personal statement for award nomination

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

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Five Tips for Writing a Strong Letter of Support for an Award

Dr. natasha kenny, phd, & dr. carol berenson, phd, taylor institute for teaching and learning .

November 2017

Over the past three years, we have had the privilege of reviewing hundreds of nomination packages for the  University of Calgary Teaching Awards  program. The letters of support provide a key component and piece of evidence in every nomination package; depending on the award, those letters may be written by colleagues or students. The following five tips highlight what makes a strong letter of support stand out.

Set the stage

Set the stage by describing who you are and how you know the nominee. If you are a student or are inviting a student to prepare a letter, please note that letters of support must only be written by former students of the nominee (i.e. they are not currently taught or supervised by the nominee), and this should be clearly indicated at the beginning of the letter.

Some typical excerpts* from the first paragraphs of support letters may read:

It is my pleasure to write this letter in support of Dr. White’s nomination for a University of Calgary Teaching Award (Full-Time Academic Staff). I am a former student of Dr. White’s. I was an undergraduate student in her course on addictions in fall 2016, and was also an undergraduate research assistant in her lab during the summer of 2017.

It is with great admiration that I write this letter in support of Dr. White’s nomination for a University of Calgary Teaching Award (Full-Time Academic Staff). I am currently an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, and have been a colleague of Dr. White’s for the past 7 years.

Be explicit

Be explicit when describing what the nominee has done to make her or himself stand out, why this was important to you, and what difference she or he has made to you and others. What are their most important contributions? What makes this nominee memorable? What specific activities, situations, or contexts provide examples of how the nominee has made a difference to student learning? What impact have their contributions had on you? These narratives paint a picture that helps those reading the dossier “see” the nominee in the classroom.

Most award nomination will include statements such as:

Dr. White is a generous/enthusiastic/motivating/inspiring instructor…. 

Strong support letters are set apart by explicit examples of what makes the nominee enthusiastic, motivating and/or inspiring.  For example:

Dr. White is an inspiring instructor, who links theory to practice, and provides relevant real-world examples of how the course material relates to current events.  In our second-year psychology course, Dr. White consistently used case-studies to provide us with an opportunity to explore what we were covering in class. I recall a specific case study which had us reflect on how the opioid crisis in Canada was impacting adolescents.  She used an in-depth and authentic case to compassionately lead us towards understanding the complexity of the situation. She established a positive classroom climate, and taught us the skills necessary to voice, listen to, and deeply understand each other’s points of view.  She consistently encouraged us to consider how our viewpoints and opinions linked back to the evidence and theories presented in our course readings. I continue to carry these skills with me, even at the Thanksgiving table with my family! This particular discussion inspired me not only to think critically about the course subject matter, but was also the beginning of leading me towards a career path in mental health and addictions counselling. 

Dr. White is an incredibly dedicated and generous colleague. She has been a mentor to me since I started teaching at the University of Calgary. During my first year as a faculty member, I was assigned to teach a large introductory course, with over 400 students. At the time, I struggled to imagine how I would actively engage students, and Dr. White, who shared an office next to mine, opened her door to what would become our weekly “teaching chats.” At our first chat, she shared in conversation about her use of case-studies in large classes. During the months leading up to this course, she worked with me to develop relevant cases, and strategies for using blended learning approaches to facilitate on-line and in-class dialogue to engage the students. Despite the large class size, students responded positively and engaged fully throughout this course.  I never imagined having near perfect attendance in such a large class! Students arrived ready and eager to discuss the cases, and the online discussion forum was alive with students’ insights and ideas. Case studies have now become a foundational component of my teaching practice, and Dr. White and I have gone on to publish papers in our discipline’s educational journals related to using case studies to enhance student learning experiences in large courses. Our “teaching chats” remain scheduled in our calendars, every Thursday afternoon from 3:00-3:30pm. I recently received our faculty’s teaching award, and attribute much of the success in my teaching career to Dr. White’s mentorship.

Speak directly to the award criteria

If you are asked to provide a letter of support, ask the nominee to forward you a description and/or the call for nomination for the award. Don’t hesitate to inquire about what they would like you to highlight in relation to the award criteria. Are there one or two strengths that they would like you to highlight? After completing the letter, forward it onto the nominee or nominator for additional feedback. Is there anything they would like you to change or highlight further? Intentionally use and incorporate the language used in the award criteria to highlight the nominee’s strengths.

The following excerpt illustrates how a support letter highlights the award criteria (“challenge learners to practice and develop their critical thinking and independent learning abilities”).

I always appreciated how Dr. White’s classes challenged me to think critically and introspectively about the course material. Through the course assignments and discussions, I was consistently inspired to consider how the material related to my life and academic work, especially within the context of my independent undergraduate research honours project. For example, through a learning journal assignment, I deeply explored my fundamental beliefs and assumptions about how addictions and mental health were portrayed in mainstream and social media. This assignment encouraged me to think differently about the influence media has on our perceptions and beliefs about mental health and addictions. This new understanding has carried over into other areas of my academic studies and given me the confidence and language to engage in meaningful conversations with family and friends about this challenging topic. In fact, this assignment helped further focus my undergraduate research project, which centers on the role Twitter and Facebook play on influencing our beliefs and perceptions of anxiety and depression.

Use accessible language

The University of Calgary Teaching Awards adjudication committees are composed of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars.  To avoid a potential conflict of interest, these members are often from faculties different from those of the nominees in that particular award category. The best letters of support avoid jargon, and ensure that the contexts and evidence presented are clearly accessible to a broad audience, outside of the discipline. If a discipline-specific term must be used, remember to define it for the reader within the context of the letter. If they include acronyms, they are also clearly spelled out and put in context. If references to particular courses are made, they also include the course title. The best letters are clear, concise and direct in their language and context.

Be professional: Presentation matters

This piece of advice is pretty straightforward, but I am always surprised how many times it is overlooked. Letters of support should include:

• Your organizational/departmental letterhead if possible. If you don’t currently have an organizational letterhead, include your name, title and a return address in the header.
• The address of who you are addressing the letter to (e.g. University of Calgary Teaching Awards Committee, 434 Collegiate Blvd. University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4V8)
• A date (month, day, and year the letter was prepared)
• A greeting or salutation. If you do not know how to directly address the letter, a professional salutation such as, “Dear Award Committee Members:” is appropriate.
• A closing (e.g. “Sincerely,” or “Kind Regards,”)
• A signature line including your name and role (e.g. Sasha Cook, BA, Class of 2017, or Dr. Anna Glass, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology)
• A signature. I am surprised how often this is overlooked. A signature helps to communicate the authenticity of the letter.

Writing a letter of support takes careful thought. These letters provide an important opportunity and artefact to recognize the many outstanding (and all too often hidden) contributions that educators across our academic community make to student learning. Know that taking the time to prepare a letter of a support makes a difference – to the nominee, nominators, departments, faculties, and awards adjudication committee members. Your letters help bring the excellence and heart of UCalgary’s teaching and learning community to life!  Thank you for your commitment to acknowledging those who expand our thinking, strengthen our teaching and learning community, and touch our lives in so many meaningful and diverse ways.

Related content

What makes a strong teaching award nomination letter.

Read more >>

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Writing a Personal Statement

The personal statement is the single most important component of many scholarship applications. It is your opportunity to speak to the selection committee in your own voice, to tell them who you are, why you study X, what you would like to do with your life, and why you need to complete a particular graduate program or academic experience along the way. A personal statement is challenging to write, but it is also a useful learning experience. You will ask yourself, and begin to answer, important questions about what matters most to you, and why. You will dare yourself to think large about what you are capable of, and perhaps come to some important conclusions about the contribution you would like to make to the world, whether you win the scholarship or not. Writing a personal statement can also be the occasion for substantive conversations with your faculty mentors and advisors.

There is no single right way to write a personal statement, but we hope the following tips will help you.

• Read the instructions for the specific scholarship, and follow them. Most scholarship instructions are open-ended enough to give you some leeway as to how to structure your statement and what to include. However, a personal statement that fails to address the requested topics is unlikely to succeed, no matter how well-written.
• Expect to write several drafts. Early in the writing process, allow yourself the freedom to try a variety of approaches and to write expansively, without worrying about length limits. It’s better to start with too much than not enough.
• Seek feedback on your drafts from faculty mentors, the campus scholarship advisor, etc., if the scholarship program permits (the American Rhodes does not). Ask several people for advice (if this is allowed), but expect that their recommendations will differ. It’s your essay, and you are in charge of weighing the advice and deciding what is useful.
• Write like the intelligent person you are in clear, straightforward language. It’s not necessary to embellish your essay with poetic metaphors or obscure or highly specialized terms. If you must use a specialized term, be sure to define it so that selection judges outside of your field will know what you’re talking about.
• Use a style guide. We highly recommend The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. It's cheap, short, and sweet!
• Most personal statements are brief and must be concise. It is not necessary to write formal introductory and concluding paragraphs—these tend to be repetitive and can waste space.
• Don’t be boring. A personal statement should not be a narrative version of your resume. Vague generalities, clichés, and statements that most scholarship applicants could make will not help you. Details make writing come alive.
• Be forward-looking. Focus mostly on the present and future; be selective and deliberate about including past experiences and make them part of the story of who you are now and where you’re headed. Don’t imply that you "deserve" a scholarship because of what you’ve done in the past.
• Non-academics are very important and may be included, but keep the main focus your academic interests and plans.
• Say what you really think. The selection committee wants to get to know you, not the imaginary person you think they are looking for.
• Do your homework. Know the graduate program you’re proposing; make sure you’re qualified for it. Don’t rely on touting the international reputation of a university like Cambridge to explain your interest in studying there.
• Show, don't tell, what a great candidate you are. Avoid describing yourself as "the ideal candidate," "best candidate," "perfect fit," etc. This is for others to judge.
• Keep it positive. Express your eagerness to learn something new rather than deplore your ignorance for not knowing it already.
• Make it perfect. Your personal statement should be grammatically flawless and free of typos. The words should be carefully chosen, and the essay should flow naturally. Make sure that you are within the prescribed length limit.

How to write a great awards nomination

When it comes to winning awards, writing a great nomination is half the battle.

If you’re thinking about putting a cloud superstar, an innovative organization, or a transformative digital project forward for one of our awards this year, we’ve pulled together some top tips to help you smash your nomination and give your nominee the best possible shot at landing a Digital Revolution Award! 

Plus, read advice from our expert judging panel on what they’ll be looking out for.

Where's the proof?

Right off the bat, your nomination needs to make it clear to the judge reading it who you’re nominating and why. Think of your nomination like a news story—you open with the key points, summing up the story in a few lines, and get into more detail as you go.

Make sure your nomination covers who the nominee is, what they do, why they or their work is notable, and what impact has their work has had up top, so the reader has proper context as you expand on your nomination. 

Nail the basics

Providing hard evidence to back up your reasoning is the best way to sell your nomination. Make sure you include links to news articles, case studies, videos, social media posts, or testimonials in your nomination; basically anything that backs up what you’re saying and showcases your nominee’s work or achievements!

“ Before you even begin writing or filming your submission, it’s important to plan ahead and consider the category that you’re entering,” advises Zoë Morris, President at Frank Recruitment Group.

“Firstly, you’ll want to make sure the person or organization you’re nominating meets the criteria, but also that your submission will highlight this. If you’re unsure where to start, looking at previous winners or shortlists can show you examples of what has caught a panel’s attention before.”

Be specific

Judges will look for tangible examples of excellence and achievement; it’s easy to say that your colleague is great, but make sure you explain why!

Focus on outcome and impact: What did your nominee achieve, and what effects did it have? How did their actions improve or change things? Don’t exaggerate, but don’t be afraid to blow your own or your nominee’s trumpet either!

“Y ou need to figure out the key points you want to make, and those that tick the boxes of the award itself,”  says Zoë Morris, “ to ensure it’s a clear and concise submission. Remember that great work speaks for itself, so don’t be tempted to go overboard explaining the reasoning behind your nomination.”  

Referring back to the award criteria to make sure you hit the key points is a valuable way to stay on track and make sure you’re delivering everything judges need to weigh up your submission.

“A nomination needs to be crisp, concise, and focus on outcomes achieved without loads of motherhood statements,” advises Wendy O’Keeffe, Executive Vice President and Managing Director at NEXTGEN Asia.

“Be clear about what you have achieved and what impact that had on your business, customer, or community.”

Show your passion

Of course, quality matters, but an outstanding nomination isn’t about being word-perfect; it’s about letting your passion and admiration for the nominee shine through.

Be personal and feel free to include anecdotes and personal stories if they’re relevant; these may be cloud computing awards, but we’re all about celebrating the human achievements behind the tech. (Don’t feel that you need to move anyone to tears here either, though. This isn’t the Oscars.)

Spellcheck is your friend

Nothing undermines your efforts to celebrate excellence like poor spelling and grammar, so spellcheck your nomination before you send it! The judges have many nominations to read, and no one wants to second-guess a nomination because it’s difficult to read or understand.

Don't procrastinate when you nominate

Don’t leave it too late! There’s nothing worse than writing a panicked nomination hours before the deadline, only to realize later that you’ve missed out important information. Of course, you don’t have to submit your nomination immediately but start on it in good time in case you think of something else to add later.

How to submit your Digital Revolution Awards nomination

Ready to submit your nomination and give someone in the cloud space a round of applause? Here’s what you’ll need to submit your Digital Revolution Awards nomination: 

• Your details and contact information
• Your nominee's details, including name, job title, company, contact information, social media profiles
• Your reasons for nomination, including evidence like links, case studies, or video if applicable

Nominations should be a maximum of 800 words (we need those juicy details, although not so many that they fill a book!), and you can include links to supporting evidence within that limit. You also can submit a short video outlining your nomination if that’s more your style!

Follow the Digital Revolution Awards on Twitter for the latest news and updates.

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4 Tips for Writing a Compelling Award Nomination

Throughout your life, you’ll connect with people, both personally and professionally, who you feel are deserving of recognition. If you come across an award that would be perfectly suited for them, you may be required to submit a formal nomination letter, but finding the right words can be challenging.

The person or panel who is responsible for determining who the award recipient will be must often do their due diligence by reviewing a complete package on each nominee. This typically includes a resume, social media profiles and a recommendation or nomination letter.

Whether you were asked to write an award nomination letter or chose to submit one on your own, following these four tips will help you craft a compelling nomination that will impress any selection committee.

Showcase What Makes your Nominee Unique

Naturally, most people who are nominated for an award are qualified in some way to receive it. So, to ensure your nominee stands out from the rest, try to include interesting details about their career and experiences that will help sway the person or panel who will be selecting the award winner. While your nominee may have similar professional achievements to others in their category, the unique combination of their personal and professional accomplishments could give them the edge over their competition.

Of course, you’ll need to include some key points from their work experience, but try to provide additional detail that goes beyond their resume. For instance, your nominee might have an impressive history of community contributions or they may have spent time on a mission trip abroad. These are details that could make them a more attractive candidate to receive the award.  

Include Personal Anecdotes

When you’ve spent an extended amount of time with someone, whether they’re a personal friend or colleague, you are bound to have firsthand experiences that you can share in your award nomination letter. Because decision makers are typically tasked with taking a wholistic view of each nominee when choosing a recipient, it’s helpful to include personal anecdotes about your nominee to give additional evidence of their qualifications. This will not only make your nomination more credible, but also more compelling.

Research the History of the Award

Before you begin writing your nomination, take some time to research the history of the award and previous award recipients. While there’s typically a list of qualifying criteria available to help you better determine if your nominee would even be eligible, doing some additional research on past winners will help you better determine the type of information you should include about the person you’re nominating. If the award has historically been given to people who are involved in the community, you’ll know to put more emphasis on your nominee’s volunteer contributions.

Focus on the Impact of Their Contributions

When writing the nomination, highlight your nominee’s accomplishments by not only stating what they did, but also showcasing why it matters. For example, your nominee may have implemented an impressive new program or process at work. Rather than just including that simple statement, dive deeper into the ways that the program has saved the company time, money or manpower. If they volunteer on a nonprofit board, go into detail about the ways the organization impacts the lives of the people it serves and how your nominee’s service has contributed to the mission.

Though there can never be a guarantee that your nominee will win an award you’ve submitted them for, ensuring that you present a complete profile of the person’s professional and personal achievements is the best way to set them apart in a pool of qualified applicants.

For more helpful information about awards and recognition, check out our blog or call 850-659-0860 to learn about all of the recognition items Awards4U has to offer.

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Tips on how to write a compelling nomination or letter of support. - Our People - Purdue Engineering

Tips on how to write a compelling nomination or letter of support.

• Be sure the nomination fits the award. Carefully research the award criteria and be sure you can match the nominee’s achievements to the award criteria.
• Cite specifics. Use specific and concrete examples to illustrate how the nominee meets each of the eligibility and award criteria. For example, explain how the nominee showed ongoing initiative, leadership, and dedication. Explain how the nominee earned respect of their peers, became a role model, or demonstrated innovation or creativity that delivered lasting results. What challenges did they have to overcome that were over and above routine challenges expected in the role?
• Cite impact. Describe as vividly and precisely as possible the impacts of the contributions made by the nominee. Explain why these impacts have been important. For example, how were things before versus now? What is the scale of the achievement? Why is it outstanding, exceptional, over and above the nominee’s normal duties and expected impact?
• Establish authority. Provide a range of perspectives. Make it clear who you are, your relationship to the nominee, how long you’ve known him/her, how is it that you are qualified to write this letter. It is often perceived that a letter of support written by an influential or high-profile individual will automatically give it more weight; however, this is not the case if the letter does not specifically address the nominee’s merits. It is OK if the same story is repeated in letters of support; ideally it will show impact from multiple perspectives.
• Format your nomination to help readers. A committee member might be reading 150 pages of award nominations in a single sitting. Make it easy for the reader who returns to skim your nomination to refresh their memory of salient points. Your opening statement should state why the nominee deserves the award. Clearly outline the contributions and impact, maybe even number them. Consider bolding key points. Make it as specific as possible to the criteria. For example, if the award criteria includes the word “innovation,” use that word: “The nominee demonstrated innovation by…”.
• Keep it formal. Use words that develop authenticity and trust, such as innovative, leadership, mentor, pioneer, initiated, role model, respect, inspirational, admired, trusted, and passionate.Avoid trite words such as amazing, nice, and awesome.
• Use the allotted space to make your case, submit complete applications. Use the full page or word count allotment to make your case. Short and sweet isn’t better if someone else is using three times as many words to tout their nominee’s merits. However, do not exceed the page or word allotment. Be sure all rules are followed in the application, all signatures are obtained, and the application is complete before submitting. When faced with a daunting pile of nomination packages to review, often reviewers will look for opportunities to quickly eliminate a nomination. Don’t let your nominee’s package be rejected because of a minor technicality.

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Tips for Writing Award Nominations

Nomination writing strategies.

• Follow the directions!
• Help the selection committee "see" your nominee's attributes and contributions. Cite specific examples: use descriptive language and provide an example that shows the attribute.
• Be specific in how the nominee met the award criteria. Provide concrete examples.
• Avoid too many pronouns and run-on sentences. Make the narrative clear and easy to read.
• It's the quality  not the quantity of nominations!
• Proofread your statements.
• Leave fancy words out. Communicate sincerity and personal commitment.
• Avoid sweeping generalities and make every sentence count.
• Have others review and critique your work before you submit your nomination letter/form.
• Solicit letters of support from others whose reputations will help the nominee be considered favorably. Supply helpful information to the writers of supporting letters.
• Share how your nominee reflects the division's core values and beliefs regarding service.
• Describe unique characteristics that are more than just what a great or nice person this nominee is.
• Always assume the judge/reviewer does not know your candidate.
• NASA Award Winning Nominations
• Sample Nomination Letter

Student Self-Nominations

How to self-nominate:.

If you would like to nominate yourself for an individual award or prize, please adhere to this process:

• Visit the Nomination Form page for links to the application.
• We encourage applicants to keep their personal statements to 1-1.5 pages. 
• Personal statements should address the criteria for the award(s) you are applying to.  If it’s an award about entrepreneurship, it should address that.  If it’s an award for community leadership, it should include those achievements.  Include all the criteria into one personal statement if you are applying for multiple awards (exception for Distinguished Leadership, below).

If you are applying for the Distinguished Leadership Award, your Personal Statement must answer the following prompt. All other award personal statements should reflect the criteria for all awards selected and do not have a specific prompt. Distinguished Leadership Prompt: How do you view your role as a leader? How has this impacted your personal leadership style, your capacity to be an effective leader, and your ability to collaborate with others? How will you continue to apply what you have learned about leadership in your future endeavors?

• Be prepared to attach supplemental information (resume, personal statement) directly onto the nomination form.
• Following the deadline, departments will review all self-nominations and select final candidates for College consideration.  All self-nominations must include a personal statement.  

Nominations for these awards:

Applications for Winter 2024 awards will be accepted until January 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST.  Unfortunately, no late award nominations or supplemental materials can be accepted after this deadline.

For descriptions of each award, please see the Award and Prize Description page .

Please email  [email protected] with any questions.

Ultimate Letter Nominating Someone for an Award Template

Through this article, I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to craft an effective nomination letter, share personal tips from my experience, and provide a customizable template to make your task easier.

Nominee Qualification Tool

This quiz is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee nomination approval.

Key Takeaways: Understand the Award: Know the criteria and tailor your letter accordingly. Personalize Your Letter: Share specific examples and stories to illustrate the nominee’s qualifications. Be Concise yet Comprehensive: Include all necessary details without being overly wordy. Proofread: Ensure your letter is error-free and professionally presented. Use a Template: Adapt a provided unique template to suit your nominee’s context.

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Step 1: Understand the Purpose and Criteria of the Award

Before you start writing, it’s crucial to understand the award’s purpose and the criteria. This knowledge will shape your letter, ensuring that your nominee’s achievements align with what the award committee is looking for.

Tip: Reach out to the awarding body for any clarifications. It’s always better to have a clear understanding than to make assumptions.

Step 2: Get to Know the Nominee

If you’re nominating someone, chances are you already know them well. However, it’s important to gather comprehensive information about their achievements, contributions, and the impact of their work.

Tip: Interview colleagues or peers of the nominee for additional insights and stories that you might not be aware of.

Step 3: Draft the Letter

Now, onto the actual writing part. Your letter should be structured as follows:

• Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and your relationship with the nominee.
• Body: This section is the heart of your letter. Describe the nominee’s achievements, providing specific examples and illustrating their impact.
• Conclusion: Summarize why the nominee deserves the award, reiterating their key qualifications.

Tip: Use a narrative style to weave in personal stories and examples, making your letter engaging and memorable.

Step 4: Provide Specific Examples

It’s not enough to say someone is outstanding; you need to show why. Provide specific examples of the nominee’s achievements, using metrics or anecdotes to illustrate their impact.

Tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your examples clearly and compellingly.

Step 5: Keep It Concise Yet Comprehensive

While it’s important to be thorough, your letter should also be concise. Aim for a balance where you provide enough detail to support your nomination without overwhelming the reader.

Tip: Limit your letter to one or two pages, focusing on the most compelling content.

Step 6: Conclude with a Strong Endorsement

End your letter with a strong statement supporting the nominee’s selection for the award. Make it clear that you wholeheartedly believe they are the best choice.

Step 7: Proofread and Edit

Before submitting your letter, proofread it for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-polished letter reflects your professionalism and the seriousness of your nomination.

Tip: Have someone else review your letter. A fresh pair of eyes can catch errors you might have missed.

Template for Nomination Letter

[Your Name] [Your Position] [Your Organization] [Date]

[Recipient’s Name] [Recipient’s Position] [Award Committee/Organization]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am [Your Name], a [Your Position] at [Your Organization], and I am writing to nominate [Nominee’s Name] for [Award Name]. [Briefly explain your relationship with the nominee and your reason for nominating them.]

[In the body, elaborate on the nominee’s qualifications, achievements, and the impact of their work, providing specific examples.]

In conclusion, [Nominee’s Name] exemplifies the qualities and achievements deserving of [Award Name]. Their contributions to [specific field or area] have been invaluable, and I believe they stand out as a prime candidate for this recognition.

Thank you for considering my nomination.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

In conclusion, writing a nomination letter is a meaningful gesture that can have a significant impact on someone’s career or personal life.

By following these steps and utilizing the template provided, you can create a compelling nomination letter that highlights the nominee’s achievements and qualifications.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with writing nomination letters or any additional tips you might have. Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

Accomplishments Timeline Generator

Frequently asked questions (faqs), q: how do i write an impactful letter nominating someone for an award .

Answer : I focused on specific achievements and personal anecdotes that highlighted the nominee’s exceptional qualities and contributions. 

By weaving a narrative that connected their accomplishments to the award’s criteria, I crafted a compelling and personalized endorsement.

Q: What should I avoid in a nomination letter? 

Answer : In my experience, avoiding generic statements and excessive flattery was crucial. I concentrated on providing concrete examples and genuine insights into the nominee’s merits, which added credibility and substance to my recommendation.

Q: How long should my nomination letter be? 

Answer : I found that brevity combined with substance is key. I aimed for a one-page letter that was succinct yet powerful, ensuring every word contributed to building a strong case for the nominee.

Q: Can I include personal stories in my nomination letter? 

Answer : Absolutely, personal anecdotes can be very effective. I shared a specific story that illustrated the nominee’s character and achievements, making the letter more engaging and memorable.

Q: How do I select the right achievements to highlight in the nomination letter?

Answer : I chose achievements that directly aligned with the award’s criteria. By selecting accomplishments that demonstrated the nominee’s impact and relevance to the award, I ensured the nomination was persuasive and targeted.

Q: Is it important to know about the award when writing a nomination letter?

Answer : Definitely, understanding the award’s purpose and criteria helped me tailor the nomination to emphasize aspects of the nominee’s work that resonated most with the award’s goals, making my recommendation more relevant and effective.

Q: How do I conclude a nomination letter effectively? 

Answer : I ended with a strong, concise statement reaffirming my endorsement, summarizing the nominee’s qualifications, and expressing my genuine belief in their worthiness for the award, leaving a lasting impression on the committee.

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• How to nominate

General guidance for writing a nomination

General guidance for individual nominees and teams, as a general rule:.

• Ensure you write your nomination in plenty of time before the submissions close- this is especially important if you want others to contribute and provide their own testimonials/evidence to support the nomination.
• Make sure you select the most appropriate Award (and category) for your nominee. Read the descriptions carefully before deciding which one is the most appropriate to nominate them for.
• There is a maximum word count so choose your words wisely, but don’t be afraid to make use of it to provide sufficient evidence.
• Testimonials should be generated to add further impact to your statement and back up the content you have provided.
• Read the specific guidance from the chosen category about what criteria the nomination is scored against. Ensure your statement effectively answers the points/questions raised.
• You could use headings to break up your statement to make it easier for the panel members to follow especially if they need to refer to specific areas/points when scoring the nominee.
• Nominations are scored using only the information included on the form so don’t assume the panel know anything about the nominee as it is likely they don’t.
• Always proof read (and spell check) the final version of the nomination before the final submission and ensure you have responded to each of the points in the guidance for that category.
• Ensure all information submitted is accurate and authentic.

Individual or team nomination

• Specify which type of nomination it is. This will apply to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion plus Collegiality.
• If it is a team nomination, include the names of each team member, who is leading the team and the team name.

Relationship to the nominee

• Describe your working relationship with the nominee
• This section does not need to be particularly long.
• You could also include how long you have worked with them/known them in a professional capacity to “set the scene” as to why they meet the eligibility criteria for the award category.

How does the nominee merit the award?

• Start with a brief and specific statement of why the nominee/team deserves recognition.
• It should clearly outline the contributions that the nominee has made (to then elaborate further in the next section)
• It should be concise but not ambiguous- ensure each sentence is to the point
• This section can incorporate different paragraphs (perhaps with headings to help break it up to make it clearer to read and follow)
• It is your opportunity to refer to the criteria on the category guidance- ensure you address each respective point and provide specific examples and evidence of what the nominee has done to meet this criteria (and why they should win the award).
• Think of exceptional examples- the nominees’ accomplishments, any challenges they faced and how they resolved them, the impact they had have (within their team, department, and wider College community)
• Be clear on what the nominees role and contribution is in each example.

Key benefits

• This next section should elaborate slightly further with what was written in the previous section.
• Include any impact on students (if appropriate).
• Then discuss the outcomes and results of these examples- which stakeholders/involved parties has it benefited? Explain why and how.
• Was the nominee’s work/project/leadership above and beyond what would be expected of their role and if so why? List examples. Does it demonstrate leading best practice/worthy of being a role model/leader and recognition in their work/research?
• If the work/research/project is not yet complete, has it at least set important milestones for others to follow in their lead?
• What is the positive, long-term effect?

Nomination comments

• This is the opportunity to briefly reiterate the points made in the previous sections and make another clear statement as to why the nominee deserves to be considered.
• It would be helpful to also include statements of commendation from other staff- ensure this doesn’t include statements from other staff who may be directly involved in the nominee’s line management to avoid bias.
• Reinforce the notable attributes described in the main body of the submission
• Conclude how their achievements contribute to Imperial’s strategic vision and Imperial’s values and behaviours.
• Include any additional thoughts, comments and recommendations that the panel should be aware of.

Always remember

• Remain aware of the word count so choose your words wisely but don’t be afraid to make use of it.
• Refer to the individual guidance for each award category.
• The selection panel will want to see clear evidence of the nominee meeting the eligibility criteria as the panel can only score using the information included.
• There are useful examples in each guideline document for you to refer to when describing the nominee’s achievements.

Ross Way Staff Excellence Award

Sample Nominations

In order to make the nomination process more accessible, the committee will accept nominations in essay or bullet point format. When using either format, please give detailed, descriptive examples. 

EXAMPLE 1 – ESSAY FORMAT

My nominee brings strong assets to their role and our group is incredibly fortunate to have them as our administrator.

First, they are dedicated and hardworking. They are extremely organized and focused on continuously learning and developing best practices to manage routine activities both efficiently and effectively. They bring a positive high energy and a personal touch. When I began my term as chair, they had developed processes and procedures over the years for managing our department that thoroughly impressed me. This brings consistency, as department chairs rotate, and helps each of us to start our term running, rather than scrambling to orient ourselves.

They bring true professional attributes to Ross and genuinely care about delivering excellent quality work. They strive to integrate both an understanding of the big picture strategy and goals (for the school, for the department), as well as attention to details. Many times over the last few years, I have approached them on a non-standard matter with only a vague idea in my mind of what we needed or wanted to do. They took the initiative to figure out what the area needed with minimal guidance from me, and then delivered on the task as well. They also always go above and beyond the call of duty in pursuing excellence. For example, in supporting our department retreat, they collaborated with the departmental committee as a team member and found creative ways to support the vision of the event with regards to the venue. The event received rave reviews by all and helped build the culture of our department.

My nominee easily develops and fosters relationships with faculty, doctoral students, and our guests. They actively participate in meetings and events; their participation enables them to understand the departments’ implicit needs and initiate ideas to support our efforts. They are terrific in welcoming our new faculty members and doctoral students, helping them adjust to the Ross School and Ann Arbor more generally. Likewise, our guest speakers and recruiting candidates encounter high quality facilitation of travel and accommodation, a welcoming personal hello, and we get rave reviews from them.

I highly recommend my nominee for a Ross Staff Recognition Award. They are motivated and positively engaged, serving as a true inspiration.

EXAMPLE 2 – Bulleted List

• They are always available to give advice and problem-solve
• They have a wonderful understanding of the departments in Ross and will often seek out staff from other departments to advise and collaborate with
• Has attended multiple professional development classes
• In their 5 years at Ross I have seen them constantly ask questions, develop their work portfolio, and become an expert in their field while still remaining curious
• When we were short staffed they took on extra work to keep the office moving forward
• Takes initiative to streamline processes
• Has often been given a nominal or vague explanation of what the desired outcome should be. They took the initiative to figure out what was needed with minimal guidance from me, and exceeded expectations on the outcome.
• Our department chairs rotate, and this ensured consistency no matter who was leading the department.
• They make it a priority that everyone on the team gets an opportunity to speak
• They are a part of the DEI committee and has helped to lead our team in diversity training

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Award nomination examples (that go beyond employee of the month)

Employee award nomination examples can be a great way to demonstrate just how much you appreciate one of your team. Not only can it make the recipient feel good, but it can also motivate them to keep up the good work. 

Here are a few ideas on employee award nomination examples that you can use.

If you're looking for some employee award nomination examples, you've come to the right place. Giving someone an award is a great way to show your appreciation for all they do for the company. And, as any boss knows, motivation is key,when it comes to keeping employees happy and productive.

So what are some good employee award nomination examples? Well, here are a few suggestions:

• The Employee of the Month Award
• The Long Service Award
• The Innovation Award
• The Customer Service Award
• The Team Spirit Award

The important thing is to tailor the awards to fit each individual employee's strengths and accomplishments. 

After all, generic awards don't mean as much as ones that are specifically chosen for someone's unique contributions. So take the time to nominate your favourite colleague for an accolade they truly deserve!

What are Award Nominations?

An award nomination is an official indication that an individual or organisation has been put forward as a candidate for an award. Award nominations are usually made by a small group of people who are familiar with the work of the nominee and are in a position to assess their eligibility for the award.

In some cases, award nominations may be made by members of the public or by organisations with which the nominee is associated. Once a nomination has been made, it is typically reviewed by a panel of experts who decide whether or not to recommend the nominee for the award.

If the nomination is approved, the name of the nominee will be announced publicly and they will be invited to accept the award.

What are staff recognition awards?

Staff recognition awards are a great way to show your employees that you appreciate their hard work and dedication. There are many different types of awards that you can give, and the best way to decide is to ask your employees what they would find most meaningful.

You can also consider giving awards for specific achievements, like meeting sales goals or completing a difficult project. Whatever type of award you choose, be sure to take the time to write a personalised message that conveys your sincere appreciation.

Your employees will be sure to appreciate the gesture, and it will help them feel valued and motivated in their work.

Staff Recognition and Award Nominations

Any business or organisation is only as good as its employees. Without a dedicated and skilled staff, it would be impossible to achieve success. This is why it is so important to show appreciation for hard work through recognition and award nominations.

When employees feel valued, they are more likely to be engaged and loyal to the company. They are also more likely to go above and beyond in their work. 

Additionally, public recognition can help to attract top talent to the organisation.

Prospective employees will see that the company is committed to celebrating its staff and fostering a positive work environment. 

In short, thoughtful staff recognition is essential for any business that wants to thrive.

5 elements of recognition

When it comes to recognising your team and other peers, it's important to recognise that there are 5 elements of recognition - all of which helps when building out award nomination examples. These are:

Human Interaction

Building out effective human touches to your awards programme

Peer Recognition

Making sure that the award nominations aren’t just top down - encourage peers and work colleagues to engage in social rewarding .

Useful and desirable awards

Making sure when devising the award nominations that they are relevant and bespoke to each person - and that the reward reflects the needs of a modern workforce, especially during this cost of living crisis.

Family Involvement

For many people - the focus for them is their family, so when nominating and awarding, take into account that a member of your team might want to include their family when celebrating their success.

Immediate Gratification

Don’t just wait for a quarterly or yearly awards evening - recognise and reward those team members when they have gone above and beyond, right there and then.

e Benefits of Award Nominations

Being nominated for an award is always an honour, regardless of whether or not you ultimately win the award.

The very fact that someone thought to nominate you is a testament to your hard work and dedication to your craft. Of course, there are also practical benefits to being nominated for an award.

First and foremost, it can help to raise your profile within your industry. If your name is being circulated in connection with a prestigious award, it is likely that more people will take notice of your work. This can lead to new opportunities, such as speaking engagements or book deals.

In addition, the nomination process itself can be helpful in that it forces you to take a close look at your own work and achievements.

Reflecting on your accomplishments can help to increase your confidence and motivation as you move forward in your career. For all these reasons, it is clear that award nominations can be extremely beneficial, both personally and professionally.

• Improve staff retention and reduce churn
• Boost productivity
• Drive company loyalty
• Develop a positive brand image
• Improve employee engagement
• Enhance team working
• Promotes well-being at work
• Develops an upbeat, positive work environment

Award Nomination Examples

Nominating an employee for an award can be a fun and engaging way to show your appreciation for their hard work. It can also be a good way to get staff engaged in the nomination process.

By getting staff involved in defining the categories for awards, you can create a sense of ownership and excitement around the nominations. This can help boost morale and encourage employees to put their best foot forward.

• The office comedian
• Who makes people laugh
• The office beautician
• Who always looks great with fabulous hair?
• Where to go for beauty tips.
• The film critic
• Who to talk to about the latest ‘must see’ movies.
• The office foodie
• Who provides the best local restaurant / cafe recommendations?
• The ‘what’s on and where to go’ award
• For the person who always knows what’s on in town.
• The personal trainer award
• Who provides the best and most encouraging ‘keep fit’ guidance
• The ‘wellbeing at work’ award
• For the person who has provided the most helpful wellbeing support and guidance.
• Fastest email responder
• Who provides the quickest email response.
• Best baker award
• For whoever has brought in the best home baked cakes
• Always helpful award
• For someone who is always happy to help colleagues.
• The techie expert
• For whoever is recognised for providing technical help
• The tidy kitchen award
• For whoever makes an effort to keep the communal kitchen areas clean and tidy

The examples of employee award nominations we've looked at are a great place to start when putting together your own nomination.

Remember to tailor the nomination to the specific individual, and make sure you highlight their accomplishments and positive impact on your company. 

Good luck putting together your nomination - we can't wait to see the great things your employee does this year!

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