Nominations

UMKC Alumni Awards, sponsored by the UMKC Alumni Association

Nominations for Alumni Awards 2025 are open. Please see below for instructions on how to nominate and descriptions of each of the award categories. Nominations close on April 30, 2024.

Campus Wide Award Nominations:

There are five Campus Wide Awards: UMKC Alumnus/a of the year, Bill French Service Award, Defying the Odds Award, Spotlight Award, Legacy Family Award (see full descriptions below).

  • A nominating statement and description of nominees’ achievements/accomplishments which is fewer than 500 words or less summarizing, in terms of the criteria for the award, the reasons the nominee merits consideration.
  • Two letters of support must be submitted by those who can testify to and address the qualities of the nominee and the award’s criteria. More than two letters may be submitted.
  • Submissions for Campus-wide Awards should include: curriculum vitae, resumes and supporting documentation (news clips, magazine articles, etc.) 

Please also note:

  • Only one nominee should be submitted per email.
  • Nominees must be living at the time the nomination is submitted.
  • Nominations are confidential and the nominee should not be notified. A nomination is valid for three (3) years. 

Submission:

Please email the above information to alumniawardsnominations@umkc.edu. ​Nominating packets may not exceed 40 single sided pages

Academic Unit Alumni Achievement Award Nominations:

If you would like to nominate an alum for an Academic Unit Alumni Achievement Award, please connect with the Alumni Director or Officer for the school the alum graduated from. Please include your name and contact information, along with as much information as you can about your nominee and why you think they deserve an award.

School of Humanities and Social Sciences - Karen English englishk@umkc.edu
Bloch School of Management - Payton Covert covertp@umkc.edu
Conservatory - Tamara Morris morristam@umkc.edu
School of Science and Engineering - Payton Covert covertp@umkc.edu
School of Dentistry - Becky Higgins higginsre@umkc.edu
School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences - Tamara Morris morristam@umkc.edu
School of Law - Cary Powers powerscl@umkc.edu
 School of Nursing and Health Sciences - Amelia Howard howarda@umkc.edu
School of Medicine - Amelia Howard howarda@umkc.edu
School of Pharmacy - Amelia Howard howarda@umkc.edu

If you don't know which school your nominee graduated from, contact the Alumni Office and we can point you in the right direction. alumni@umkc.edu

 

UMKC Alumnus/a of the Year

Recognizes one alumnus/a who has achieved eminence in his/her professional field; made contributions to education, science, the arts or human welfare of national or international significance, and rendered outstanding service to society.  

The Bill French Alumni Service Award

Recognizes one alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding loyalty, commitment and service to the University and received prominent public acknowledgment for his/her achievements on behalf of UMKC.

Defying the Odds Award

Recognizes one alumnus who has achieved professional and personal success despite tremendous obstacles such as financial hardship, lack of or few positive role models, having been raised in an environment or dealt with circumstances that were not conducive to furthering their education. This individual demonstrates outstanding loyalty and commitment to the University or the Alumni Association and has rendered outstanding service to the community.  

Spotlight Award

Recognizes one alumnus, faculty member, student and/or constituent leader whose accomplishments, leadership and public service have caused regional and national attention to be focused on the University and the metropolitan area.  

Legacy Award

Recognizes one family with a tradition of attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The recipient family must have a minimum of two generations of alumni and include a minimum of three family members, at least two of whom must be graduates (third member may be an attended alumnus with 12 or more credit hours but no degree awarded). The nominated family must have a record of outstanding service to the University, the Alumni Association, their community or profession.  

Alumni Achievement Awards

Recognizes one alumnus/a from each of the twelve academic units who has achieved notable success in his/her professional field and rendered outstanding service to the community.

If you have questions about the nominations process, please contact your school-based alumni officer, Full Officer List Here.

Academic Unit