Carnegie Mellon University
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Awards & Recognition

CMU has a profound impact on our world and communities, and that's something to celebrate. So we do.

SLICE recognizes and honors undergraduate and graduate student leaders, student organizations, members of Fraternity & Sorority Life organizations, advisors and community volunteers for contributions to the campus community and beyond.

Annual Award Programs

Senior Leadership Recognition (SLR)

Every spring, staff and faculty across the university nominate graduating seniors who have made significant contributions during their time at Carnegie Mellon. While we have many talented and involved students in each graduating class, this recognition is reserved for those students who have made an unparalleled impact on our community, leaving CMU a better place as a result of their leadership, vision and initiative.

Nominations & Eligibility

  • Senior Leadership Recognition recognizes seniors who plan to graduate between December 2022 and August 2023. Nominations will be accepted from staff and faculty members from January 2023 through 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023.
  • Eligible students who are nominated will be invited to share a one page (max 500 word) acceptance letter, reflecting on their leadership journey at Carnegie Mellon. The letter must be received in order to be eligible for the recognition. Information on how to submit this letter and prompts will be made available to the nominees in early April. To be eligible to be considered, students must be graduating in either December 2022, May 2023 or August 2023. Additionally, the Dean of Students oversees a conduct review of all nominated students; students with any conduct records will have an opportunity to discuss that history with a Student Affairs representative.

Recognition Nomination Review & Ceremony

  • Review of nominations and letters of acceptance occurs in the spring semester by staff and faculty across the university. Final recipients will be notified in early May and will be invited to an in-person event on the Friday of Commencement weekend. Questions can be directed to Sam Waltemeyer at swalteme@andrew.cmu.edu. 
Senior Leadership Recognition logo

Nominations

Nominate a Senior!

SLR Recipients

SLR Areas of Impact

Each recipient of this recognition has created a unique imprint on the culture and life of CMU through their contributions to academics and research, the arts, athletics, civic engagement and community development. Consider the following when nominating students:

Students display unparalleled leadership by demonstrating superior aptitude in their academic field of study while advancing research and making unique contributions to the intellectual life of the campus community. Through their work, research, and initiatives, they drive progress and solutions to problems. Nominees may engage in focused, individualized work on a sustained independent project; enhance the community’s commitment to academic excellence; utilize creative and novel methods for leading and supporting their fellow students in their academic pursuits; or demonstrate superior initiative in applying knowledge in the community.
Students display unparalleled leadership by utilizing their artistic talents and inquiry as a means of self-exploration or as a community catalyst. The contributions of the nominee have served to enhance opportunities for artistic development and appreciation within the Carnegie Mellon community. Nominees may also utilize their artistic talents to promote community development, reflect diversity towards encouraging inclusion, and facilitate conversations surrounding societal issues.
Students display unparalleled leadership by playing a significant role in athletic life through participation on campus athletic teams, sustained involvement in intramural activities or club sports, or commitment to advancing appreciation for the Carnegie Mellon athletic community. They embrace the role of being a scholar athlete and exhibit leadership, teamwork and sportsmanship both on and off the field through understanding of self and consistent demonstration of their values. These students actively seek opportunities to help teammates learn, grow and develop as individuals.
Students display unparalleled leadership as they leverage their individual skills through volunteer and/or philanthropic initiatives to positively impact the CMU, Pittsburgh, and/or global community. These outstanding students exemplify a commitment to the sustainability of their efforts and an understanding of the needs of the community.
Students display unparalleled leadership via active engagement in campus organizations and broad-based campus improvement initiatives. These students contribute to the metacurricular experience at Carnegie Mellon through sustained community-oriented activity in clubs and student organizations, residential house communities, fraternities and sororities, advisory councils, student government, or other student leadership roles. These students devote a substantial amount of effort in support of others, actively seeking opportunities to help others learn, grow and develop as individuals in areas related to wellness, diversity, spirituality and social responsibility. Nominees may also utilize their individual leadership skills to foster a more diverse and inclusive community at Carnegie Mellon.

Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement Awards

SLICE Awards honor Carnegie Mellon undergraduate and graduate students, student organizations and their members, and student organization advisors.

Nomination & Nominee Information

Nominations will be accepted from students, staff, and faculty members throughout the year. Self nominations are also welcome.

Students nominated for awards that have a minimum GPA requirement will be contacted by SLICE to confirm eligibility.

Those nominated for individual awards will be invited via email to submit an acceptance letter in order to remain eligible for the award. All nominees will be notified via email in mid-April and receive a formal invitation to the event.

SLICE Awards Review Committee

This process occurs in the spring semester. Members are needed for several committees to review nominations that are submitted for SLICE awards.

SLICE Award Descriptions:

Recognizes a student organization (recognized for at least two academic years) that serves as a leader in the CMU community. An outstanding candidate for this award models leadership in the following areas:

  • Commitment to the organization’s mission
  • Membership recruitment and retention
  • Innovative, well-executed and impactful programming
  • Meaningful collaboration with other student organizations, campus departments and community partners

The recipient of this award receives $200 in their organization account to support their efforts in the coming year.

Recognizes a program/initiative that was student initiated, directed, and implemented. An outstanding program/initiative must:

  • Impact and enhance the CMU experience and community
  • Display innovation and creativity in its overall implementation
  • Be well-executed, fiscally responsible, and reach a diverse student audience

The program must have occurred between August 2020 and April 2021.

Recognizes an individual who successfully demonstrates their passion within their student organizations while maintaining a commitment to academics. An outstanding candidate for this award models leadership in the following areas:

  • Has contributed above and beyond expectations to one (or more) student organizations
  • Successfully balances their time between academics, involvement and personal life
  • Engages in and contributes to the larger CMU and/or Pittsburgh community
  • Supports new membership and has left a legacy to help guide the organization into the future

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

Recognizes faculty, staff, alumni or community volunteers who have provided a student organization with outstanding support and service as an advisor during the academic year. The individual must have a strong commitment to supporting their student organization through building meaningful relationships.

The advisor must have been in their role for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Recognizes a group that has contributed time and support to better the Carnegie Mellon and/or Pittsburgh community through activism, direct service, educational outreach and/or philanthropy.
Recognizes a freshman, sophomore, or non-graduating graduate student who exhibits outstanding potential as a campus and/or community leader. This student has demonstrated a commitment to leadership through student organization membership, but may or may not hold an official position.

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.
Recognizes a student organization that successfully communicates and engages its alumni as well as fundraises from current students and alumni. Priority will be given to a group that has partnered with the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving to advise on strategy and messaging.

The recipient of this award receives $200 in their organization account to support their alumni programming efforts in the coming year.
“My Heart is in the Work” is the motto of Carnegie Mellon University. This award recognizes a graduating senior or graduate student in their final year who has made significant contributions to enhance the lives of those within and beyond the CMU community through their work within student organizations, and whose dedication to carrying out the mission of the university through that involvement is especially notable.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

The recipient of this award receives $200 check as a thank you for their contributions to the campus community and student organizations.
SLICE Awards

SLICE Award Recipients