Chapter Award Opportunities
Chapters should be honored for the excellence they exhibit throughout the year. Therefore, they are encouraged to nominate themselves for numerous chapter awards. Nominations for all but the Excellence in Advising Award are due on May 15 of each year. The Excellence in Advising Award nomination must be submitted by March 15. These deadlines, and others, are listed on the calendar and with report forms.
A list of the previous academic year's award recipients can be found here.
Silver Torch Award - This honor is awarded to chapters meeting chapter minimum standards, as outlined in the Bylaws.
Golden Torch Award - This mark of distinction is given to chapters meeting all the requirements for the Silver Torch Award and which excel beyond the minimum, exemplifying scholarship, leadership and service. A chapter must be nominated to receive this award.
Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award - This award is the highest possible honor given in chapter achievement. The receiving chapter is chosen based on chapter operations, participation, selection, advising, visibility and communications. A chapter that receives this award is not eligible again until five years have passed since they last received the award. Qualifications include:
- Be represented by a delegate at the national conference
- Practice timely submission of all reports to the National Office
- Complete all college/university and Mortar Board financial obligations
- Have a current chapter website
- Submit an application for a Project Excellence Award
- Complete the national project, involving a minimum of 75 percent chapter member participation
- Sponsor an alumni event, alumni newsletter or cosponsor a service project with another Mortar Board chapter
- Practice an excellent selection process (following procedures, diversity in membership, consideration of a large pool of candidates relative to campus size, selection of a relatively “full” chapter size)
- Have active advisor(s)
- Be in good financial standing
- Have campus visibility
- Have established traditions
- Have an effective communications system within the chapter
Previous recipients of the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award include:
- Purdue University - 2002
- San Diego State University - 2003
- Kansas State University - 2004
- Oklahoma State University - 2005
- University of San Diego - 2006
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln - 2007
- University of Wyoming - 2008
- University of Washington - 2009
- Hope College - 2010
- UCLA - 2011
Most Improved Chapter Award - The purpose of the award is to encourage chapter development and to recognize a chapter that has achieved success during the year while re-establishing and re-invigorating programming and membership. For consideration to receive this award, a chapter may self-nominate or shall be nominated by their section coordinator.
Project Excellence Awards - Section coordinators may nominate outstanding projects, or chapters may self-nominate events they have executed throughout the academic year to receive this award. To be considered, chapters must have accounts cleared and meet the chapter minimum standards.
Excellence in Advising Awards - Advisors are honored annually at the national conference for exemplifying the ideals of Mortar Board by providing excellent service, guidance and support to a collegiate chapter. These outstanding advisors must be nominated. See a list of all previous Excellence in Advising Award recipients here.
