Outstanding Student Award
Nomination Process
Brief History
The Outstanding Student Awards have been a tradition at Humboldt since 1950. It started as the "Outstanding Man and Woman of the Year" and as Humboldt grew and evolved, so too did the awards. Today we know it as the "Outstanding Student Awards" and it now incorporates multiple awards from Academic Excellence to Co-Curricular Achievements. These awards are one of the ways in which Humboldt recognizes the incredible contributions that our students make every year.
Timeline and Process
- December 12, 2025: Nomination Form opens
- February 13, 2026, at 5 pm: Deadline For Nominations (Outstanding Student Awards and Patricia O. McConkey Outstanding Graduate Student)
- February 16, 2026: Award committees (composed of Faculty and Staff) start reviewing submissions
- February 23, 2026: Committees submit award recipients for each category
- April 14, 2026 at 3 pm: Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony
Eligibility
- Nominees must be an undergraduate student (graduate students are eligible for the CSU Research and Patricia O. McConkey awards listed below)
- Enrolled in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
- Must have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 for Academic awards and 2.5 for Co-Curricular awards
- Must be in good standing with Humboldt
- Must be nominated or co-nominated by at least one Humboldt Staff, Faculty, or Administrator
- Nominees are reviewed for academic and conduct standing prior to award determinations, and those determined not to be in good standing may not qualify. However, the nomination of a student for this award would not in any way trigger a conduct investigation or cause a previously-determined case to be re-opened.
Additional Awards
Patricia O. McConkey Award
These awards recognize the outstanding graduating student graduating with a master’s degree from each program. There will be multiple McConkey awards; each program will select an awardee. Students who will have completed a master’s degree between May 2025 and May 2026 are eligible.
Procedures for Selection of Awardees
1. Only one student from each program or program option may be selected for the McConkey Outstanding Student/Graduation with Distinction award. If a graduate program has more than one “option,” each option may select an Outstanding Student.
2. Each program/option is responsible for soliciting nominations and selecting its McConkey Outstanding Student. Only truly outstanding students should be selected; if no exceptional students graduate from a program in a given year, then none should receive the award.
3. The nominees should be judged on the following general criteria:
- Academic Performance (a minimum GPA of 3.5 at the time of nomination)
- Academic Citizenship during graduate studies at HSU (based on a qualitative evaluation of the student’s teaching effectiveness, leadership, and/or collaboration among peers, demonstrated through activities such as committee service, volunteerism, presentations, publications or performances, and the student’s service to the: department, college, university, community, and profession.)
- Quality of Culminating Experience (based on evaluation of the student’s thesis, project, or comprehensive exam.)
In addition, please send in a photograph of the nominated student that they would like used in the award ceremony as well as their current street address and email for ceremony invitations to be sent to. They can send this information to hsugrad@humboldt.edu.
How to Nominate
Whether nominating by yourself or as part of a team, the process for submitting a nomination has changed. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the process as outlined in the guide below. This document is a guide for the information you will need prior to submitting a nomination, as well as the link to the form for when you are ready to submit.
Patricia O. McConkey Nomination Guide & Submission Link
Please help spread the word and encourage your graduate program to nominate a student. This is an opportunity for your students to shine.