Awards

Chancellor’s Awards for Diversity, Inclusion and Civic Engagement

Rutgers University – Camden Chancellor’s Awards

This award recognizes individual alumni or groups of alumni for efforts and projects that benefit communities beyond the Rutgers campus. Nominations may cite alumni efforts carried out under the Rutgers banner or those carried out independently. Nominees will be judged on the scope and impact of their work.

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Gov. James J. Florio Scholarship Benefit and Distinguished Alumni Awards

Rutgers School of Law – Camden Alumni Association

Since 2009, the Association has sponsored three annual awards presented each November: the Arthur E. Armitage Sr. Distinguished Alumni Award, the Joseph M. Nardi Jr. Distinguished Service Award, and the Recent Graduate Award. These awards honor graduates who have achieved an extraordinary level of success through their legal and professional expertise, outstanding service to the Law School, and/or exemplary community leadership.

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Early Career Excellence Award, Outstanding Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award

School of Criminal Justice
Newark

Each Spring the Rutgers University-Newark School of Criminal Justice recognizes the achievements of its undergraduate alumni. These awards distinguish achievements across three different award categories.

Early Career Excellence Award
Presented in recognition for a record of significant accomplishment in the field of criminal justice within 5 years of graduating from the School.

Outstanding Service Award
Presented in recognition for civic engagement and the furtherance of social justice in one’s community (local, state, national, international) and/or demonstrated service to the University and/or School.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented in recognition of life-long contributions to the field of criminal justice through career accomplishments and the furtherance of social justice. ”

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Rutgers Business School Alumni Award Celebration

Rutgers Business School

Newark

The Rutgers Business School Alumni Award Celebration recognizes alumni who have accomplished remarkable professional and personal achievements and made outstanding contributions to their community.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes an alumna or alumnus of Rutgers Business School for their accomplishments in business, creating industry innovations, and for their significant contributions to Rutgers Business School. The recipient embodies the four pillars of RBS; Resilience, Resourcefulness, Responsibility and Reinvention.

Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award

This highly selective award of distinction celebrates an individual whose exceptional achievements, service and loyalty have made meaningful contributions to Rutgers Business School, Rutgers University, the state of New Jersey, and/or our global community as selected by the Dean.

Honorary Business Excellence Award

This award recognizes an individual whose professional achievements have brought distinction to themselves, prestige to Rutgers Business School and benefits to their fellow citizens.  This award may also be given to a non-Rutgers Business School and/or non-Rutgers University graduate who is a great partner to Rutgers Business School.  The recipient embodies the four pillars of RBS; Resilience, Resourcefulness, Responsibility and Reinvention.

Alumni Service Award

This award recognizes an alumna or alumnus of Rutgers Business School for outstanding service to RBS and/or to the University.

Alumni Rising Star Award

This award recognizes a talented alumna or alumnus of Rutgers Business School for their professional performance, leadership potential, civic responsibility, and continued engagement and service to Rutgers Business School.

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Distinguished Alumni Award; Fannie Bear Besser Award for Public Service

Newark Law
Newark

The Association has held the annual Alumni Recognition dinner since 1968, awarding the coveted Distinguished Alumni Award and the Fannie Bear Besser Award for Public Service to exceptional alumni of whom we are proud.

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Distinguished Alumni Award for Practitioner Excellence 

Awarded to SPAA Alumni for outstanding achievement in public administration and public service through applied practice in the field.

Distinguished Alumni Award for Academic Excellence

Awarded to SPAA alumni for outstanding contributions to the intellectual, theoretical, and institutional advancement of public administration.

Hall of Fame

Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC)
New Brunswick

Each year the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance recognizes and honors alumni who have distinguished themselves by contributions they have made within their communities, to the RAAA organization, to the University or in their fields of endeavor; by the leadership they have exhibited; and by the general benefits to the larger society resulting from their efforts.

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AADC Society of Excellence; Margaret T. Corwin Award, Alumnae Recognition Award, AADC Medal, Vanguard Service Award, Young Alumna Mabel Award

Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC)
New Brunswick

The AADC Society of Excellence
The AADC Society of Excellence recognizes alumnae who have brought honor to the AADC by their distinctive achievements in professional and community endeavors and their service to the AADC, including alumnae involvement and financial support.

Margaret T. Corwin Award
The Corwin Award is bestowed upon an alumna for outstanding service and commitment to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) through continued interest in and active support of its mission. This is the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College’s highest award for service to the AADC. Eligible alumnae must have given 10 years active service, not necessarily in one time period, in some field of Associate Alumnae work directly connected with the central organization. This includes outstanding participation on association committees, with alumnae classes or networks, or as a member of the Board of Directors..

Alumnae Recognition Award
The Alumnae Recognition Award recognizes alumnae who have shown exceptional and sustained service to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College for at least five years, not necessarily in one time period.

AADC Medal
The AADC Medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the success of the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College or for exceptional service due to an unprecedented event. Honorees do not have to be alumnae.

Vanguard Service Award
The Vanguard Service Award is presented to an NJC or Douglass alumna who graduated from NJC or Douglass College at least 50 years ago and has given outstanding, dedicated and sustained service to her class or to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College over time.

Young Alumna Mabel Award
The Young Alumna Mabel Award recognizes outstanding service to the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College from a recent Douglass or Douglass Residential College graduate (one who graduated no more than 10 years ago). The young alumna must have given three years of active service.”

SC&I Distinguished Alumni Award

School of Communication & Information Alumni Association
New Brunswick

Each year, the SC&I Alumni Association hosts the Distinguished Alumni Annual Dinner to honor a notable alumnus with its Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes renowned contributors to the fields of communication, journalism, information technology and informatics, or library studies.

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The Medal of Excellence, Distinguished Achievement in Industry, Distinguished Achievement in Research, Distinguished Young Alumni, Dean’s Award for Service, Rutgers Engineering Society Distinguished Engineer Award

School of Engineering
New Brunswick

The Medal of Excellence Awards, established in 2006, recognize graduates of Rutgers University School of Engineering who have distinguished themselves professionally since graduation in industry, academia, government, research, and business, while raising scholarship funds to support success.

Honorees are celebrated at a networking dinner event that is attended by alumni and SoE faculty and students, as well as an impressive representation of local industry members and other distinguished guests. In addition, the Rutgers Engineering Society (RES) presents its Distinguished Engineer Award at this event.”

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The Peterson Prize; The Alumni Organization Award for Distinguished Career Achievement; The Grace K. Smith Award; Jamila Irons-Johnson, PsyD Achievement Award

Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
New Brunswick

The Peterson Prize
The Peterson Prize is presented to an alumna/alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to professional psychology. Such contributions may include innovations in service delivery, education or training, service to under-served populations, and other creative professional efforts that enhance the general welfare.
This award, which is named after our first dean, is given to an alumna/alumnus who has made outstanding contributions to Professional Psychology. Donald Peterson (1923-2007) was the only psychologist who directed a research-oriented scientist-practitioner program, a professional program in an academic department, and a professional school in a major research university.

The Alumni Organization Award for Distinguished Career Achievement
This award recognizes GSAPP alumni who have distinguished themselves by contributions they have made in their chosen fields of endeavor, by the leadership they have exhibited, and by the general benefits to the larger society resulting from their activities.

The Grace K. Smith Award
This award is presented for Meritorious Service to the Alumni Organization (AO). The GSAPP Meritorious Service Award is named in honor of Grace K. Smith, PsyD (Class of 1978). The award may be given only to GSAPP alumni, who have rendered such “meritorious” service to the GSAPP Alumni Organization (AO). Meritorious services includes unusual service in the form of faithful and continued efforts in maintaining AO activities, active participation in alumni, graduate school, or university affairs, or assisting directly in expanding the usefulness, influence, and prestige of the GSAPP community and the university.

Jamila Irons-Johnson, PsyD Achievement Award
The Jamila Irons-Johnson, PsyD (Class of 2004) Achievement Award is given to a GSAPP student with second- or higher year standing who has demonstrated commendable academic achievement and exceptional clinical skills. Eligible students include those who exhibit a commitment to working with ethnic minority populations and/or assisting underserved children and adolescents who may have been victims of abuse, encompassed in a foster care system, or struggling with a traumatic event, anxiety disorder, or mood disorder.”

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Dennis M. Fenton Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award; George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni Award

Cook Community Alumni Association
New Brunswick

Dennis M. Fenton Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award Established in 2003 this award honors Dennis Fenton, executive vice-president of Amgen Inc., and a strong supporter of graduate education at the School of Environmental and Biological Science, formerly Cook College, and Rutgers University. Successful candidates will have a demonstrated and significant impact in their field of study. The Fenton Award is the highest honor presented by the Cook Alumni Association to advanced degree alumni. George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni Award The award, established in 1976, commemorates the life of George Hammell Cook (1818 – 1889) whose efforts helped to bring Land Grant College status to Rutgers and to create the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Dr. Cook’s inquisitive and results-oriented spirit remains active in the ideals embodied by the Cook community which includes the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the George H. Cook campus. This award is presented annually to an alumnus or to alumni whose outstanding accomplishments in professional or volunteer work reflects dignity and distinction on their alma mater. The Cook Award is the highest honor presented by the Cook Alumni Association to undergraduate alumni.

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Livingston College Distinguished Alumni Award

Livingston Alumni Association
New Brunswick

Livingston College Distinguished Alumni Award: Established in September 2000 to recognize Livingston College alumni who have distinguished themselves by contributions they have made in their chosen fields of endeavor, by the leadership they have exhibited, and by the general benefits to the larger society resulting from their activities.

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Loyal Sons & Daughters, Reunion Awards

Rutgers Alumni Association
New Brunswick

Loyal Sons and Daughters
Each year in the Spring, the Rutgers Alumni Association honors those individuals who have made a significant contribution of service to our alma mater. Among awards made to alumni volunteers by the RAA, the Loyal Son and Loyal Daughter awards are the highest recognition of service.

Reunion Awards
Each year we recognize the efforts of Rutgers Alumni by the Rutgers Alumni Association during the annual meeting at Reunion, each year, in May. We award multiple distinctions, each with a history and legacy. Click here to see the full listing.

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RBS Under 30 Award & Recognition Ceremony

The Rising Business Stars (RBS) Under 30 Program is a prestigious initiative designed to honor and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of young alumni. This program recognizes RBS graduates who have made significant contributions across various industries, embodying the values of resilience, resourcefulness, responsibility, and reinvention that define the RBS community. 

Bloustein School Alumni Awards

The Bloustein School Alumni Awards pay tribute to alumni and friends to recognize their outstanding achievement and/or service to the Bloustein School, their communities, and/or their professions. Alumni are recognized by the Bloustein School Alumni Association in the following two categories: Career Achievement and Rising Star. In 2025, we have also added a new award for retired faculty, to honor extraordinary dedication and lasting contributions, celebrating the distinguished careers of those who have shaped the minds of countless students, made significant research contributions to their field, and long-standing service to Bloustein and the Rutgers academic community at large.

Corporate Social Innovation Excellence Awards

On May 1, 2025 RICSI will host the Corporate Social Innovation Excellence Awards at the Rutgers Club in New Brunswick, NJ.  At the event we will recognize organizations, groups and individuals that are demonstrating the potential for business to achieve social good. In particular, recognition will be given to corporations that demonstrate an integrated effort across our four pillars: Giving Back to Society, Aligning Profit and Purpose, Engaging in Responsible Business Practices, and Advocating for Social Issues. Additional recognitions may also be awarded.

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Distinguished Alumni Award

School of Health Professions
Rutgers Health

Awarded by the School of Health Professions. Presented on behalf of faculty and students to an alumnus in recognition of outstanding achievement in their specialty.

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Outstanding Alumni Award, Rising Star Alumni Award

School of Nursing (NB & Newark)
Rutgers Health

Since 1985 the Alumni Association has presented an award to honor exceptional nursing alumni. The Rutgers School of Nursing Outstanding Alumnus Award honors alumni who have epitomized the Rutgers Nursing tradition of excellence in action. The honor is conferred on a graduate of the undergraduate or graduate program who has demonstrated achievements in the area of leadership, creativity, innovation and has contributed to the advancement of the profession and/or to our school. This is achieved through a graduate’s personal accomplishment, professional achievement, or humanitarian service. Learn more about nominations and view past winners.

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Distinguished Alumni Award

School of Public Health
Rutgers Health

The Distinguished Alumni Award was established to recognize the excellence of highly exceptional graduates from the Rutgers School of Public Health (or UMDNJ School of Public Health) who have made significant publicly-recognized contributions to the profession, state of New Jersey, or the nation. All faculty and alumni are encouraged to nominate worthy candidates. 

Information for nominations for 2025 will be forthcoming.