The Exemplo Capstone Awards is an annual recognition hosted by The Office of Student Involvement, University Programs (UP), Blackburn Institute, Student Government Association, UA Student Center, and the Center for Service and Leadership (CSL). This collaborative event honors the contributions of individuals and campus organizations to service and leadership within and outside of the UA community. These are the highest honors that can be bestowed upon student organizations and individuals regarding campus leadership and service.
Applications
Each spring, UA campus community and organizations are invited to submit applications or nominations for the Exemplo Capstone Awards. Award applications have closed for this event.
Award Categories
Organization Category Awards
Recognizes student organizations that have demonstrated outstanding achievement within its designated category through mission-focused programming, effective leadership and meaningful contributions to the campus community. These awards honor organizations that have excelled in fulfilling its purpose and positively impacting its members and the broader university environment.
Accolades are awarded to one outstanding student organization in each of our 14 organization categories. The categories are listed below:
- Academic
- Advocacy
- Arts and Entertainment
- Club Sports
- Cultural and Identity-based
- Graduate
- Honors Societies
- Military
- Professional and Law
- Political
- Recreation and Athletic
- Religious and Spiritual
- Service
- Social and Fraternal
Individual and Overall Awards
In addition to our outstanding category awards, we also award the following higher awards to organizations and individuals:
- Capstone Innovation Award
- A student organization that created a unique, forward-thinking program or initiative that introduced new ideas, approaches, or solutions and had a meaningful impact on the campus community.
- Outstanding New Organization
- A newly established student organization at The University of Alabama (during the 2025-26 school year) that has demonstrated strong mission-centered growth, effective leadership, and a significant positive impact on the UA campus community. This doesn’t count for organizations that were previously frozen or inactive that achieved active status this school year.
- Outstanding Graduate Organization
- Recognizes a graduate student organization that has demonstrated exemplary leadership, mission-driven programming, and significant contributions to the academic, professional, or community experience of graduate students. This award honors an organization that has shown exceptional engagement, effective governance, and meaningful impact within the graduate student community.
- Organization Event of the Year
- Recognizes a student organization that hosted an exceptional event distinguished by its high-quality planning, strong execution, and meaningful impact on participants. This award honors an event that significantly enhanced the student experience, advanced the organization’s mission, and demonstrated excellence in creativity, engagement, and overall effectiveness.
- Advocacy In Action Award of the Year
- A student organization that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing awareness, inclusion, and positive change through purposeful advocacy. This award honors those who actively champion important causes, elevate underrepresented voices, and contribute meaningfully to the betterment of the UA community.
- The David L. Phelps Organization of the Year
- Recognizes a student organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, impactful programming, and a sustained commitment to advancing its mission. This award honors an organization that has significantly enhanced the campus community through exemplary engagement, innovation, and effective organizational management.
- John L. Blackburn Advisor of the Year Award
- An advisor who goes above and beyond their responsibility to the organization and students through care and proper advisement.
- Will Byington Award for Student Officer of the Year (2 selected)
- A student organization officer who exemplifies the Capstone Creed, is an innovative and engaging leader who understands the mission of the organization and has contributed to student life at the University.
Center for Service and Leadership
The Center for Service and Leadership also offers several awards recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to service, leadership, and positive community impact. Students are encouraged to apply for the following awards:
- Star Bloom Volunteer of the Year Award
- Henry M. Lipsey Heart of Service Award
- Community Partner Award
- Daniel Nielsen Award for Exceptional Change
- Barbara Grimes Selfless Service Award
- Dr. Courtney Chapman-Thomas UNLESS Award
More information about these awards can be found on the Center for Service and Leadership website.
2025-2026 Award Recipients
Organization Category Awards
- Outstanding Academic Organization: College of Communication & Information Sciences Ambassadors
- Outstanding Advocacy Organization: UA NAACP
- Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Organization: Nach Basanti
- Outstanding Club Sports Organization: Lady Tide Soccer
- Outstanding Cultural and Identity-Based Organization: Black Business Student Association
- Outstanding Graduate Organization: English Graduate Association
- Outstanding Honors Organization: National Society of Collegiate Scholars
- Outstanding Political Organization: UA Common Ground
- Outstanding Recreational and Athletic Organization: Bama Beach Volleyball Club
- Outstanding Service Organization: Medicine and Community
- Outstanding Religious/Spiritual Organization: UA Vedic Society
- Outstanding Professional Organization: Management Consulting Academy
- Outstanding Social/Fraternal Organization: UA Greek Ambassadors
Individual and Overall Awards
- Advocacy in Action Award: UA NAACP
- Outstanding New Organization: AV Dance Collective
- Outstanding Graduate Student Organization: Graduate Student Association
- Capstone Innovation Award: Universities Against Cancer
- Student Organization Event of the Year: Black Business Student Association (4th Annual Career Development Conference)
- The David L. Phelps Organization of the Year: College of Communication & Information Sciences Ambassadors
- John L. Blackburn Advisor of the Year: Charter Morris and Quoc Hoang
- Will Byington Student Organization Officers of the Year: Tyler VanDeventer, Lindsey Flondro, Nairobi Brown
Photo Gallery
The photos from this year’s ceremony are available in the photo gallery.