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First-Year Student Excellence Award

Description of the First-Year Student Excellence Award

The First-Year Student Excellence Award acknowledges one outstanding WVU Tech first-year student from across the university. This award establishes and acknowledges a pathway to leadership and demonstrates appreciation for the activities and accomplishments of WVU Tech first-year students.

First Year Student Excellence Nomination Form First Year Student Excellence Award Candidate Form Write a Reccomendation Letter

Purpose of the First-Year Student Excellence Award

The First-Year Student Excellence Award is an academic award recognizing one WVU Tech first-year student who has not only earned high marks in their coursework but who has also given untiringly of their time in leadership positions while maintaining personal standards of excellence.

Similar to the Presidential Leadership Award (awarded to three graduating WVU Tech seniors, one from each college), the First-Year Student Excellence Award recognizes a single first-year student who best embodies the four personal characteristics sought in the recipients of both the First-Year Student Excellence and Presidential Leadership Awards. These characteristics represent the qualities desired in all WVU Tech students:

  • Academic excellence
  • Outstanding leadership exhibited in student organizations, campus committees, and/or other college-related pursuits
  • Distinctive representation of the college and university in local, state, and national forums
  • Involvement in community activities

Each candidate for the 2025 First-Year Student Excellence Award must indicate within their application how they stand out as a WVU Tech student in the above four areas.

Nomination & Candidate Forms for the 2025 First-Year Student Excellence Award

Students who are presented the First-Year Student Excellence Award must be nominated, and each nominated student must then apply. Only nominations and applications of first-year WVU Tech students who have completed less than 30 credits toward graduation at the time of their nomination will be considered.

Nomination and candidate forms are available from the Academic Award Packages published by the faculty members of the Academic Awards Selection Committee. These packages are widely available on the WVU Tech website.

Academic Awards Selection Committee

The faculty members of the 2024-2025 Academic Awards Selection Committee will review nominations and applications, interview the candidates, and select the recipient of the award.

First-Year Student Excellence Award Nomination & Application Submission Requirements

Nomination and application forms must be submitted to the Academic Awards Committee by the specified deadlines.

  • Nomination Forms Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025, at Noon
  • Candidate Application Forms Deadline: Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 4:30 PM

A complete application packet must include:

  • Candidate (Application) form
  • Recommendation letters from two WVU Tech faculty members
  • Personal recommendation letter from a peer, administrator, friend, or family member
  • Copy of the nominated student’s unofficial academic transcript
  • One-page letter from the nominated student (500-word narrative) describing their impressions of college life and how a college education will aid in achieving their life goals
  • Candidates may be scheduled for an interview between March 20-27, 2025

Nomination Forms and Candidate Applications

Nomination forms and candidate applications can be found here: https://www.wvutech.edu/academic-awards

Nominate the WVU Tech first-year student whom you believe deserves the First-Year Student Excellence Award!