Student Awards and Honors

The university awards a variety of honors to students who have demonstrated excellence during their years at Colgate. Awards may be based on scholarship, leadership, the capacity to enrich the lives of others, and personal character qualities. Award opportunities span all four years. 

Nominations for this year's student awards have closed.

Award recipients will be announced at this year's Awards Convocation on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Award Descriptions

This prestigious prize is awarded annually to the member of the senior class “whose character, scholarship, and service to others best exemplify the spirit that is Colgate.” The 1819 Award is the most selective and prestigious award Colgate University bestows upon a graduating senior. Colgate community members are invited to nominate annually.

This award provides financial assistance to graduating seniors with preference given to a candidate pursuing a graduate-level degree. The recipient will be both a leader and an intellectual and will have contributed to the many facets of the Colgate Community or will have initiated a program or project that has greatly contributed to the well-being of the campus community. To be considered, this candidate must graduate in the top half of the class. Colgate community members are invited to nominate annually.

This award recognizes seniors who have made outstanding contributions to Colgate, and in the process, have enriched the life of the student community of color. Students will have contributed to and enriched the cultural, social, and organizational aspects of the student community of color. Colgate community members are invited to nominate annually.

This award is given, in the year immediately preceding it, to the most worthy individual, residential unit, or group at Colgate which has given significant service to the local community. This service exemplifies an understanding that the University is part of a larger community, and that volunteer service and civic participation are part of the responsibility of well-educated people. Colgate community members are invited to nominate annually.

The income from a fund established by the late George W. Cobb, Class of 1894, is used to recognize outstanding achievement by undergraduates (first years, sophomores, and juniors). Between 10 and 20 awards are given annually to those students who, during the college year immediately preceding the award, demonstrated qualities of outstanding leadership and effective influence among fellow and prospective students in developing interest in the University. Colgate community members are invited to nominate annually.

This award is given to a student who promotes a bridge building initiative or collective vision among culturally diverse groups.

The Charles A. Dana Scholars are selected each spring in recognition of superior academic achievement and demonstrated leadership in the college community. This is a significant academic award. Seniors, juniors, and sophomores are eligible for the awards established by Dana in 1965.

This award was established by Ebenezer Dodge, D.D., LL.D., president of the University from 1868–90, and is awarded to the two first-year students who achieve the highest academic record during the first semester of their college career, as determined by their grade point averages.

This award is given to a student, “who, in the judgment of the Dean of the Faculty, the Dean of the College, the Dean of First Year Students, and the President of the Student Government Association, has contributed the most to Colgate in his or her freshman year.”

This award is presented each term to students who achieve a term grade point average of 3.3 or higher while successfully completing at least 3.75 course hours. Students are eligible while carrying three courses for letter grades and one course under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option. Colgate gives the Dean’s Award each semester.

Dean’s Award Recipients

This award is presented to students who receive a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least 3 course credits for a conventional letter grade and a minimum of 3.75 total course credits. Students are eligible while carrying three courses for letter grades and one course under the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option. Colgate awards the Dean’s Award with Distinction each semester.

Dean’s Award with Distinction Recipients