All events, organizations, and individuals must have taken place or have been active between March 2022 - March 2023.
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Programming Or Initiative Awards (15)
Outstanding Educational Program & Initiative
The Academic Programming Initiative Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an initiative, event, or a series of events promoting a strong academic or professional culture.
Community Outreach & Social Change Initiative
The Community Outreach & Social Change Initiative Award honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of events either in-person or virtual, that has had a significant impact on the greater Miami community.
Intercultural Awareness Initiative
The Intercultural Awareness Initiative honors an organization that excels in coordinating an initiative, event, or a series of events either in-person or virtual, promoting or providing opportunities for cultural expression on campus and the greater Miami community.
Health & Wellness
The Health & Wellness awards recognizes an org that has put on event focusing on improving and bringing awareness to Health and Wellness matters. Orgs may achieve this by hosting service events that puts students on the frontline to address these issues.
Collaborative Program of the Year (2)
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.
2026 Winners:
- Canes Volleyball Welcome Scrimmage- Category 5 and Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement
- The Hillel and UCatholic Interfaith Educational Program
Link:
- https://saso.studentaffairs.miami.edu/programs-and-events/category-5/index.html
- https://miami.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/university-of-miami-hillel
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.
Performing Arts
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.
Programming Board
Honors an organization that excels in coordinating programming and entertainment promoting wide campus involvement.
Best Week Ever
Honors an organization that excels in coordinating an event or a series of events in a given week.
Academic, Honorary, & Professional
Honors an organization that has demonstrated outstanding success in coordinating an initiative, event, or series of events that promote a strong academic or professional culture on campus.
Club Sports
Recognizes an organization that has demonstrated exceptional effort in coordinating an event or series of events that promote successful recruitment and retention of members, sportsmanship, alongside consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perseverance.
Communities
Recognizes an organization that has demonstrated remarkable creativity and passion in coordinating an event or series of events celebrating and promoting unique interests within the UM community.
Multi Faith & Spirituality
Recognizes an organization that has demonstrated a thoughtful and inclusive approach to spiritual and religious life on campus by coordinating an initiative, event, or series of events that promote awareness and respect for diverse spiritual and religious practices, philosophies, and beliefs.
People's Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award is determined exclusively by student votes during SOAR registration. It recognizes the student organization that made the biggest impact at the event- engaging attendees with the most creative, interactive, and memorable presence.
Individual Awards (10)
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.
- 2026 Winner: Anthony Alfonso
Advisor of the Year
The award for Advisor of the Year is presented to a student organization advisor that has gone above and beyond in their support and encouragement of their student organization and its members. Advisors are crucial to their organizations’ success and deserve recognition for their dedication.
- 2026 Winner: David Steinberg
The David Lin Unsung Hero Award
For three years, COSO was honored to have David Lin as a member of the COSO family. His hard work, infectious positivity and influence from behind the scenes significantly impacted COSO in a way that is impossible to forget. In his honor COSO renamed the “Unsung Hero” after his quiet yet substantial commitment to the work that we do. 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 (2)
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.
- 2026 Winners: Lauren Novorska and Ivana Liberatore
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.
- 2026 Winner: Summer Nelson
Bleed Orange and Green Award
This Student Leader celebrates a student leader who exemplifies true Hurricane pride. This individual actively promotes school spirit, engages in campus life, and expresses their love for the University of Miami in creative and impactful ways.
- 2026 Winner: William Skinner
Culture of Belonging Advocate Award
The Culture of Belonging Advocate Award recognizes a student leader who actively fosters an inclusive and welcoming environment. The recipient ensures that all individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered while promoting diverse perspectives and meaningful connections across the UM community.
- 2026 Winner: Courtney Hartung
Resilient Leader Award
The Resilient Leader Award honors a student who has demonstrated outstanding perseverance, adaptability, and strength in overcoming challenges. This individual approaches adversity with determination and maintains a positive growth mindset.
Organizational Awards (6)
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.
Ibis Star Organization of the Year
The Organization of the Year 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.
Excellence in Member Engagement
This award is given to the organization that shows the most enthusiasm and creativity in investing in their general member body and successfully doing so. This organization has gone above and beyond in retaining and engaging its members.
New Student Organization
Honors a new organization that has made great strides to engage students through the actualization of their guiding principles. Despite being recently started, they have been able to gain a large following and rapidly grow their membership.
- 2026 Winner: Global Dental Brigades
- Engage Link: https://miami.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/gdb
100 Years of Excellence
This award celebrates a student organization that has upheld the legacy of excellence, leadership, and impact that defines the University of Miami’s 100-year history. The recipient embodies the spirit of tradition, innovation, and community while making a lasting contribution to campus life.
Leadership & Development
The award honors 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.
Social Media and Marketing Award
This award honors a student organization that has demonstrated distinction in the promotion of their organization’s purpose using online or other marketing platforms. This accolade celebrates an organization that has used clever strategies to enhance their visibility, engagement, and impact within and beyond the campus community.
