The UASU Awards Program
The Students' Union strives to recognize outstanding leadership and involvement of University of Alberta undergraduate students in the community. Student leaders have a tremendous impact on campus and beyond and we hope to encourage students to continue contributing to their communities through the UASU Awards Program
Achievement isn’t one-size-fits-all, which is why we recognize students, professors, and student groups for involvement in a variety of interests on and off campus. Ranging from social justice and activism, leadership in sports, involvement in the arts, and perseverance in moments of hardship, our awards are reflective of students’ lives and interests.
UASU Involvement, Centenary, Student Group, and SALUTE Awards are adjudicated by students, for students. Our student adjudicators understand and recognize the struggles and achievements of their peers.
Over half of the UASU Awards are reserved for students in financial need, and adjudicators are trained to understand the financial, social, and academic barriers that often inhibit students from becoming involved. The UASU Awards Program is about providing a space where the incredible achievements of our community are celebrated.
Nominations 2025
Nominate yourself, your student group, or your instructor(s) for recognition from the UASU Awards Program!
All of our awards nominations are managed through a secure, third-party platform to ensure a high quality of program delivery for applicants, staff, and volunteers.
You may start your application and save it to finish for later - Good Grants will save your progress automatically.
Apply to Adjudicate
The Awards Adjudication Committee selects the recipients of the Students' Union Awards. It allows students to recognize and reward the outstanding achievements of their peers.
Perks of volunteering as an Awards Adjudicator include meals at training and adjudication meetings, access to the UASU's volunteer spaces and discount programs, a reference letter from the Awards Program staff (upon request), and an honorarium of up to $200.
Adjudication includes training, completing application review independently over the course of the adjudication period (July - August), and attendance at adjudication meetings at the end of August.
Applications will open in May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please review the full FAQ to see if your question has been answered here! If you still have questions, you can email us at awards@uasu.ca. Please allow for up to five business days for us to respond, as we receive a large volume of email, especially close to the application deadline.
Will I receive a confirmation email when I submit my application?
Yes! GoodGrants will display a confirmation message after you have submitted, and you should receive a confirmation email. If you are not sure if you received a confirmation email, double-check your spam filter.
What do you mean by "current year"?
We mean the year you were enrolled in during the most recent Fall and/or Winter terms.
The description for Coca-Cola Achievement Awards seems vague. Is there something specific I should talk about in my application?
The Coca-Cola Achievement Award description does not contain many specific conditions to allow for many types of students to apply. It is up to the applicant to interpret the requirements and apply them to their involvement on campus.
Do I need a personal statement/reference letter for each award I am applying for?
You will only submit one statement for all awards you wish to be considered for. We recommend that you tailor your statement to the award that you believe that you are most qualified for but take into consideration the criteria for all awards you apply for. Your reference letters can reflect this or speak on your general qualities as an applicant.
Review awards descriptions in the Awards Listing.
Who should I ask to write a reference letter?
Your reference letter(s) should compliment your awards selection(s) and personal statement. Choose someone who can speak to the qualities and experience that the award is looking for.
For example, if you are applying for academic awards, try to include a reference letter from a professor, teaching assistant, or someone else who can speak to your academic dedication. If you are applying for volunteer awards, you can ask someone within the organization you volunteer with or a previous employer. We do not require reference letters from specific people unless directly stated in the awards description.
Should I submit my reference letter with my application or can my reference submit their letter themselves?
Either option is acceptable, as long as the letter is submitted before the deadline.
I am in a program that has "pass-fail" credits rather than grades (eg: Medical Doctorate program). How will this affect my ability to apply for awards with GPA requirements?
If you are in a pass-fail program, please put your GPA as 0.00 in the form. We are able to request your grades from your Faculty if they are available and we require them. We encourage you to still apply for awards for which you think you are most qualified.
I'm worried my GPA isn't high enough to apply. Do the UASU Awards consider academic excellence?
We understand that many factors can affect a person's GPA. For many awards the minimum GPA requirement is 1.8, as we also take into consideration community involvement, engagement on campus, and other factors. Some awards are based on academics so make sure you fully read the eligibility requirements of each award.
Do I need to be enrolled at the U of A for the upcoming year to be eligible?
You are eligible to apply if you were enrolled in the most recent Fall and/or Winter terms. The awards recognize achievement from the previous year, so you can still apply if you are graduating in the current calendar year. You must be finished or finishing your final year to qualify for awards specifically for individuals in their graduating year, like the Centenary Awards. The latest you can convocate is November in the current calendar year to be considered for Centenary Awards.
Are graduate students or post-doctoral fellows eligible for Students' Union Involvement/Centenary Awards?
No, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows are only eligible for the Coca-Cola Student Achievement Awards.
I was only enrolled in classes for one semester this year due to work term/co-op/personal reasons. Can I still apply for these awards?
If you were enrolled for either of the most recent Fall or Winter semesters, you are eligible to apply for the Students' Union Awards. We only consider GPA from the term you were enrolled in.
I was only enrolled in classes for one semester this year due to work term/co-op/personal reasons. What value do I use for my cumulative GPA and credits total?
Input your GPA from the semester you were enrolled and record the total number of credits for the year, including work term credits.
For the awards that list being a part of an "athletic program", do you need to be involved in on-campus athletics?
Involvement in any athletics program (recreational, varsity, community) whether it is on campus or off campus will be considered unless the award specifies involvement on campus.
If I applied for an award this year, when should I expect to hear back from the program?
You will hear back from the Awards Program administrators in September of the current year.
If I still have a question or concern about my UASU Awards application, who can I talk to?
Please email awards@uasu.ca and a staff member will get back to you as soon as they can.
Are graduate student groups eligible for Student Group Awards?
Although graduate student groups are registered with Student Group Services, they are not considered a Students' Union recognized group and therefore are not eligible for the UASU Student Group Awards.
If I received a UASU Award and need someone to verify it for an application, who can verify it?
Please email awards@uasu.ca to request staff contact information for these purposes. (Best of luck on your medical school/law school/graduate school/etc application!)
Can I apply for or receive an award that I received in the past, a second time?
Individual students can win each of the UASU Involvement Awards only once in their lifetime, unless otherwise stated in the award description. Please check the Awards Listing for the specific award you are interested in.
Student Groups can win the same award more than once in the group's lifetime, unless otherwise stated in the award description.
SALUTEs can be awarded to the same professor more than once in their lifetime and tenure at the University of Alberta.