Awards and Graduation Honors

Stanford students can win university awards for their leadership, service, and academic and research excellence.

University Awards

Gores Awards. The Walter J. Gores Awards recognize undergraduate and graduate teaching excellence.
Dinkelspiel Awards. The Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Awards recognize distinctive and exceptional contributions to undergraduate education or the quality of student life at Stanford.
Cuthbertson Awards. The Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Awards recognize exceptional contributions of all types to Stanford University.
Nomination Process. Nominations for the Gores, Dinkelspiel and Cuthbertson Awards can be made by any member of the Stanford community.

The Dean’s Award. The Deans’ Award recognizes up to 10 undergraduates per year for their outstanding academic contributions.
President’s Award for Academic Excellence in the Freshman Year. The President’s Award honors students who have exceptionally distinguished academic records that exemplify a strong program of study in the freshman year.
Phi Beta Kappa. Phi Beta Kappa is a nationwide society honoring students for the excellence and breadth of their undergraduate scholarly achievements. To be considered, a student must take three courses of 3 units or more at Stanford with a grade of ‘B-’ or better in three domains of knowledge. These domains are humanities; science, engineering, and math; and social sciences. Students’ academic records are automatically reviewed, so no special action is required for students who wish to be considered for membership.
The Sterling Award. The Sterling Award recognizes a senior whose undergraduate activities demonstrate the strong potential for continued service to the University and the alumni community. Service includes clubs, athletics, fundraising, journalism, public service, student government, University committees, religious organizations, residential education, drama and musical productions, or social and political organizations.

Departmental honors, noted on both transcripts and diplomas, are awarded for a thesis based on independent creative work at an advanced level.

Top honors theses are recognized annually by the following awards:

Golden Medals. The Robert M. Golden Medal for Excellence in the Humanities and the Creative Arts is awarded to the top ten percent of all honors theses in the humanities, senior projects or performance in the arts.
Firestone Medal. The Firestone Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Research recognizes the top ten percent of all honors theses in social science, science and engineering.
The Award for Excellence in Honors Thesis Presentation. The Award for Excellence in Honors Thesis Presentation is granted by departments and programs to students whose honors presentations exemplifies the highest standards.

Boothe Prize for Excellence in Writing. The Boothe Prize for Excellence in Writing recognizes outstanding examples of expository and argumentative writing. This is for first-year students in the Program in Writing and Rhetoric and the Introduction to the Humanities Program.
The Hoefer Prizes for Excellence in Undergraduate Writing. The Hoefer Prizes for Excellence in Undergraduate Writing recognize outstanding Stanford undergraduate writing in the Writing in the Major courses.

Walk the Talk Service Leadership Award. The Walk the Talk Service Leadership Award recognizes the public service activities of students involved in service through the Haas Center. It recognizes their long-term commitment and the behind-the-scenes work of building organizational infrastructure that is not often acknowledged.
The Dean of Students Award. The Dean of Students Award recognizes student groups’ contributions that have significantly enriched the quality of student life on campus over the last academic year.
The James W. Lyons Award. The James W. Lyons Award recognizes individual undergraduates who have made an exceptional contribution to Stanford through departments, teams, clubs, residences or community service projects.
The Legacy Award. The Legacy Award rewards groups who have sustained a high level of service over a long period of time.
The Outstanding Citizen Award. The Outstanding Citizen Award recognizes one undergraduate and graduate student who best exemplify and embody the Stanford University Fundamental Standard.

Stanford Community Centers sponsor a variety of awards, writing competitions and grants for students. Visit their sites for more information.

Consult with Dean’s Office, department or program administrators about awards they confer.