Thomas More Storke Award
The Thomas More Storke Award is awarded each year to one graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship and extraordinary service to the university, its students, and the community. The basic criteria are courage, persistence, and achievement. Nominees must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. If possible, a faculty letter of recommendation should be submitted with this nomination. If no letter is attached, the student will be required to submit a faculty letter of recommendation.
Yonie Harris Award for Civility in Public Discourse
This award is presented annually to graduates who best exemplify the principles of free speech and respectful dialogue and who foster a campus climate of civility and open-mindedness. It recognizes those who are principled leaders, conscientious citizens, and constructive and compassionate community members.
Jeremy D. Friedman Memorial Award
This award is presented annually to one graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and superior scholarship and who has – in a particularly innovative and creative way–contributed significantly to the quality for undergraduate life on campus. Nominees must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Alyce Marita Whitted Memorial Award
This award is presented annually to one non-traditional graduating senior who has demonstrated endurance, persistence, and courage in the face of extraordinary challenges while in pursuit of an academic degree.
Michael D. Young Engaged Scholar Award
The MDY Engaged Scholar Award recognizes the legacy of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus, Michael D. Young, particularly his commitment to empowering students toward principled leadership. It is awarded annually to one graduate or undergraduate student who has skillfully integrated their scholarly knowledge and/or values into action. Nominees must have earned a cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or above. A letter of support from a faculty or staff member should be submitted with this nomination. If no letter is attached, the student will be required to submit a letter of recommendation.
University Service Award
Service Awards, presented annually to graduating seniors and graduate students, acknowledge a depth of involvement in several different areas of campus life. GPA requirements are based on academic performance that is equal to or higher than a cumulative GPA of 3.15, which is the scholastic average of the undergraduate student body as a whole.
University Award of Distinction
These awards are presented annually to graduating seniors and graduate students who have made an outstanding contribution to a particular (perhaps fairly narrow) area of UCSB student life. The awards recognize in-depth or focused involvement and significant achievement in campus or community activities. As with the Service Awards, GPA requirements are based on academic performance that is equal to or higher than a cumulative GPA of 3.15, which is the scholastic average of the undergraduate student body as a whole.
Congratulations to our
2024 University Award Recipients!
The university community joins together to give praise and thanks to those graduates who have demonstrated excellence during their years here.
The Thomas More Storke Award for Excellence
Symbolized by a bronze medal forged by Francis Minturn Sedgwick, is given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship and extraordinary service to the university, its students, and the community. This year this distinction is awarded to:
The Jeremy D. Friedman Memorial Award
Is presented in grateful recognition of outstanding leadership, scholastic excellence, and innovative contribution to student and community life at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in memory of Jeremy D. Friedman, undergraduate 1979-83. This year's recipient is:
Alyce Marita Whitted Memorial Award
This award, established in 1993, is presented to one non-traditional graduating senior who has demonstrated endurance, persistence, and courage in the face of extraordinary challenges while in pursuit of an academic degree. This year's recipient is:
Yonie Harris Award for Civility in Public Discourse
Is presented to graduates who best exemplify the principles of free speech and respectful dialogue and who foster a campus climate of civility and open-mindedness. This year's recipient is:
Michael D. Young Engaged Scholar Award
This award recognizes the legacy of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Emeritus, Michael D. Young, particularly his commitment to empowering students toward principled leadership. It is awarded to students who have skillfully integrated their scholarly knowledge and/or values into action. This year's recipients are:
University Award of Distinction
The following seniors and graduate students have been selected as recipients of this year's University Award of Distinction, given to students who have contributed greatly to the quality of life by giving unselfish service to others within a particular area.
University Service Award
The following seniors and graduate students have been selected as recipients of this year's University Service Award, given in recognition of unselfish and dedicated service to the University, its students, and the community.
Vice Chancellor’s Award for Scholarship, Leadership, and Citizenship
This award is presented annually to graduating seniors and graduate students who embrace the principles of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship — through activities that enhance UCSB’s academic environment, contributions to a consequential project, or extraordinary service to the campus community.
Award winners, their families, & interested faculty & staff are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 14, 2024 at 3:30pm in Corwin Pavilion.