Sigma Phi Omega recognizes contributions made to undergraduate and graduate education experiences and the contributions of professional members to the well-being of older adults through the following awards:
President's Student Paper Award
Sigma Phi Omega's President's Student Paper Award was initiated in 2005 to recognize outstanding SPO student presentation submissions at the annual AGHE meeting and Educational Leadership Conference. Sigma Phi Omega presented the first annual President's Student Paper Award at the 2006 AGHE Annual Meeting. Students interested in being considered for this award must submit their abstracts to AGHE by the abstract deadline. Students whose abstracts are accepted for presentation at the annual AGHE meeting are eligible for the SPO President’s Student Paper Award. Students must submit the completed manuscript to SPOPresident@sigmaphiomega.org. Papers are reviewed by the SPO award committee. The student selected for this award receives a cash award of $200. Click here for Guidelines for submitting a paper for the President's Student Paper Award. Deadline is December 1, 2011
Service Project Award
The Service Project Award recognizes service-learning experiences and projects by professionals, undergraduate or graduate students affiliated with an SPO Chapter. The service projects are designed to positively impact both elders and students. Students can include academic service learning, curricular service learning, and co-curricular service learning or professional contributions. (Descriptions of four types of service learning are listed below.) This award recognizes the faculty, students, and/or professionals who participated in the project. SPO members (faculty, staff, or professionals) self-nominate for the award. To apply, complete the application form and submit with appropriate documents to the SPOpresident@SigmaPhiOmega.org. The nominee selected for the award is required to present a description of the service project at the 2012 AGHE meeting as well as a create a poster highlighting the project to be displayed at the meeting. The SPO Chapter to which the nominee is a member receives a cash award of $200. Deadline is December 1, 2011.
Proposals may be submitted for four types of Service Project Awards:
- Academic Service Learning is defined as a course-based, credit bearing strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and structured reflection to enrich the learning experience and teach civic responsibility.
- Curricular Service Learning brings students and faculty from a particular discipline together to work on a community project that allows students to apply their learning and to reflect on what they have learned.
- Co-Curricular Service Learning involves students in community activities that are not connected with credit courses or structured academic programs but include learning objectives and opportunities for reflection.
- Professional Contribution recognizes a member in the professional community who has contributed to Sigma Phi Omega and the well-being of older adults. Nominations may be submitted by any active SPO member on the behalf of professionals serving the needs or working with older adults.
Both the SPO President's Student Paper Award and the Service Project Award are funded solely by donations from SPO members and other interested parties. Anticipating these awards will be offered for years to come, we appreciate your generous donations. To contribute to this worthwhile cause, write your check made payable to Sigma Phi Omega and note either "For SPO President's Student Paper Award" or "For Service Project Award" and mail to:
Sigma Phi Omega
1220 L Street NW, Suite 901
Washington, DC 20005-4018
