Founders’ Day Awards – Descriptions and Criteria

Nominations for the 2025 awards are no longer being accepted.

Myrtilla Miner Award

President’s Award

The Myrtilla Miner Award for Exceptional Service to Society is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program and is bestowed on the person/s the President of the University determines has demonstrated exceptional lifetime service to the residents of the District of Columbia and the nation.

Criteria for Nomination and Selection

  1. Determined and chosen by the President.
  2. Award may be granted posthumously.

Dr. Paul Phillips Cooke Lifetime Achievement Award

Named for the distinguished educator and former District of Columbia Teachers College President Paul Phillips Cooke ’37

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program and is awarded to a current UDC faculty or staff member (or retiree) who has consistently demonstrated exceptional loyalty and extraordinary commitment, dedication, and service to advance the University, its goals and objectives.

The list of nominees for the Lifetime Achievement Award is submitted to and approved by the University President.

Selection Criteria

  1. Nominees must be employees or retirees with ten (10) or more years of service to the UDC.
  2. Nominations may be submitted by Assistant/Associate/Deans, Division/Department Chairs, Assistant/Associate/Vice Presidents, Cabinet Members, or UDC alumni.
  3. Nominees and/or their work must embody UDC’s mission, vision, core values and have a positive impact on the University community.
  4. Members of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society, and UDC Foundation Board Members are not eligible for consideration.
  5. Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration.
  6. Award may be granted posthumously.

Submit your nomination here →

Dr. Cleveland L. Dennard Distinguished Service Award

Named for Washington Technical Institute President Cleveland L. Dennard

The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program and is awarded to a current UDC faculty or staff member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in their profession and whose work has made a positive impact for the betterment of one’s community and its citizens on a local, national, or international level.

The list of nominees for the Distinguished Service Award is submitted to and approved by the University President.

Selection Criteria

  1. Nominee must be faculty or staff with ten (10) or more years of service to UDC.
  2. Nominee must be an individual whose life’s work has exemplified outstanding leadership.
  3. Nominee must be an individual who, in deed and action, reflects and recognizes the importance of a UDC education and its contribution to the District and region.
  4. Members of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society, and UDC Foundation Board Members are not eligible for consideration.
  5. Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration.
  6. Award may be granted posthumously.

Submit your nomination here →

Dr. Marjorie Holloman Parker Distinguished Educator’s Award

Named for the Honorable Marjorie Holloman Parker ’36

The Distinguished Educator’s Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program and is awarded to a tenured UDC faculty member whose laudable contributions as an educator have made major contributions in transforming the lives of students or noteworthy impact on the District, region, nation and beyond.

The list of nominees for the Distinguished Educator’s Award is presented to and approved by the University President.

Selection Criteria

  1. Nominee must be a tenured faculty with a minimum of seven (7) consecutive years of service to UDC.
  2. Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, Assistant/Associate/Deans, Division/Department Chairs, Assistant/Associate/Vice Presidents, Cabinet Members, or UDC alumni.
  3. Nominee must be an individual whose accomplishments in the field of education are widely respected and recognized.
  4. Nominee must be an individual who, in deed and action, reflects and recognizes the importance of a UDC education and its contribution to the District and region.
  5. Members of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society, and UDC Foundation Board Members are not eligible for consideration.
  6. Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration.
  7. Award may be granted posthumously.

Submit your nomination here →

The Honorable Ronald H. Brown Distinguished Leadership Award

Named for the Honorable Ronald H. Brown

The Distinguished Leadership Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program to an individual who has demonstrated a long-term commitment of outstanding service to the University.

The list of nominees for the Distinguished Leadership Award is submitted to and approved by the University President.

Selection Criteria

  1. Nominee must have demonstrated a minimum of seven (7) consecutive years of service to UDC.
  2. Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, Assistant/Associate/Deans, Division/Department Chairs, Assistant/Associate/Vice Presidents, Cabinet Members, or UDC alumni.
  3. Nominee must be living at the time of his/her nomination.
  4. Nominee must be an individual who has demonstrated the highest level of commitment and service to the University of the District of Columbia and its ideals.
  5. Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration.
  6. Current members of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society are not eligible for consideration.

Submit your nomination here →

Distinguished Alumni Legacy Award

The Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program to an active member of the UDC National Alumni Society for five years or more and who has demonstrated extraordinary participation in the Association through contributions to the Alumni Society, including increasing membership participation, enhancing the image of the association, showing professional ethics of the highest caliber, and engaging in the community.

Selection Criteria

  1. Determined and chosen by the UDC National Alumni Society.
  2. Award may be granted posthumously.

Student Humanitarian & Civic Engagement Award

The Student Humanitarian & Civic Engagement Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program and is awarded to a student (one awardee from the Van Ness campus, Lamond-Riggs campus, and Law School) who has demonstrated a commitment to activism, social responsibility, civic participation and advocacy for the welfare and betterment of the University of the District of Columbia and the greater community.

NOTE: 2015 was the first year this award was implemented.

Selection Criteria

  1. Nominee must be a student who has demonstrated the highest level of commitment and service to the University of the District of Columbia and has demonstrated a commitment to activism, social responsibility, civic participation, and advocacy for the welfare and betterment of the University and the greater community.
  2. Members of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society, and UDC Foundation Board Members are not eligible for consideration.
  3. Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration.
  4. Nominee must be living at the time of his/her nomination.

Submit your nomination here →

PathMakers Leadership Award

The PathMakers Leadership Award is presented annually at the University of the District of Columbia’s Founders’ Day Convocation & Awards Program and is awarded to two individuals, a member of the alumni and a current/or former employee of the University who consistently support the University and its students through a commitment to philanthropy.

Selection Criteria

  1. Awardee is selected by the Office of Institutional Advancement.
  2. Nominees must have demonstrated the highest level of commitment and service to the University of the District of Columbia and its students through a commitment to philanthropy.
  3. Members of the University of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society, and UDC Foundation Board Members are not eligible for consideration.
  4. Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration.
  5. Award may be granted posthumously.