners as co-educators, evaluation results that show benefits for communities as well as students, etc.

The Staff Award for Excellence in Community Engagement is presented by the CCE to recognize staff members at West Virginia University who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to community that embodies the mission and vision of West Virginia University through the values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.

Eligibility

Must be a full-time or part-time administrative or professional staff member.

Criteria

The staff member receiving this award will have made a meaningful contribution to the community through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Identified an existing problem and inspired others to act.
• Curiosity - Sought out new, innovative ways to improve the community and lives of others.
• Respect - Strove to find transparent solutions to problems arising in the broader community.
• Accountability - Consistently committed to inspiring and improving the lives of other individuals and groups.
• Appreciation - Worked to raise expectations and recognition for others in the community.

Eligibility

Anyone who instructs a course using service-learning pedagogy.

Criteria

The instructor receiving this award demonstrates a commitment to high impact teaching through service-learning, values relationships with the community and inspires students to make a positive community impact. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Incorporates service-learning pedagogy into instructional methods of at least one credit bearing course
• Curiosity - Inspires students in academic service-learning by trying new models, reflecting with students and making improvements
• Respect - Takes community partner needs into account when developing service-learning projects
• Accountability - Expands the culture of service-learning at WVU and within a department by designating service courses and sharing impact
• Appreciation  -  Clearly values relationship with community partners

The Engaged Scholar Award for Research recognizes an engaged West Virginia University scholar that has made a significant impact on and with communities through community-engaged research and action. The scholar should embody the University Values of Service, Curiosity, Respect, Accountability, and Appreciation.   

Eligibility

Must be an active WVU faculty (including tenured and tenure-track faculty, lecturers, medical faculty, adjuncts, visiting faculty, doctoral, and postdoctoral fellows).

Criteria

The recipient of this award has made a significant contribution to WVU’s culture of engagement, strengthening our ability to support the communities we serve. This can be demonstrated through the following:  

• Service - Engaged in service with others from campus or surrounding communities in order to solve a new or existing problem.
• Curiosity - Sought out new, innovative ways to improve the community and lives of others.
• Respect - Gave respect to others.
• Accountability - Demonstrated the motivation and commitment to long-term engagement. 
• Appreciation - Enriched the lives of others in the campus and surrounding community through positive commitment to change.

The Outstanding Community Partner Award recognizes a community partner that has established a strong reciprocal and sustainable relationship promoting civic engagement. This partner serves as a co-educator of students providing community-based learning opportunities that embody the University Values of Service, Curiosity, Respect, Accountability, and Appreciation.   

Eligibility

Must be an active official CommUNITY Partner organization of the Center for Community Engagement. View a list of community partners here.

Criteria

The recipient of this award has made a significant contribution to WVU’s culture of engagement, strengthening our ability to support the communities we serve. This can be demonstrated through the following:  

• Service - Creates well planned, intentional service opportunities that positively impact communities
• Curiosity - Seeks out innovative ways to engage students, identifying and developing their talents and assets.
• Respect - Collaborates positively with students, faculty, and community providing thoughtful and informative insight.
• Accountability - Demonstrates understanding of their role and responsibility as a community educator of students.
• Appreciation - Clearly values students and is reciprocal in the relationship with the University

The Outstanding Campus-Based Partner Award recognizes a campus partner organization or unit that has established a strong reciprocal and sustainable relationship promoting campus or community service and engagement. This campus partner serves as a co-educator of students, providing engaged learning opportunities that embody the University Values of Service, Curiosity, Respect, Accountability, and Appreciation.   

Eligibility

Must be an active official campus partner of the Center for Community Engagement.

Criteria

The recipient of this award has made a significant contribution to WVU’s culture of engagement, strengthening our ability to support the communities we serve. This can be demonstrated through the following:  

• Service - Creates well planned, intentional service opportunities that positively impact communities
• Curiosity - Seeks out innovative ways to engage students, identifying and developing their talents and assets.
• Respect - Collaborates positively with students, faculty, and community providing thoughtful and informative insight.
• Accountability - Demonstrates understanding of their role and responsibility as a community educator of students.
• Appreciation - Clearly values students and is reciprocal in their relationship with the University.

The National Service Award for the Excellence in Community Engagement is presented to recognize National Service members at West Virginia University who have gone above and beyond demonstrating the ability to build capacity within higher education through civic engagement and community partnerships.

Eligibility

Must be an AmeriCorps member who has served with the VISTA program at West Virginia University within the last two years.

Criteria

The AmeriCorps member receiving this award will have a sustained impact on the state of West Virginia through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Developed engagement opportunities to strengthen the campus and community needs
• Curiosity - Displayed the ability to take initiative, be resourceful, and resilient in the face of addressing community needs
• Respect - Took action to address community needs surrounding education, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship, veterans, and healthy futures
• Accountability - Demonstrates an understanding of their role and responsibility as an AmeriCorps member
• Appreciation - Enriched the lives of others on the campus and surrounding community through positive commitment to change

The Athletics Award for Excellence in Community Engagement is presented to recognize a student-athlete or athletic team or group at West Virginia University who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community that embodies the mission and vision of West Virginia University through the values of service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation.

Eligibility

This award may be received by an individual or a team. If a team, the group must be considered an active and University-recognized athletics program (includes intramurals).

Criteria

The student or group receiving this award will have made a meaningful contribution to the community through community engagement, civic action, advocacy, and/or continuous service. This can be demonstrated through the following:

• Service - Engaged in service with others from campus or surrounding communities in order to solve a new or existing problem.
• Curiosity - Sought out new, innovative ways to improve the community and lives of others.
• Respect - Gave respect to others.
• Accountability - Demonstrated the motivation and commitment to long-term engagement. 
• Appreciation - Enriched the lives of others in the campus and surrounding community through positive commitment to change.