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Leadership Awards Night Guide

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Leadership Awards Night Contacts

Questions regarding Leadership Awards Night processes and protocol can be directed to:

Division of Student Affairs

Email: spartanleadership@ut.edu
Phone: (813) 253-6233
www.ut.edu/leadership

University of Tampa Leadership Awards Night Logo
Thank you for your support of Leadership Awards Night 2026!

In this guide, you will find detailed descriptions and eligibility for each award. Please use this guidebook as a valuable tool to assist your application process.

If you have further questions about any application or the selection process, please email us at spartanleadership@ut.edu.

We look forward to receiving your applications. Thank you for your commitment to our students, faculty and staff whose exemplary leadership positively contributes to our UTampa community.

Leadership Awards Night is Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

— The Leadership Awards Night Planning Committee

Leadership Awards Night Processes and Protocol

Leadership Awards Night is an annual university-wide event planned and implemented by the Division of Student Affairs under the leadership of Nick Martinez, Associate Director of Leadership and Competency Development, and Monika Alesnik, Coordinator of Leadership and Competency Development.

The Leadership Awards Night Selection Committee is a secret entity consisting of nine university staff and faculty members and one UTampa alumni. Due to the volume of applications and awards, there are two committee meetings which will take place on the selection date. Each committee will consist of five people. The morning committee will select the organizational award winners. The afternoon committee (which includes the alumni) will select the individual award winners.

The committee is tasked with determining award recipients based on objective examination of the award criteria and the award nomination and application materials.

Award recipients that are determined by their sponsoring departments are marked with an *.

Bob Ruday Outstanding First Year of Involvement

  • First-year student
  • $975 scholarship

Recipient must demonstrate the impact their involvement and leadership made on the University of Tampa and Tampa Bay communities.
 

Bob Ruday Outstanding Second Year of Involvement

  • Second-year student
  • $975 scholarship

Recipient must demonstrate the impact their involvement and leadership made on the University of Tampa and Tampa Bay communities.
 

Bob Ruday Outstanding Third Year of Involvement

  • Third-year student
  • $975 scholarship

Recipient must demonstrate the impact their involvement and leadership made on the University of Tampa and Tampa Bay communities.
 

Bob Ruday Servant Leader Award

  • Fourth-year student or senior graduating in 2026
  • $300 check award

The Servant Leader Award was created in honor of Bob Ruday, University of Tampa’s (UTampa) Dean of Students from 1994-2011 who is an outstanding example of servant leadership. This award will recognize up to four seniors (graduating in May, August, or December 2025) who have exemplified the attributes of servant leadership, academic achievement, and overall involvement in campus life. Servant leaders have a true motivation to serve the needs of their group or community and are not primarily concerned with obtaining power or prestige. Servant leadership is thought of as the foundation of effective leadership because servant leaders create a culture of trust and empowerment among those they serve and lead. They focus on relationships and motivating others. Recipients of the Bob Ruday Servant Leadership Award have demonstrated growth and community building in their leadership experiences and involvement. These students have made UTampa better because of their commitment to people on their team in student organizations, campus departments, or within the community. The recipient(s) of this award are ineligible to receive the Bob Ruday Spartan Award or Bob Ruday Student Unsung Hero Award.
 

Bob Ruday Student Unsung Hero Award

  • Fourth-year student or senior graduating in 2026
  • $300 check award

The Award for Student Unsung Hero was created in honor of Bob Ruday, UTampa’s Dean of Students from 1994-2011 who is an outstanding model of what it means to live by your values, respect others and lead in a way that makes you worthy of the trust of others. The Student Unsung Hero award recognizes up to six seniors (graduating in May, August, or December 2026) who have positively influenced some area of campus life (program, organization or general student life) from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary and a commitment to excellence. Unsung heroes help to define UTampa. They lay the foundations, carry out the details of the event planners and enrich the culture that is UTampa. This award is given to ensure that the hard work of the student unsung heroes is cherished. Students cannot have served in the role as president (or the equivalent) of an organization when performing the action of unsung hero for their organization. The recipients of this award are ineligible to receive the Bob Ruday Spartan Award or Bob Ruday Servant Leader Award.
 

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” -Harry S Truman
 

Bob Ruday Spartan Award

  • Fourth-year student or senior graduating in 2026
  • $300 check award

The Bob Ruday Spartan Award was created to recognize up to ten outstanding seniors (graduating in May, August or December 2026) at UTampa who have exemplified school spirit and the Spartan Code through their academic achievement, leadership, enthusiasm, and overall involvement in campus life and programs at UTampa. Recipients must demonstrate the impact and outcomes of their involvement and leadership made on UTampa and Tampa Bay communities. The recipient(s) of this award are ineligible to receive the Bob Ruday Servant Leader Award or the Bob Ruday Unsung Hero Award.
 

Student Employee of the Year

This award is given to a student employee who has demonstrated a commitment to excellent customer service while demonstrating knowledge of their specific job responsibilities. Nominees may be work-study or student employment, and must be full-time undergraduates.
 

Excellence in Civic Engagement Award

  • $200 check award

The Excellence in Civic Engagement Award was created by the UTampa Democracy Coalition to recognize and honor a UTampa student who has demonstrated a commitment to voter registration, mobilization and engagement through their actions in the classroom, in their UTampa involvement (student organizations, fraternity or sorority, athletics, etc.) or in the Tampa Bay community.
 

Faculty/Staff Unsung Hero Award

An Unsung Hero is a full-time staff or faculty member at UTampa who goes beyond their job description to support students, they assist individual students or members of a student organization with no tangible benefits for doing so, they are there when you need them, they are cooperative and resourceful, they are approachable and trustworthy and they deserve to be recognized. Any individual in an area that provides services or support for student organization events including Catering, Facilities Management, Facilities Rental, Financial Management, Media Services, etc. is eligible for nomination.

For student organization members, this is not your advisor. Nominations will be accepted by students, faculty and staff.

Last year’s recipients are ineligible to receive this award: Nick Chevalier, Erin Chisholm, Andrew Demil, Brittany Garcia, Hector Huertes-Rivera, Leslie Jones, James Reinhardt, Stacey Schetzsle, Mason Weibley and Linda Wilde.

Most Improved Organization of the Year

This award is given to the organization that demonstrates an improved knowledge, understanding and achievement of its mission statement by comparing and contrasting the activities the organization completed in the 2024-2025 academic year with the 2025-2026 academic year.
 

Outstanding New Organization of the Year

This award is given to the organization that demonstrates knowledge, understanding, and achievement of its mission statement (on file in the Office of Community Engagement). In order to be eligible for this award, organizations must have been newly established during the 2025-2026 school year or inactive for the entire 2024-2025 year and reactivated during the 2025-2026 school year.
 

Outstanding Organization of the Year

Two awards are given, one to a small organization and one to a large organization. The awards are given to the organizations that demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and achievement of its mission statement (on file in the Office of Community Engagement). Social Greek-lettered fraternities and social Greek-lettered sororities are ineligible for this award.
 

Consideration will be given to organizations that have given their time and effort to altruistic causes, those who have worked for the betterment of the community as well as within their own groups/ organizations.
 

The Tom Fitzgerald Most Spirited Organization of the Year

This award was established to honor the memory of Tom Fitzgerald, UTampa’s former men’s soccer coach (1981-1996), who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. Tom led the Spartans to five Sunshine State Conference Championships and the 1994 NCAA Men’s Division II Soccer Championship title. He embodied the true spirit and pride of being a Spartan.
 

This award will be presented to the organization that shows the most school spirit throughout the school year, including visibility and crowd involvement at all UTampa sporting events. This award is based on the consistent level of support that an organization shows UTampa athletic teams. Groups can increase their visibility at athletics events by cheering, making banners and getting involved in athletic marketing-sponsored activities during the game.
 

Outstanding Commitment to Global Fluency Award

This award will be given to the organization that has shown the strongest commitment to understanding, respecting, and advocating for all perspectives and engagement with different viewpoints individually, as a community and organizationally.
 

Outstanding Innovation Award

This award will be given to the organization that has demonstrated the most adaptability, creativity and resiliency during the 2025-2026 academic year.
 

J. Richard Piper Outstanding Advisor of the Year

This award recognizes a faculty or staff member who advises a Registered Student Organization (RSO). This person is actively involved in the RSO by attending meetings, assisting with finances, reviewing the Constitution, supporting the elections process and so on. They regularly communicate with the RSO president and provide strong mentorship and guidance. Students may only nominate faculty and staff members for the Faculty/Staff Advisor of the Year.
 

Last year’s recipient is ineligible to receive this award: Rachel Gambol.
 

The following professionals who advise organizations as stated in their job responsibilities are ineligible: Tim Harding (Student Affairs), Jenn Scaia (Student Affairs), Brittany Garcia (Community Engagement), Karen Landino (Community Engagement), Nick Martinez (Leadership and Competency  Development), Armando Rijo (Fraternity and Sorority Life), Madi Bridges (Fraternity and Sorority Life), Addie Carothers (Wellness Services), Tiffany Nelson (Wellness Services), Abby Pertkiewicz (Wellness Services), Emily Parsons (Wellness Services), Jasey Bedoya (Access and Community Programs), Joshua Pullens (Campus Recreation) and Raina Cowans (Orientation and Family Engagement).

Active Citizen Award

Recipient must have demonstrated a commitment to community service by actively participating in service projects and who has demonstrated a well-rounded service experience.
 

Joyce Keller Faculty/Staff Volunteer of the Year

The award is given to a faculty or staff member who has demonstrated a commitment to community service by actively participating in service projects. The award was named in honor of Joyce C. Keller, former Administrative Assistant in the Sykes College of Business, because of her commitment to volunteering.
 

Last year's recipient is ineligible to receive this award: Dr. Kathryn Branch.
 

Student Volunteer of the Year (Non-Fraternal Affiliated Member)
 

Recipient must have demonstrated a commitment to community service by actively participating in service projects. All volunteer hours must be registered and verified with the PEACE Volunteer Center before submitting this application.
 

Volunteer Organization of the Year (Non-Fraternal Affiliated Organization)

This award is presented by PEACE for outstanding community service. All volunteer hours have to be registered and verified with the PEACE Volunteer Center. These awards are based on the percentage of students in the organization that volunteer at each event.

Intern of the Year Award* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • To be eligible for this award, you must have completed an internship in Spring, Summer or Fall 2025.
  • $300 check award sponsored by the Office of Career Services

The Intern of the Year Award is presented to a student that has completed an internship for a minimum of 10 weeks during the Fall, Summer, or Spring 2025 semesters. Applicants will be evaluated an essay response and the creativity and content of a ONE SLIDE PowerPoint. Awardselection is made by the Faculty Internship Committee.
 

Center for Teaching and Learning Leadership Award* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • $300 check award

The Leadership Award is presented to an individual whose leadership on an activity, related activities or an event made an impact on others in our UTampa or broader Tampa Bay Community. Applicants will be evaluated on the leadership qualities demonstrated, the impact their leadership had, and the Spartan Ready® skills developed. Award selection is made by the Center for Teaching and Learning.
 

OURI Undergraduate Researcher of the Year Award* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • Completion of a research project with a UTampa faculty member
  • $300 check and award

Applicants will be evaluated on responses to questions about their research experience as well as a PowerPoint slide that visually represents their findings. Award selection is made by theUndergraduate Research and Inquiry Committee.
 

Community Engagement and Responsible Citizenship (Faculty/Staff)* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • Commitment to community engagement and service inside the classroom (faculty) or through an innovative community engagement project (faculty/staff)
  • Certificate and trophy

Applicants will be evaluated on responses to questions about their community engagement and citizenship. Award selection is made by the Committee on Community Engagement and Responsible Citizenship.

SustainableUTampa Handprint Award* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • $100 check award

The SustainableUTampa Handprint Award was created by the UTampa Faculty Sustainability Committee to recognize and honor a UTampa faculty or staff member who has demonstrated a commitment to ethical practices that reduce the University's impact on the environment by leading or actively supporting resource conservation practices, inspiring action in support of sustainable practices, promoting sustainable development within the University community and/or the greater Tampa Bay community, and/or implementing sustainability-focused innovations.
 

SustainableUTampa Student Handprint Award* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • $100 check award

The SustainableUTampa Student Handprint Award was created by the UTampa Faculty Sustainability Committee to recognize and honor a UTampa student who has demonstrated a commitment to ethical practices that reduce the University’s impact on the environment by leading or actively supporting resource conservation practices, inspiring action in support of sustainable practices, promoting sustainable development within the University community and/or the greater Tampa Bay community, and/or implementing sustainability-focused innovations.
 

SustainableUTampa Handprint Award for Outstanding Sustainable Practices by an Organization* determined by their sponsoring departments

  • $200 check award

The SustainableUTampa Handprint Award for Outstanding Sustainable Practices by an Organization was created by the UTampa Faculty Sustainability Committee to recognize and honor a UTampa organization or group that has demonstrated a significant improvement in their or renewed commitment to ethical practices that reduce the University’s impact on the environment by leading or actively supporting resource conservation practices, inspiring action in support of sustainable practices, promoting sustainable development within the University community and/or the greater Tampa Bay community, and/or implementing sustainability-focused innovations. Award selection is made by the UTampa Faculty Sustainability Committee.

To be eligible to receive the awards listed in this guidebook, forms must be completed in full and submitted via InvolveUT. All forms can be found within the Leadership Awards Night group page and will open on Monday, February 3, 2026.
 

There are two categories for four different forms: nominations, recommendations, and applications.

  • Nomination forms must be completed and do not require a subsequent application by the nominees. Nomination forms close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.
  • Applications are forms for students to apply for individual and organization awards detailed in this guidebook. For Individual Award Applications, students must only complete one form for all awards they are applying for. For Organization Award Applications, only one application should be submitted per student organization. Both application formsclose at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.

A list of awards hosted on each form can be found on the following page, along with the form’s respective link.
 

Nominations Only (Submitted by Faculty, Staff and Students)

Organization Award Applications (Submitted by Students Only)

Individual Award Applications (Submitted by Students Only)

  • Bob Ruday Excellence in Leadership Scholarships
  • Bob Ruday Servant Leader Award
  • Bob Ruday Student Unsung Hero Award
  • Bob Ruday Spartan Award
  • Student Employee of the Year
  • Leadership & Academic Achievement Award
  • Active Citizen Award
  • Student Volunteer of the Year (Non-Fraternal Member)
  • Intern of the Year Award
  • Center for Teaching and Learning Leadership Award
  • OURI Researcher of the Year Award

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