Miami students exemplify leadership, service, and academic excellence in ways that profoundly enrich our institution and the communities we serve. In an effort to recognize these outstanding accomplishments, the President’s Distinguished Achievement Awards honor graduating seniors whose sustained contributions have shaped the Miami community in substantial, meaningful, and enduring ways.
Awards are made available to undergraduate students through a grant from the Miami University Family Fund. Information about eligibility and the nomination process can be found at the bottom of this page.
1. President's Distinguished Service Award (PDSA)
The President’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes students whose extraordinary service to Miami, surrounding communities, or broader constituencies exemplifies the spirit of citizen leadership of uncommon quality. Service may include sustained volunteerism, advocacy, leadership within campus or community organizations, or initiatives that represent the highest standard of undergraduate service and leadership. Award recipients demonstrate lasting impact and embody Miami’s values of Love and Honor.
Past five years of President's Service Award recipients:
2. President's Distinguished Student Scholar Award (PDSSA)
The President’s Distinguished Student Scholar Award honors students whose culminating academic experiences reflect exceptional scholarship, creative artistry, and/or intellectual leadership that meaningfully contribute to society. Contributions may span all academic disciplines and may include traditional research, applied research, artistic or creative work, or interdisciplinary inquiry. Awardees’ work represents the highest standard of undergraduate scholarship and demonstrates national or international distinction, such as external grant funding, commercialization of intellectual property, patent issuance, peer-reviewed publications, national conference presentations, national fellowships, exhibitions, performances, or other nationally recognized scholarly and creative achievements.
3. Senior Service Leadership Award
This award honors graduating seniors who have demonstrated meritorious service in one or more of the following areas: Service to Campus Life, Service to the Community, Service as a University Employee, or Intellectual Leadership. All nominated seniors will receive this award and a nomination letter is not required. Recipients will receive a ribbon medallion to be worn with commencement regalia and a certificate of recognition.
Service to Campus Life: For improving the quality of student life by individual effort or as a member of a student organization; demonstrating leadership and high ethical standards.
Service to the Community: For enhancing the quality of life beyond the university through activities, services, and/or special projects on or off campus.
Service as a University Employee: For improvement in job performance; for exceeding job expectations; displaying initiative, dedication, and service as a student employee.
Service to the Intellectual Community: For leadership in an intellectual organization on campus, an academic honorary, or initiating important academic projects as part of classroom work or research.
Eligible students include December 2025 and January 2026 graduates, as well as seniors graduating in May 2026 or August 2026.
A written nomination letter is required for the President’s Distinguished Service Award and the President’s Distinguished Student Scholar Award. Nominations for these awards are reviewed by a committee of faculty and staff representing campuses across the University. Please read these tips for writing a nomination letter for the President's Distinguished Achievement Awards.
PDSA and PDSSA recipients will be honored at a formal awards ceremony on April 12, 2026, and will receive a medallion to be worn with their commencement regalia. Nominees and recipients of these two awards will also receive the Senior Service Leadership Award and do not require a separate nomination.
