Spring Break
University seeks achievement award nominees
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: News
03/06/09 - The University of Rhode Island is currently seeking nominations for the 4th annual Distinguished Achievement Awards that will be held Oct. 17 at the Westin Hotel in Providence.
Paul Witham, associate vice president of development, said nominees are to "demonstrate professional qualities, personify traditional excellence in achievement and community service."
He said nominees that possess these qualities would be considered for two separate types of awards. There will be four Presidential award winners, along with 27 Dean's List award winners. The Dean's List awards are given to three people that can be categorized under each department or college, he said. Witham used the department of Arts and Sciences as an example of winners, who are typically alumni who have graduated from the specific colleges.
A group of 25 URI affiliated members choose the Presidential award winners first, and later choose the Dean's List awards. The group is composed of representatives from President Carother's office, the Office of the Provost, URI's Colleges, Division of University Advancement, Department of Athletics, Alumni Association and the graduate and undergraduate student body.
Witham said these members review the prospective presidential award winners and narrow the 100 nominations down to eight people. The names of these eight members are then sent to President Carothers to confirm the four Presidential award winners.
Last year's winners were all URI alumni. The winners included William Flynn '75, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, John King '85, CNN chief national correspondent, Clarice Odhiambo '88, founder of Africa Center for Engineering Social Solutions and Bruce Sherman '69, CEO and chief investment officer of Private Capital Management.
Witham said that anyone can be nominated for the awards, but "most of the nominees are alumni of the University." He said in order to be nominated, one does not have to be a Rhode Island resident or involved at URI. According to the Distinguished Achievement Award nomination form, faculty, staff, students and honorary degree recipients are not eligible for consideration.
"This is really an open process," Witham said when explaining how to download a nomination form.
He said that one can nominate someone by going to the URI web site and downloading a nomination application. The nomination form also asks for a two-page summary of the nominee's accomplishments and a current résumé. He said upon completion the forms are to be mailed to the URI Distinguished Achievement Awards Committee by March 9.
"Any members of campus community can nominate individuals," Witham said.
Paul Witham, associate vice president of development, said nominees are to "demonstrate professional qualities, personify traditional excellence in achievement and community service."
He said nominees that possess these qualities would be considered for two separate types of awards. There will be four Presidential award winners, along with 27 Dean's List award winners. The Dean's List awards are given to three people that can be categorized under each department or college, he said. Witham used the department of Arts and Sciences as an example of winners, who are typically alumni who have graduated from the specific colleges.
A group of 25 URI affiliated members choose the Presidential award winners first, and later choose the Dean's List awards. The group is composed of representatives from President Carother's office, the Office of the Provost, URI's Colleges, Division of University Advancement, Department of Athletics, Alumni Association and the graduate and undergraduate student body.
Witham said these members review the prospective presidential award winners and narrow the 100 nominations down to eight people. The names of these eight members are then sent to President Carothers to confirm the four Presidential award winners.
Last year's winners were all URI alumni. The winners included William Flynn '75, president and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, John King '85, CNN chief national correspondent, Clarice Odhiambo '88, founder of Africa Center for Engineering Social Solutions and Bruce Sherman '69, CEO and chief investment officer of Private Capital Management.
Witham said that anyone can be nominated for the awards, but "most of the nominees are alumni of the University." He said in order to be nominated, one does not have to be a Rhode Island resident or involved at URI. According to the Distinguished Achievement Award nomination form, faculty, staff, students and honorary degree recipients are not eligible for consideration.
"This is really an open process," Witham said when explaining how to download a nomination form.
He said that one can nominate someone by going to the URI web site and downloading a nomination application. The nomination form also asks for a two-page summary of the nominee's accomplishments and a current résumé. He said upon completion the forms are to be mailed to the URI Distinguished Achievement Awards Committee by March 9.
"Any members of campus community can nominate individuals," Witham said.
