Alumni Honors Nomination Guidelines

Submission deadline for the 2027 Alumni Honors award recognition program is 5:00 PM PST on Wednesday, April 7th, 2027.

The University of San Diego Alumni Honors recognize the exceptional achievements and contributions of alumni in various fields. These prestigious awards honor individuals who have made a significant impact on their communities, industries, and the world, embodying the values and spirit of USD.

Purpose:

• The purpose of Alumni Honors is to provide recognition for outstanding achievements by alumni of the University of San Diego.

Eligibility:

• Only living alumni of the University of San Diego are eligible.
• Nominees must be University of San Diego alumni. For purposes of definition, an alumnus/a is any person who was enrolled in any school of the university, or any of its predecessors, and has completed a degree. Non-graduates and certificate-holders are not currently eligible for these awards.
• Nominees must embody the mission and values of the University of San Diego and demonstrate outstanding achievements in their professional or personal lives, including but not limited to leadership, innovation, philanthropy, community service, or excellence in their field.

Nominations:

Nominations may be submitted by:

1. Any school/college of the University of San Diego
2. Any alumnus/a of the University of San Diego
3. Any faculty or staff member of the University of San Diego
4. Any community member with ties to the University of San Diego (a member of the Board of Trustees, as an example)

Nomination Process:

1. Submit a Nomination: Nominations can be submitted by any USD school, college, alumnus/a, faculty, staff, or community member. Self-nominations are accepted, but candidates must submit at least two letters of recommendation to be considered.
2. Nomination Form: Complete the official nomination form, providing detailed information about the nominee's accomplishments, leadership qualities, and contributions to their field or community.
3. Supporting Documentation: Attach a letter of recommendation and relevant documents that showcase the nominee’s achievements, including resumes, press articles, additional letters of recommendation, etc.

• To request a paper or PDF nomination form, please contact Claudia Gonzales at claudia@sandiego.edu. Nominations must be accompanied by complete biographical information and relevant documentation.

• Nomination forms submitted in writing shall be addressed to: Coordinator, Alumni Honors, University of San Diego Alumni Association, Degheri Alumni Center, 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego, CA 92110.

• All nominations will automatically be valid for the next two successive years. After that, they must be resubmitted.

Selection Process:

• Nominations will be reviewed by the Alumni Honors Recognition Committee. The committee shall be composed of 12-15 members.
  • Chair - External Vice President of the Alumni Board (or designee of the Alumni Board President)
  • Vice Chair
  • Alumni Board President (or designee)
  • Academic Unit Appointees (7) - one from each Dean, with preference to a Director of Development or Alumni Relations Officer
  • Past Award Recipients (maximum of 3)
  • Associate Vice President of Development (or designee)
  • Senior Director of Alumni Relations
  • Alumni Relations Executive Assistant (ex officio)
• Each member of the committee shall serve a term of at least two (2) years.
• The committee will evaluate each nomination based on the nominee’s impact, legacy, and alignment with the award criteria and values of the University of San Diego.

Nomination Retention:

• If a nominee is not selected in a given year, their nomination will be kept in the pool for consideration for the next two successive years.
• Nominations will automatically be reviewed for potential consideration each year, and individuals may be re-nominated during this period.

Recipients:

• The University of San Diego Alumni Association and the National Alumni Board strongly suggest the awards be made to individuals in as many fields of endeavor as possible.

• The awards shall be given at an annual dinner in conjunction with Homecoming and Family Weekend. The recipients shall be announced shortly before that date.

• Award recipients must be present at the annual dinner/ceremony unless death or illness following their selection and acceptance occurs.

Deadline for Nominations:

• Nominations for Alumni Honors must be submitted by 5:00 PM PST on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered until the following year.

For any questions or additional information, please contact the USD Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@sandiego.edu or (619) 260-4819.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to recognize the exceptional achievements of our alumni and celebrate their contributions to the University of San Diego and beyond.