The award honors the outstanding senior student who exemplifies the leadership, patriotism, fortitude, courage, humility, love of Texas A&M University, and willingness to uphold the principles for which Texas A&M stands as vividly exemplified by James Earl Rudder during his lifetime. Gen. Earl Rudder, a World War II hero, served as president of Texas A&M from 1959 until his death in 1970.
To be eligible for the Brown-Rudder award, a student must:
- Have displayed to a high degree those admirable personal traits that characterized the late President Earl Rudder.
- Rank academically in the upper quarter of his/her class at the end of his/her undergraduate curriculum.
- Have completed not less than one-half of his/her degree requirements while enrolled at Texas A&M University.
- Be occupying or have held positions of leadership in one or more major student organizations (i.e. Student Government, Memorial Student Center, Corps of Cadets, Residence Hall Association, Off-Campus Aggies, Department of Multicultural Services, etc.) and/or in state or nationally recognized student organizations, or social, church, and/or other similar organizations.
- Be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree at the end of the spring semester or during the preceding 12-month period in which the award is presented.
- Have an exemplary conduct record while enrolled in the university.
- Have displayed a great love for his/her university and demonstrated his/her willingness to uphold the principles for which it stands.
Learn more about Special Awards at Graduation.
The Buck Weirus Spirit Award honors up to 55 students each year who demonstrate high involvement, create positive experiences throughout the Aggie community, impact student life at Texas A&M and enhance the Aggie spirit. Unlike other awards,the Buck Weirus Spirit Award recognizes those students who make contributions to the university through participation in student organizations, Aggie traditions and university events.
The Buck Weirus Spirit Award, named for Richard "Buck" Weirus '42, recognizes students for their outstanding contributions to student life programs at Texas A&M University. Mr. Weirus served as Executive Director of The Association of Former Students from1964 to 1980. Because of his unique leadership, vision, and support of student involvement, this award was established by The Association's Board of Directors in 1982 in his honor.
The Class of '80 E. King Gill Award was established in 2019 to honor the graduating senior who most exemplifies the core value of Selfless Service during the student’s undergraduate career at Texas A&M University. One E. King Gill awardee is selected at Texas A&M each year. The award is presented at the LAUNCH recognition ceremony.
E. King Gill represents the quintessential Aggie—honorable, loyal, and willing to serve no matter how dire the circumstances seem. While E. King Gill, the original Twelfth Man, is best remembered for his willingness to serve as a member of the football team in 1922, the statue of Dr. Gill given by the Class of 1980 has become a symbol of the Texas A&M University core value of Selfless Service for all Aggies.
To be eligible for the Class of '80 Selfless Service award, a student must:
- Have displayed to a high degree the core value of Selfless Service.
- Have no academic, honor, or conduct violations. Scholastic probation earlier in a student’s career will not be held against the student, provided the student has successfully completed the terms of probation.
- Have completed not less than one-half of the nominee’s degree requirements while enrolled at Texas A&M University.
- Have performed service to improve the quality of life and promote the welfare of others (i.e., humanitarian/charitable causes) during the nominee’s enrollment at Texas A&M University. The service cannot be for political or religious purposes, although service can be performed through a religious organization. Service is to be considered based on the nominee’s efforts—not the overall effort of the organization associated with the service.
- Be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree at the end of the spring semester or during the preceding fall or summer semesters.
- Not be a recipient of the Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award or the Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award or any similar university-wide award including other Core Value awards that may be created in the future.
The award will not be made posthumously nor to a selected student who fails to complete degree requirements. In either of these eventualities, the next highest qualified nominee will be designated as the recipient of the award.
The top student in each college and classification is designated as a Gathright Scholar, with the second student recognized as the Dean's Excellence Award winner.
Eligibility
- All applicants must be full time students and a member of the awarding college at Texas A&M University (as shown in university records). Applicants must not possess a record of academic dishonesty or any student conduct violations.
- To compete in the Freshman category a student must have been admitted to Texas A&M University through the Freshman admissions process in the fall or spring semester immediately preceding the application due date.
- To compete in the Sophomore category a student must have completed at least 2 but no more than 4 fall/spring semesters at any institution by the application due date.
Timeline
- Application Opens: Late March
- Applications Due: 5:00 PM Thursday, June 1, 2023 (No Exceptions)
- Letters of recommendation are due by 5:00 PM Friday, June 2, 2023
- Semifinalists Announced: Mid-Late July
- Finalists Announced: Mid-Late August
- Awardees Announced: Mid-Late September
Application Components
Completed applications consist of 5 documents formatted according to the guidelines below.
5 Required Documents
- Personal Statement
- Research and/or Creative Production
- Community Engagement
- Accomplishments/Awards
- Unofficial TAMU Transcript
Document Formatting Requirements
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With the exception of transcripts, each document should be:
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Single-spaced
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12pt font
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No longer than 1 page
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Including transcripts, all documents should be combined into a single file:
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In PDF format
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Saved as 'Last Name_UIN_DeanExcellenceAwardPacket
- Example: An application packet would be saved as: Smith_123004567_DeanExcellenceAwardPacket
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Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation must be submitted by June 2, 2023 at 5:00 PM.
Each application must be accompanied by two (2) letters of recommendation. There is no page limit for the letters of recommendation. Requirements are:
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Academic Reference
This reference must be come from a TAMU faculty member who has provided academic instruction or guidance (e.g. course instructor or research mentor). The letter should comment on the your academic abilities and potential relative to your intended field. -
General Reference
This reference can come from any TAMU Faculty or Staff member (but not graduate students or undergraduate student employees) who can comment on the student's promise and potential with clear, specific examples.
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Note: current undergraduate/ graduate students would not constitute faculty/staff for the purpose of this application.
Award
Awardees will be honored with an official certificate at the annual Phi Kappa Phi Fall Breakfast in October.Application
Students may access the application hereThe Diversity Service Awards acknowledge and honor the efforts of students, faculty and staff who strive to promote understanding and appreciation of diversity in its multitude of forms at Texas A&M University. Individual Diversity Service Award recipients will each receive a $250 cash reward and framed certificate. Team Diversity Service Award recipients will each receive a framed certificate.
Visit the Department of Multicultural Service's ACE Awards page to learn more about the Diversity Service Awards.
The Robert Gates-Muller Family Outstanding Student Award was established in 2007 through a gift from the Muller family of Galveston to provide public recognition to an outstanding senior graduating from Texas A&M who has demonstrated those qualities of leadership, patriotism, courage, and service to country, school, and nation so clearly exemplified by Robert M. Gates. Dr. Gates served as president of Texas A&M university from 2002 until 2006, when he was named U.S. Secretary of Defense.
To be eligible for the Gates-Muller, a student must:
- Have displayed to a high degree those admirable personal traits that characterized Robert Gates.
- Have completed not less than one-half of his/her degree requirements while enrolled at Texas A&M University.
- Rank academically in the upper one-third of his/her class at the end of his/her undergraduate curriculum.
- Be occupying or have held positions of leadership in one or more major student organizations (i.e. Student Government, Memorial Student Center, Corps of Cadets, Residence Hall Association, Off-Campus Aggies, Fish Camp, Department of Multicultural Services, etc.) and/or in state or nationally recognized student organizations, or social, church, and/or other similar organizations.
- Be a candidate for a baccalaureate degree at the end of the spring semester or during the preceding 12-month period in which the award is presented.
- Have an exemplary conduct record while enrolled in the university.
- Have displayed a great love for his/her university and demonstrated his/her willingness to uphold the principles for which it stands.
- Not be a recipient of the Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award.
The award will not be made posthumously nor to a selected student who fails to complete degree requirements. In either of these eventualities, the highest qualified alternate will be designated as the recipient of the award.
Learn more about Special Awards at Graduation.
The Thomas S. Gathright Scholar Award was established in April 1973 by The Association of Former Students in conjunction with Texas A&M's Student Government Association. The award was given annually at the Parents' Weekend All-University Awards Ceremony to the outstanding sophomore, junior, and senior of each academic college. Named in honor of the first president of the A&M College of Texas, this award recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement on a university-wide scale.
In spring 2019, the Gathright Award became a collaboration between The Association of Former Students, LAUNCH: Academic Excellence, and the Texas A&M chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.
The senior recognition has been replaced by a freshman recognition, and the freshman and sophomore awards are now made through the Dean's Excellence Award process and awarded at a fall ceremony. The junior award has been merged with the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior award and is presented at an annual induction ceremony each spring. The awards have been renamed the Gathright Phi Kappa Phi Dean's Excellence Award and the Gathright Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior Award, respectively.
Selection for the Gathright Award at all levels is now based on an evaluation of research and/or creative production, community engagement, accomplishments/awards, and academic record, with the final selection criteria determined by the dean of each respective college.
To learn more about the Gathright Award's namesake, visit these links:
Each year, the deans in each college are asked to select the most outstanding student from among all the juniors in their respective colleges based on research and/or creative production, community engagement, accomplishments/awards, and academic record, with the final selection criteria determined by the dean of each respective college.
As of spring 2019, this award has become a collaboration between The Association of Former Students, LAUNCH: Academic Excellence, and the Texas A&M chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and has been renamed the "Gathright Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior" award.
Each college outstanding junior is interviewed by a Phi Kappa Phi committee, after which the committee selects the "Texas A&M Gathright Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Junior" for the year.