Andy Marsch Legacy Award

Requirement: Must have a UAB start date within the Division of Student Affairs on or before February 28, 2019. (Must have two (2) nominations to be considered).

Conditions: This award is only awarded when there is a successful nominee, rather than routinely awarded each year.

This award honors an individual who exemplifies our mission as a Student Affairs Professional. We are student-centered professionals co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting sustainable environments, and developing engaged leaders to assist students in achieving personal and professional success. The ideal candidate has shown a dedication to excellence that is consistent with the values of UAB’s We CARE (Collaborate, Act with integrity, Respect, and Excel) while maintaining a student-centered prospective in everything they do. This individual must be employed with UAB for no less than seven (7) years, four (4) within the Division of Student Affairs.

NOTE: Andy March nominees may also qualify for Star Professional, Star Support Professional, and Outstanding Contributor to Higher Education.

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Department of the Year

Requirement: Department action(s) or event(s) dates must be between February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026.

This award recognizes a department that has demonstrated excellence in assisting students in achieving personal and professional success. The selected department should have examples of co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting a sustainable environment, and/or developing engaged leaders. Furthermore, this department should have made a meaningful contribution to the growth of staff and/or the university. This department’s efforts should reflect a balance of independent initiatives and collaborative partnerships with other departments, fostering a comprehensive and collaborative experience for the campus community.

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Event of the Year

Requirement: The Event must have taken place between February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026.

This award honors an Event and the individuals, department, committee, or group who has created an Event aimed at impacting students and/or student affairs professionals. The selected Event should have examples of co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting a sustainable environment, and/or developing engaged leaders.

An Event is a one-time activity assembling individuals around a particular topic, cause, or issue for the purpose of celebration, education, or unification. Event of the Year encompasses a singular event, whereas Program of the Year encompasses a series of interconnected events. The Event of the Year may be a reoccurring annual event or may be a one-time only event.

Events considered should help students achieve personal and professional success, inspire excellence, and meaningfully impact the student body, UAB community, and/or Division of Student Affairs.

Example: 2024 Award Winner Veteran Services 5K Race
2025 Award Winner 10th Annual Wheelchair Flag Football Game

NOTE: Please refrain from nominating an Event or Program in more than one category. In other words, do not nominate a Program for both Event of the Year AND Program of the Year. Nominate the Event/Program for only one category. For clarification on whether your nomination qualifies as an Event or Program, please contact Dr. Kennedy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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New Professional of the Year

Requirement: UAB Division of Student Affairs start date must be on or after February 28, 2024.

This award honors an incoming professional who is new to the Division of Student Affairs. It recognizes professionals that have used their brief time at UAB, in the Division of Student Affairs, to assist students in achieving personal and professional success, while making meaningful contributions to their department. This individual will be one who interacts and engages students through programming, services, counseling, or leadership development, and provides outstanding service.

NOTE: No individual can be eligible for New Professional, Star Professional, and Star Support Professional simultaneously. Please refrain from nominating a Blazer for all three categories.

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Outstanding Contributor to Higher Education Award

Requirement: UAB Division of Student Affairs start date must be before February 28, 2024, to qualify.

This award honors an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the Student Affairs profession through research, scholarship and/or leadership. Such contributions can include but are not limited to: conference presentations, published articles, regional and national board roles and/or implementation of best evidence-based innovative approaches within the Student Affairs profession, and/or contributions to Higher Education that align with the Division’s strategic priorities: co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting a sustainable environment, and/or developing engaged leaders.

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Outstanding Star Professional

Requirement: UAB Division of Student Affairs start date must be before February 28, 2024.

This award honors an individual who has made a positive impact on students and/or peers in their work within Student Affairs. This individual will be one who embodies our UAB values of WE CARE (Collaborate, Act with integrity, Respect, and Excel). Additionally, they show a dedication to excellence that is consistent with the strategic priorities: co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting a sustainable environment, and/or developing engaged leaders. This individual also makes a meaningful impression on fellow staff members, not only within their department, but also when collaborating with other colleagues on and off campus.

NOTE: No individual can be eligible for New Professional, Star Professional, and Star Support Professional simultaneously. Please refrain from nominating a Blazer for all three categories. This award is only open to those who are not in an administrative professional role and worked in the Division two (2) years or more.

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Outstanding Star Support Professional

Requirement: Candidate's notable participation or service must be between February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026.

This award honors an individual who has contributed to the Student Affairs profession in a unique way. This individual supports their respective department in the delivery of programs or services to students. In addition, this individual takes into consideration the needs of not only the students, but also their fellow colleagues. This individual contributes by supporting their department and the Division of Student Affairs, by going beyond expectations meeting the strategic priorities: co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting a sustainable environment, and/or developing engaged leaders.

NOTE: No individual can be eligible for New Professional, Star Professional, and Star Support Professional simultaneously. Please refrain from nominating a Blazer for all three categories. This award is only open to our Student Affairs Support Professionals. If you have any questions about who a Support Professional is, please email Dr. Kennedy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Outstanding Student Affairs Partners

Requirement: Partnerships must have taken place between February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026.

This award honors departments, groups, or individuals outside of the division who have played a visibly active role in assisting in the overall mission of the Division of Student Affairs. We are student-centered professionals co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting sustainable environments, and developing engaged leaders in order to assist students in achieving personal and professional success.

Nominees for this award will be those who, on a consistent basis, have collaborated with Student Affairs to move forward our mission and the mission of UAB. They may serve a student facing role or behind the scenes role, but their impact assists us in our work on behalf of student success.

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Program of the Year

Requirement: The Program must have taken place between February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026.

This award honors either a department, committee, group, or individuals who have created impactful programming aimed at developing students and/or Student Affairs professionals in alignment with one or more of the Division’s strategic priorities: co-creating impactful learning experiences, minimizing barriers, fostering a caring community, promoting a sustainable environment, and/or developing engaged leaders. A Program is a coordinated series of events, activities, resources, and content geared to accomplish a singular goal. Programs are built to facilitate long-term student success by providing long-term service. Program of the Year encompasses a series of interconnected events geared at accomplishing a specific goal whereas Event of the Year encompasses a singular gathering.

Attention should be paid not only to what draws the largest crowds but also what inspires excellence and innovation within the student body, UAB community, and/or Division of Student Affairs.

Example: 2024 Award Winner Student Counseling Services Counseling in Residence
2025 First Blazers' First-gen Program

NOTE: Please refrain from nominating an Event or Program in more than one category. In other words, do not nominate a program for both Event of the Year AND Program of the Year. Nominate the Event/Program for only one category. If you have any questions regarding your nomination being an Event or Program, please email Dr. Kennedy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click here to start your nomination!