The deadline for all nominations is January 15th. If you have questions you may contact Jackie Wentwort by e-mail: jawentwo@dwu.edu or by calling (605) 995-2603. Please mail your nomination to the following address:

Jackie Wentworth
DWU Director of Alumni Relations
1200 W University Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301-4398

PURPOSE:
To honor Alumni who have demonstrated their commitment to “Sacrifice or Service” through personal achievement and contributions to society and DWU.

AWARDS:
Alumnus/Alumna of the Year
To recognize an alumnus/alumna who has notable achievements in his/her profession and contributions to DWU and society.

Young Alumnus/Alumna of the Year
To recognize an alumnus/alumna, age 35 or younger, who has notable achievements in his/her profession and contributions to DWU and society.

Outstanding Service to Alma Mater
To recognize an alumnus/alumna who has demonstrated outstanding service to Dakota Wesleyan University.

Humanitarian of the Year
To recognize an alumnus/alumna who has demonstrated outstanding service to individuals, community and/or society

Outstanding Educator
To recognize an alumnus/alumna who has accomplished notable service and/or achievement in the field of education.

Outstanding Professional Achievement
To recognize an alumnus/alumna who has notable achievements in his/her profession.

ELIGIBILITY:
All graduates of DWU are eligible for an alumni award.

Graduates who are employed by the University are also eligible so long as they meet the criteria for the award and it is not part of their job description.

A person may only receive one award in a given year and may not receive the same award more than once.

NOMINATIONS:
Who can nominate an alumnus/alumna for an award?

• Anyone can nominate an alumnus/alumna for an award, including fellow alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends of DWU, colleagues and family members.
• Exceptions: Individuals may not nominate themselves for an award and anonymous nominations will not be accepted.

How does a person nominate an alumnus/alumna for an award?

• Nomination forms and detailed instructions may be obtained from the DWU website www.dwu.edu/alumni or by calling the Alumni Office at 605-995-2603
• Nominator must complete one nomination form, a written statement answering the individual award questions, and request two others to submit letters of recommendation in support of the nomination.
  • Recommendation letters that support the nominee are very helpful during the selection process, thus we would ask that the nominator request two others to submit letters of recommendation in support of the nomination.
  • These letters are not mandatory.

When are nominations accepted?

• Nominations with all of the required materials must be received by the Alumni Office no later than January 15th to be considered for the current year.
• Nominations received after January 15th will be included the following year.
• The Director of Development and Alumni Relations will review the nomination for completeness and notify the nominator if additional information is required.
• The Director of Development and Alumni Relations may also determine that the nominee better fits in a different awards category than nominated and will contact the nominator to discuss.

What does the nominee need to do?

• All Nominees will be contacted by the Director of Development and Alumni Relations one to two weeks after the January 15th deadline for nominations.
• Nominees will be asked to complete a Biographical Information Form and resume and return to DWU by February 5th.
• If a nominee does not return the requested information by the designated deadline, the Director of Development an d Alumni Relations will contact the nominee to discuss whether or not they want to be considered for the award. If they do, they will be given a 5 day grace period in which to submit the completed form. If the form is not received by the date designated the nomination will be deemed null and void. If the nominee chooses not to accept the nomination they will be removed from consideration and the nominator notified.

How long does a nominee stay on the nominee listing?

• The Alumni Office maintains a listing of nominees in each award category.
• Nominees not selected as an award recipient in the first year nominated will remain as a nominee for three years, after which time they would need to be re-nominated.
• The nominee will be asked to update their biographical information each year that they are on the nominee list.
• If a nominee dies while on the nominee listing they will remain on the list for the remainder of that year and subsequently removed.

How will the Alumni Board advertise for nominations?

• All nomination forms and the alumni awards process will be maintained on the Alumni website.
• Once a year nominations for awards will be advertised in the Wesleyan Today.
• Mass e-mails and/or mass mailings will also be done at least once a year.

SELECTION PROCESS:
The alumni award recipients are selected by the Alumni Board at the March board meeting.

Approximately 2 weeks before the March meeting the Alumni Office will send the Board members the nomination materials. Board members will review the nomination materials, select their top three choices in each category and submit to the Alumni Office prior to the meeting. The Alumni Office will compile the results and the top three votes received in each category will make the final selection list to be voted upon at the meeting. During the Board meeting the top three choices in each category are discussed and final selections made via secret ballot. In case of a tie there is a run-off.

AWARD RECIPIENT NOTIFICATION:
Once the award recipients have been selected the Director of Development and Alumni Relations will first notify the recipients by phone. Secondly, each award recipient will receive a personal congratulatory letter from the University President. The Director of Development and Alumni Relations will then follow-up with a letter containing the details for the banquet and will request any additional information needed from recipients to prepare for the banquet.

RECEIVING THE AWARD:
The awards, with the exception of Young Alumnus/Alumna of the Year, are presented at the DWU Alumni Days Awards banquet. The Young Alumnus/Alumna of the Year award is presented during Blue & White Days in the fall.

Each award winner will be asked to give an acceptance speech at the awards banquet.
If the award recipient is unable to attend the awards banquet they may submit an acceptance letter, tape, video or have some accept the award on his/her behalf.

Each award recipient will be given four comp tickets to the awards banquet and may invite others to attend at the banquet fee.