Award Categories

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award is the Alumni Association's highest honour. The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding lifetime accomplishments of alumni who have earned national or international regard or have had significant local impact as a result of their outstanding professional achievements and/or service to society.

Selection criteria:

1. Professional achievement and/or community service
   • Is an innovator, pioneer or pillar/leader in their realm of achievement
   • Has been recognized for their achievements and/or contributions
   • Extent to which nominee’s efforts have had an impact on the community/their profession
2. Impact
   • Evidence of leadership and/or influence in profession and/or community
   • Extent to which their efforts have had a lasting impact on society (nationally and/or internationally)

Alumni Honour Award

Recognizes the significant achievements and contributions over a number of years by University of Alberta alumni to their profession and/or their community.

Selection criteria:

1.  Professional achievement and/or community service
   • Considered an innovator, pioneer or pillar in their realm of achievement and/or for their community contributions 
   • Their profession has been significantly impacted because of their achievements/contributions 
2.  Impact
   • Evidence of leadership and/or influence
   • Extent to which efforts have had a significant and lasting impact on their profession and/or community

Alumni Horizon Award

Recognizes the outstanding professional achievements and/or contributions to community of recent graduates. Nominees must be 40 years of age or younger at nomination deadline (December 15). Nominations are considered for 2 years; in order to be eligible for reconsideration in the second year, Horizon nominees must still be 40 years of age or younger at the nomination deadline (December 15) of the second year of consideration.

Selection criteria:

1. Professional achievement and/or community service
   • Achieved significant success, professionally or through community service
   • Considered “one to watch” in their profession or community, their achievements suggest great things in their future 
2.  Impact
   • Evidence of leadership and/or influence in profession or community
   • Extent to which nominee’s efforts have had an impact on the profession or community

Alumni Innovation Award

Recognizes an innovative program, process or product created, implemented or discovered by a University of Alberta alumnus or group of alumni. The program, process or product has significantly impacted their profession, community, society at large or the U of A. Note: A group or team must have a membership with at least 50 per cent U of A alumni to be considered for this award.

Selection criteria:

1. Concept
   • The program, process or product addresses a need/solves a problem in a creative or innovative way
   • The innovation has resulted in a measurable cost or resource savings, or improvement of the human condition
2. Value
   • The innovation has a unique value proposition; it has distinct advantages over alternatives
   • Program, process or product demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach to solving a problem or meeting a need
3. Impact
   • The program, process or product demonstrates a sensitivity to broader implications, such as sustainability and social responsibility
   • The program, process or product is inspirational for future innovations and innovators
   • The program, process or product has been implemented and demonstrates potential for longevity

Alumni Service Award

Recognizes alumni who have demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment, dedication and volunteer service to the University of Alberta.

Selection criteria:

1. Level of contribution to the University of Alberta
   • The nominee has dedicated an extraordinary amount of their time and talents to the U of A
   • Their service has been sustained over an extended period of time and/or has been strikingly innovative or substantially beneficial
   • The candidate's contributions, mentoring, and/or support of activities has measurably enriched the lives of students and alumni
   • The nominee's actions have encouraged and motivated others to volunteer or support the U of A
2. Impact of contributions on the University of Alberta
   • Extent to which the nominee’s contributions have raised the profile of U of A in the community
   • Extent to which the nominee was instrumental in connecting a community group or organization with the U of A and/or maintaining this relationship

Sports Wall of Fame 

Contact Athletics for more information.