Faculty and staff encouraged to submit student award nominations

By Ken Gagnon, Media Relations

Almost a year after receiving both the Parents Association Award and the Alumni Meritorious Service Award Association Prize, UNH student Angela Borges still feels grateful for being recognized.

"It was an incredible honor," says Borges, now a senior. "It's humbling to be chosen from among my peers as the recipient of such distinguished honors, especially since UNH is so full of dedicated, motivated students who devote their time to activism and service."

Borges is just one of the many who are consistently recognized by the UNH Student Awards, an annual program in which faculty and staff can nominate outstanding students to receive various awards and prizes. This year, faculty and staff nominations are due by March 1, and nomination forms for student awards can be filled out online at: http://www.unh.edu/awards/.

Mary Moynihan, associate professor of women’s studies, nominated Borges last year as well as fellow award winner Jessica Lukas. She acknowledges the importance of continuing to recognize outstanding students: "I would say that it's important not just because of the recognition they're receiving - which is important, still - but also because of the financial aspect. Some kids are actually putting themselves through school independently, and so fellowships and awards are really important."

The awards aim to honor students for can be nominated for academic excellence, loyalty to the university, community leadership, character, and citizenship.

Faculty and staff need look no further than Angela Borges to see an example of just how worthy of recognition UNH students can be.
"Angela is absolutely phenomenal," Moynihan says."There's a lot of work involved in the nomination process, no doubt about it, but to me it's just so fulfilling to see a deserving student get recognition for their accomplishments."

Borges can ask for only one other thing.

"My wish is just to see more students recognized by the awards for their outstanding work," she says.

Faculty and staff with questions about the student awards nomination process can visit the awards website at http://www.unh.edu/awards or contact Paula DiNardo, chair of the Student Awards Committee at 2-3485.