Programming and Initiative Awards
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Academic, Honorary, and Professional
The Academic, Honorary, and Professional Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an initiative, event, or a series of events promoting a strong academic or professional culture.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Club Sports
Club Sports Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or series of events promoting successful recruitment and retention of members, sportsmanship, and consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perseverance.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Communities
Communities Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of events promoting unique and creative interests and passions.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Community Outreach and Social Change
The Community Outreach and Social Change Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of events that has had a significant impact on the greater Miami community. What has this organization done to educate, inspire, or spread awareness regarding a particular cause, topic, or subject matter?
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Greek Life (Councils)
Greek Life Award honors a council that excels in coordinating an event or a series of values-based events promoting Greek involvement, education, or philanthropy.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Health and Wellness
Health and Wellness Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an initiative, event, or a series of events promoting mental, physical, spiritual, or other forms of health and wellness.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Media and Publications
Media and Publications Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of programs or publications aimed at enriching the UM community.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Intercultural Awareness Initiative
The Intercultural Awareness Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an initiative, event, or a series of events promoting or providing opportunities for cultural expression on campus and the greater Miami community.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Performing Arts
Performing Arts Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of events that promote expression through the arts including but not limited to theatrical, visual and vocal.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Programming Board
The Excellence in Programming-Programming Board Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating programming and entertainment promoting wide campus involvement.
Excellence in Programming and Initiative: Multi Faith and Spirituality Initiative
The Multifaith and Spirituality Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an initiative, event, or a series of events that promoted awareness and respect of spiritual and/or religious practices, philosophies, and beliefs.
Collaborative Program of the Year
The Collaborative Program of the Year Award is given in recognition of a program that demonstrates synergy and success as a result of working together. This award celebrates a student organization that has made collaboration a top priority. By collaborating, this organization has enhanced the UM experience and made a significant contribution to the community.
Best Week Ever Award
Best Week Ever Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of events in a given week.
Outstanding Educational Program and Initiative Award
This award is given to any organization, academic or not, that has put on the most informative and impactful educational program. The topic of education can range across a variety of topics, such as social justice awareness, teaching a skill, or providing a lecture on an academic topic, as long as the focus of the event is to educate.
Program of the Year
The Program of the Year Award is given to an outstanding event for its impact on the UM community during the past year. Nominations should explore how the organization(s) and its members successfully planned and executed a program either in-person or virtual, that directly met the guiding principles of the organization(s), impacted the culture of belonging on campus, and enriched the co-curricular experience of UM students.
Individual Awards
First Year Leadership Award
The First Year Leadership Award honors an emerging first year student who has uniquely contributed to a student organization, program, or initiative. This leader is someone who has worked hard and has shown the potential to greatly impact the University of Miami campus community in the future.
Advisor of the Year
The Advisor of the Year honors a full-time faculty or staff member that clearly distinguished themselves by providing exemplary guidance, support, and dedication to the advisement of a student organization. They successfully utilized available resources such as Workday, Engage, and Advisor Workshops.
The David Lin Unsung Hero Award
David Lin was a COSO committee member whose hard work, infectious positivity, and influence from behind the scenes significantly impacted the organization. The David Lin Unsung Hero Award honors a student who has positively influenced a program or organization from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence.
President of the Year Award
The President of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has served as the president or chair of a student organization. This student has advanced the mission of their student organization, challenged and supported their members, and has left a lasting impact on their organization and the community as a whole.
Senior Legacy Award
The Senior Legacy Award honors a student in their final year at the University of Miami whose influence, ideals, and activities throughout their college career have left a lasting, positive impression on their student organization and the UM community. This student raises the standard of excellence for future generations.
Student Leader of the Year Award
The Student Leader of the Year Award goes to the student who has had the greatest impact on the university and the community. Examples of nominees for this award can be active members or executive board members that significantly contribute to an organization or multiple organizations on campus. Recognition of accomplishments is limited to the current academic year.
Resilient Leader Award
The Resilient Student of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional perseverance, adaptability, and strength in the face of challenges. This award celebrates a student who has shown remarkable resilience, overcoming obstacles with determination and a positive attitude.
Culture of Belonging Advocate Award
This student leader advocates for an inclusive environment, ensuring there is a space for all and that everyone feels like they can be themselves and connect with others. This person cultivates a culture where different perspectives are shared, heard, and valued.
Bleed Orange and Green Award
The Bleed Orange and Green Award honors a student leader that promotes the ideals of a 'Cane, makes their presence on campus known no matter the size, and displays true love of Alma Mater in creative and innovative ways. Nominees should demonstrate involvement on-campus and bring their spirit and love of the University wherever they go.
Organization Awards
New Event or Initiative Award
The New Event or Initiative Award is given in recognition of a program or initiative either in-person or virtual, that has been created in the last year and has succeeded in its execution and impact on the UM campus and its surrounding community. This award celebrates the organizations that are constantly seeking new ways to engage their members and other students. This award applies to new student organizations that hosted new events for the first time and existing organizations that have developed a new program or initiative.
Creativity and Innovation Award
The Creativity and Innovation Award is given in recognition of organizations that have shown tremendous creativity and originality in “thinking outside the box.” This award celebrates student organizations that have made creativity and innovation a top priority by enhancing an existing program or initiative . This could include programming, membership recruitment, or creative marketing.
Excellence in Member Engagement
This award is given to the organization that shows the most enthusiasm and creativity into investing in their general member body and successfully doing so. This organization has gone above and beyond in retaining and engaging their members
Leadership Development Excellence Award
The Leadership Development Excellence Award acknowledges a student organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to fostering leadership skills among its members. This accolade celebrates an organization that goes above and beyond in providing transformative experiences, mentorship, and resources aimed at cultivating the leadership potential of its members.
Engage Utilization: “Most Engaged” Award
The “Most Engaged” Award recognizes a student organization that has shown excellence in utilizing the platform of Engage to promote their mission on campus. This award celebrates a student organization that has gone above and beyond in updating their Engage page regularly, posting news and events to the UM community, and showcasing their organization through various photos.
Social Media and Marketing Award
The Social Media and Marketing Award acknowledges a student organization that has demonstrated distinction in their promotion of their organization’s purpose using online or other marketing platforms. This accolade celebrates an organization that has used strategies to enhance their visibility, engagement, and impact within and beyond the campus community.
New Student Organization Award
The New Organization of the Year Award honors a new organization that has made great strides to engage students on the UM campus through the actualization of their guiding principles. The organization must have become recognized through COSO between March 2021 and March 1st 2022.
Ibis Star Organization of the Year Award
The Ibis Star Award is presented to the organization that has had the most significant, positive impact on the University of Miami community. The organization must embody the University of Miami spirit through its commitment to leadership development, collaboration with other groups, and programmatic efforts to enhance the student experience not only of their members but of the student body at large. Organizations that have been recognized by COSO and remained active for more than one academic year will be considered.
