The 2023 Volunteer of Distinction awards celebrate the academic achievements of undergraduate and graduate students who receive their degrees in Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023.
Selection of honorees
- Colleges, the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, Honors & Scholars Programs and the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center select undergraduate and graduate students to be honored as Volunteers of Distinction in recognition of their extraordinary academic achievement, professional promise, teaching (graduate students), or research.
- Seniors who hold the highest GPAs in their colleges are automatically honored as Volunteers of Distinction. Recipients are determined by the Office of the University Registrar.
Each college or area determines the processes for nomination and selection of recipients. The number of awards granted is also at their discretion. Colleges and areas are asked to consider students across all three semesters (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023) and representation of both undergraduate and graduate students.
Students awarded by multiple colleges or areas will receive a single Volunteer of Distinction certificate. If a Volunteer of Distinction recipient also holds the highest GPA in their college, then they will receive an additional certificate.
2023 submission deadline
Each college or area must submit its final list of Volunteer of distinction recipients to the Office of the Provost by February 22, 2023.
- Download the Volunteer of Distinction list template.
- Submit list of recipients to Heather Cockrum at hcockrum@utk.edu by February 22, 2023.
Colleges and areas should communicate any internal deadlines to their faculty and staff.