There are six categories for the Award of Distinction nominations. Each category has criteria specific to the area of expertise and how the individual has shown excellence on behalf of CA&ES. Note: These awards are highly competitive. Please make every effort to keep the nomination confidential from your nominee.
- Alumni of the Year
- Our alumni are the pride of the college and university. This award recognizes outstanding graduates of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences.
Criteria considered for this award include:
Excellence in leadership and achievement
How has this alum demonstrated leadership in their industry or community? What professional achievements set this individual apart from other alumni? Has this alum been recognized for their work by their peers and colleagues?
Support and service to the college
How has this alum given back to the college and university? Have they engaged as a volunteer? Do they support a specific cause or program within the college? Has this alum offered philanthropic support?
Bringing distinction to the college through their careers
Does this alum proudly represent the college? How is this alum a champion or ambassador for the college and university? How has this alum collaborated or partnered with the university since graduating? Do they embrace the spirit of the university’s Principles of Community?
The expectation is that the nominee is professionally successful. Please document the specific ways the nominee has gone above and beyond in their career. Please also share how the nominee has been active with and supportive of CA&ES. If a nominee is both an alum and a staff member or a faculty member, the nominee should be nominated in the "faculty" or "staff" category. Alumni of the Year may be awarded to more than one recipient.
For reference, here are profiles of past award winners:
Jack Mariani
Carol L. Folt
Ruth Asmundson
- Early-Career Alumni of the Year
- This award celebrates outstanding recent CA&ES graduates. Early-career Alumni are designated as CA&ES graduates with 10 or fewer years from their last degree.
Criteria considered for this award include:
Excellence in leadership and achievement
How has this recent alum demonstrated leadership in their professional industry or community? What professional achievements set this individual apart from other early-career alumni? Has this alum been recognized for their work by their peers and colleagues?
Support and service to the college
How has this recent alum given back to the college and university? How have they remained engaged with CA&ES? Have they supported a specific cause or program within the college through volunteer work? Has this alum offered philanthropic support?
Bringing distinction to the college through their careers
Does this alum proudly represent the college? How is the recent alum a champion or ambassador for the college and university? How has the alum collaborated or partnered with the university since graduating? Do they embrace the spirit of the university’s Principles of Community?
Please document the specific ways the nominee has been active with and supportive of CA&ES, has surpassed expectations for someone early in their career and has had more impact than a typical recent graduate. While all alumni are expected to be successful, award winners impact society in extraordinary ways, particularly for individuals who have so recently completed their education. Early-Career Alumni of the Year will be awarded to one recipient.
For reference, here are profiles of past award winners:
Briana Perry Stoops
Shawn Harrison
Martha Guzman Aceves
- Distinguished Friend(s) of the College
- This award recognizes non-graduates of CA&ES whose leadership, support and service have advanced the mission of the college. These friends and partners are distinguished by their embodiment of the high standards and values associated with UC Davis and CA&ES.
Criteria considered for this award include:
Excellence in leadership and collaboration
How has this nominee demonstrated leadership as a collaborator and partner with CA&ES? What sets this individual apart from other friends of the university? How does this nominee advance the mission of the college? How do they embody the values of UC Davis? Do they embrace the spirit of the university’s Principles of Community?
Support and service to the college
How has this nominee offered support and service to the college and university? In what ways have they engaged with CA&ES? Have they supported a specific cause or program within the college through volunteer work? Has this individual offered philanthropic support?
Please document the specific ways the nominee has been active with and supportive of CA&ES. Friends of the college may be nominated as a group. Distinguished Friend(s) of the College may be awarded to more than one recipient.
For reference, here are profiles of past award winners:
Malcolm and Karen Bond
Harold McClarty
- Exceptional Faculty Member
- This award recognizes outstanding faculty members who have distinguished themselves by service to CA&ES in teaching, research, leadership, achievement, mentoring and outreach. The award recognizes one exceptionally accomplished faculty member and highlights their sustained contributions to the college, California, or the world throughout their career.
Criteria considered for this award include:
National or international recognition for their achievements
How has this faculty member been recognized by the academic community nationally and/or internationally? What professional achievements set this individual apart from other faculty members?
Record of achievement, collegiality and professionalism as judged by peers
How has this faculty member been recognized by their colleagues? How has this nominee demonstrated teamwork and collegiality with their peers in the college? How has this faculty member collaborated with CA&ES faculty, staff and students? Do they embrace the spirit of the university’s Principles of Community?
Bringing distinction to the college as a result of their activities
How has this faculty member raised the profile and contributed to the prestige of the college through their work?
Eligible titles for this award include: professor, professor of cooperative extension, "_____" in the Agricultural Experiment Station, senior lecturer (SOE) or adjunct professor. If the nominee is both an alumni and faculty member, the nominee should be nominated in the "faculty" category. Exceptional Faculty Member will be awarded to one recipient.
For reference, here are profiles of past award winners: - Exceptional Emeriti Faculty
- The award recognizes one exceptionally accomplished emeriti faculty member to highlight the contributions they have made to the college post-career.
Criteria considered for this award include:
Record of support and service to the college
How has this emeriti faculty member continued to support the college since retirement? Has this nominee mentored new or existing faculty? Has this emeriti faculty member voluntarily continued their academic service? How have they maintained stakeholder relationships? Do they embrace the spirit of the university’s Principles of Community?
Bringing distinction to the college as a result of their activities
How has this emeriti faculty member raised the profile and contributed to the prestige of the college through their work? How have they continued to advocate for the strategic goals of the college? If the nominee is both an alumni and emeriti faculty, the nominee should be nominated in the “emeriti” category. Exceptional Emeriti Faculty Member will be awarded to one recipient.
For reference, here are profiles of past award winners: - Exceptional Staff Member
- This award recognizes one person for extraordinary achievements and sustained contributions over their tenure of service. This may include, but is not limited to, improving the quality of life in California or globally, making a special difference within the college, applying exceptional creativity and innovation and/or creating outstanding results in areas of outreach, leadership and service.
Criteria considered for this award include:
Exemplary record of sustained and acknowledged contribution to the quality of the college
How have this staff member’s contributions led to a long-term, positive impact on CA&ES? How has this individual demonstrated creativity or innovation in their role? How has this staff member been previously recognized for their contributions to the college?
Dedication to the fulfillment of the college’s goals and mission
How does this staff member embody the values of the college and university? In what demonstrable ways has this staff member supported the goals and mission of CA&ES? How has this staff member brought distinction to the college through their professional accomplishments?
Record of teamwork, collegiality, and professionalism as judged by peers
How has this staff member been recognized by their colleagues? How has the nominee demonstrated teamwork and collegiality with their peers in the college? How has the faculty member collaborated with CA&ES faculty, staff and students? Do they embrace the spirit of the university’s Principles of Community?
Personnel titles including academic administrator, academic coordinator, project scientist, specialist or professional researcher are eligible in this category. If the nominee is both an alumni and a staff member, the nominee should be nominated in the "staff" category. Exceptional Staff Member will be awarded to one recipient.
For reference, here are profiles of past award winners: