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Established by Dr. Leonard C. Nelson in 1978, the Presidential Leadership Award acknowledges one outstanding graduating senior from each of the four schools at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology:
Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering & Sciences (LCNCES), the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business & WVU School of Nursing – Beckley Campus.
This Award recognizes the contributions made by the three senior students who have played a significant role in the improvement and development of the intellectual, social, cultural, and/or athletic fabric of the WVUIT community.
Three Tech students will be honored with the Presidential Leadership Award based upon academic excellence and leadership in campus and community activities.
The Presidential Leadership Award is an academic award recognizing three students who have not only earned high marks in their coursework but who also have given untiringly of their time in leadership positions, while maintaining personal standards of excellence.
The Award sets forth and acknowledges the three nominated and recommended graduating students who best embody the four personal characteristics sought in the recipients of the Presidential Leadership Award. These individual characteristics are the same attributes and qualities desired in all WVUIT students:
Each candidate for the 2024 Presidential Leadership Award must indicate within her/his application how she/he stands out as a WVUIT student in the above four areas.
The most prestigious student award given at WVUIT is the Presidential Leadership Award, and the moments of pronouncement for the Award are memorable ones. During the May commencement ceremony each Spring, before their families and friends, before their peers with whom they are graduating, before their professors and University dignitaries and distinguished alumni—most in full academic regalia, the three Award Recipients from each College are called individually to the stage, so their acknowledgement and achievements can be celebrated by the University community.
Students who are presented the Presidential Leadership Award must be nominated, and each nominated student must then apply. Only nominations and applications of graduating seniors (December 2023 and May 2024) will be considered. Nomination and Candidate forms are available in the Academic Award packages published by the faculty members of the Academic Awards Selection Committee, who are listed below. The Packages are widely available on the WVUIT website.
Nomination and application forms/packets must be submitted to the Academic Awards Committee, as specified on the forms. Nomination forms may be submitted by students, faculty, administrators, or anyone associated with WVUIT. Self-nominations are acceptable. All Nomination Forms must be submitted by Friday, February 23, 2024 at Noon. All Candidate Application Forms then need to be submitted by Friday, March 15, 2024 at 4:30 PM. A complete application packet includes each of the following pieces:
The three letters included in the application materials should be prepared, as much as possible, so that knowledge is readily apparent from the document of the four personal characteristics sought in the recipients of the Presidential Leadership Award.
Nominate the graduating WVUIT senior whom you believe deserves the Presidential
Leadership Award; then, attend the Commencement Ceremonies in May to
hear the award winners speak at graduation.
Presidential Leadership Award Winner – Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering
"Open up to people and use the opportunities Tech gives you, which are a lot. Say yes and embrace those opportunities. It changed my life and my experience."
Presidential Leadership Award Winner – College of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences
Presidential Leadership Award Winner – WVU School of Nursing – Beckley
BSN Program Chairperson and Assistant Professor
Life Science Building Room 101E
Assistant Professor of Physics
Physical Sciences Building, Room 210B