University Awards & Recognition

Distinguished Service Award
Call for Nominations

The Distinguished Service Award was established by the Board of Trustees in 1952 to recognize individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the university. Awards are not made on the basis of long, faithful, or loyal service alone, but rather for service that is truly distinguished. Recipients of this award have provided a broad spectrum of services to the university in both official and unofficial capacities.

Nomination Process

Download nomination form (.doc)

Substantive and detailed information outlining the individual's qualifications and your reasons for nomination should be submitted in the form of letters and cv's.

Please submit nominations to The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221 Attention: SVP for Advancement.

Nominations should be received no later than November 21, 2012.

All nominations are considered for three years, therefore, nominations previously submitted need not be resubmitted. However, an update of information already provided will be accepted.

Nomination Requirements

Each nomination must include:

1. The completed nomination form
   download nomination form (.doc)
2. A nomination letter that includes specific examples of the nominee's service to Ohio State, in the context of their larger relationship with the university. In the case of nominees who are former employees of the university, please provide an explanation of how their service to the university went beyond their position description.
3. Letter(s) of recommendation from individuals who can provide additional illustration of the nominee's noteworthy activities that have provided support or assistance to the university.
4. The nominee's resumé or vita.

Award Guidelines

In establishing the award, the Board of Trustees stated that "the key thought in selecting persons for the award should be distinguished service to The Ohio State University. Such service may be rendered either on or off campus, and by persons either officially connected with the university or not so connected."

Nominees may include those who have served in academic or administrative positions at the university, as well as alumni and other non-university individuals.

Awards are not made on the basis of long, faithful, or loyal service alone, but rather for service that is truly distinguished, defined as "noted, eminent, famous, made conspicuous by excellence."

Awards are not made to those considered eligible for an Honorary Degree on the basis of scholarly achievement, or to those who have previously received such a degree or the Sullivant Medal from the university.

Customarily, no faculty or staff member is recognized until at least one year after retirement.

Timetable of Activities

Past Recipients

Past Honorary Degree Recipients

Past Sullivant Award Recipients

For More Information
Contact:
Dana Booth
OSU Foundation
(614) 688-4501
email: booth.52@osu.edu