Achievement in Nursing Award
This award is given to the senior nursing student who demonstrates growth, determination, and a positive professional example.
Albert Patterson Award
This award is given annually to the outstanding freshmen criminal justice student. The award is named in honor of Albert Patterson, a 1927 graduate of the Cumberland School of Law. On June 18, 1954, Albert Patterson, the newly elected Attorney General for the State of Alabama, was shot to death as he left his law office to prevent him from fulfilling his campaign promise of ridding the state of the rampant corruption and vice that proliferated in the Phoenix City, Alabama, area. The award is given to honor his memory and sacrifice.
Alice Hegan Rice Award
This award is given to the student who submits for evaluation a short story that is rated highest in originality, plot and characterization. Mrs. Rice was a noted author, famous for “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," and was the wife of Cale Young Rice (described below) and sister-in-law of Laban Lacy Rice, a former President of Cumberland University.
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards
The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards were established by the New York Southern Society in 1925 in memory of Mr. Sullivan, a Southerner who became a prominent lawyer, businessman, and philanthropist in New York, in the late nineteenth century. The Society, and carefully selected colleges and universities, jointly arrange for the issuance of medallions and certificates which are to be perpetual reminders of Algernon Sydney Sullivan, the memory of whose life had been handed down with loving and grateful admiration as one that was a continuous expression of those high qualities which ennoble and beautify living and bind people in mutual love and helpfulness. Such lives must ever be encouraging and inspiring; they justify our highest ideals and hopes. These prestigious awards for excellence of character and service to humanity are presented annually at Commencement to a member of the community and to one female and one male graduating senior.
Anthropology Award
This award is given in years of merit by the anthropology faculty to a student who has demonstrated academic excellence, interest and a sense of purpose in anthropological studies.
Athletic Appreciation Award
Given annually by the Student Affairs Division, this award recognizes a staff or faculty member who works with Cumberland University Athletics and partners with Student Affairs regularly to encourage excellence inside and outside the classroom.
Athletic Training Student of the Semester Award
Presented each semester by the Athletic Training Program to the student who has made significant contributions to the program, institution, and Athletic Training profession. This award is voted on by peers and staff each semester.
Award in English
An award is given to the graduating student who produces the most original and outstanding work in the field of English, American, or World Literature. This award is given only in years when a student’s work has shown exceptional merit.
Best Student Organization Award(s)
Given annually by the Office of Student Life to recognize the student organization(s) that demonstrates consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity, and perseverance. The student organization(s) that receive(s) this award made a meaningful contribution to students, the University, and/or the surrounding community during the previous academic year by organizing activities, events, and programs that have had a significant impact on the quality of campus life at Cumberland University.
Best Community Event
Given annually by the Office of Student Life to recognize the student organization(s) that hosted the best overall program that involved both the campus as well as the Lebanon and/or Wilson County community.
Best Campus Activity Event
Given annually by the Office of Student Life to recognize the student organization(s) that hosted the best overall program that involved multiple segments of the campus.
Bulldog Spirit Award
This award is given annually by the Office of Student Life to recognize a student who has displayed the most school spirit.
C. Monty Pope Geography Award
This award is given to the student who best illustrates an understanding of the essential elements of Geography and the application of those elements to the past, present, and future.
Cale Young Rice Award
This award is given annually in honor of Cale Young Rice (A.B., Cumberland University, 1893, and A.M., Harvard University, 1896) to the student who submits a lyric or other short poem that is rated highest in originality, form, and use of figurative language. Mr. Rice was Professor of English Language and Literature from 1896 to 1898 and was a noted Southern writer and poet.
Cavett World History Award
The Cavett World History Award, honoring Mr. and Mrs. Clark Bradford Cavett, is given annually to the student with the highest academic average in World History. Mrs. Cavett was a member of the Class of 1968 at Cumberland University.
Charlene M. Kozy Award in Criminal Justice
This award is given annually to the outstanding non-senior criminal justice major. Dr. Kozy’s inspiration, vision, and efforts resulted in the discipline being added to the curriculum in the early 1990’s. The selection is based on the student’s outstanding character and academic excellence.
Commitment to Multicultural Inclusion Award
Given annually by the Dean of Students Office, this award is given to a student who promotes a campus climate where diversity is valued and champions social justice for all at Cumberland University.
Community Service Award
Given annually by the Office of Student Life to recognize a student that made an exceptional contribution to the community through service. This student displays a commitment to working with and for others and successfully inspired and motivated others to act.
Cool Banana Award
Given on rare occasions and only when warranted by the Dean of Students Office, this award recognizes an outstanding student leader who provided exemplary leadership to the student body and Cumberland University. This student demonstrated initiative by seeking ways to challenge the present and enrich the future.
Cumberland University Service Award
The Cumberland University Service Award is presented by the faculty to the graduate who has made an outstanding contribution to the University and who has outstanding promise for the future.
Cumberland Woman’s Club Award
An annual award is given to the young woman who, in the opinion of the members of the club, possesses outstanding qualities of leadership, loyalty, scholarship, and moral and ethical conduct.
Distinguished Service Award
Given annually, this award is designed to recognize a graduating resident assistant who has shown meritorious service for no less than a three year period to the Office of Residence Life. Nominated by a residence life coordinator, the winner of this award is chosen by a select committee that reviews all nominations. Included in consideration for this award are the nominees actions as a resident assistant, their academic prowess, and their contributions to the Cumberland University Community outside the Office of Residence Life.
Distinguished Student Award
This award is given by the Student Life Department to students that represent excellence in leadership to the student body, serve as a positive role model for their peers, and display amazing strides in personal growth to the Cumberland community as well as the outside community.
Fine Arts Performance Awards
These are awarded by members of the Fine Arts faculty to students who have demonstrated exceptional performance abilities in the areas of art, band, instrumental music, vocal music, and theatre.
Florence Nightingale Award
This award is presented to the outstanding RN-to-BSN student. The award is based on evidence of scholarship, leadership, and clinical competence as demonstrated throughout his/her program of studies.
Freshman Award in English
This award is presented to the student whose work in freshman English is deemed to be the most outstanding.
Freshman Biology Award
This award for excellence is presented to the most outstanding freshman biology student at the University.
Fundraising Award
Given annually by the Office of Student Life to a student or a student organization in order to recognize outstanding efforts towards raising money for a cause
History Associates of Wilson County Award
This award is presented by the History Associates of Wilson County to the student who has shown the greatest insight and interest in history.
Holcomb Award
Given annually by the Student Affairs Division, this award recognizes a faculty member who offers a generous commitment of time, inspiration, and support to the students of Cumberland University and its Student Affairs endeavors. Given in memory of the outstanding commitment to Student Affairs shown by CU Faculty member Mr. James Terry Holcomb, b. 1947 – d. 2011.
Horizon Nursing Award
This award is given to an outstanding junior nursing student who best demonstrates academic excellence, a positive attitude, and exemplifies positive professional behavior.
IMPACT Award
This award is given annually by the Office of Student Life to one or more organizations that had a significant positive IMPACT on the CU Community by raising awareness about important issues and hosting events and campaigns towards this cause throughout the year.
International Student Organization Award
An award presented each year to the graduating international student with the highest cumulative GPA.
James B. Dressler History Award
This award is named in honor of Dr. James B. Dressler, Professor of History at Cumberland University from 1970 to 2008. This award is granted to the student with the highest GPA in History at the conclusion of their freshman year.
Jeanette Rudy Award in Nursing
This award is presented to an outstanding senior student majoring in nursing. The award is based on evidence of scholarship, leadership, and clinical competence as demonstrated throughout his/her program of studies.
J.O. Baird Chemistry Award
This award is given annually in memory of Professor James Oscar Baird to the student showing the most promise in the field of Chemistry. A member of the Class of 1900 and the Law Class of 1921, Dr. Baird was Professor of Chemistry from 1918 until his death in 1948, the University Registrar from 1939 to 1946 and the Dean of the Summer School for many years.
John W. Burgess Award in Political Science
This award is given annually in honor of John W. Burgess who is widely acclaimed as the “father of American Political Science” and was a student at Cumberland University when the hostilities of the War Between the States interrupted his education in 1862. Dr. Burgess later founded the first Ph.D. program in political science at Columbia University in New York. This award is based on scholarship, leadership, and observed abilities of the student as demonstrated through his/her studies at Cumberland University.
Leadership Awards in Nursing
These awards are given annually to one junior and one senior who demonstrated an active role in student campus organizations, exemplifies the principles of leadership in University and/or community activities and demonstrates the ability to organize and follow tasks through to completion.
Most Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards
One award is made each year to a faculty member and to a staff member who provided outstanding excellence in teaching, concern for student welfare, and participation in non-academic affairs. These awards are sponsored by the Student Government Association.
Most Outstanding Performance in General Business
This award is given to the graduating student who has shown outstanding ability in the study of General Business.
Most Outstanding Performance in Accounting
This award is given to the graduating student who has shown outstanding ability in the study of Accounting.
Most Outstanding Performance in CIS
This award is given to the graduating student who has shown outstanding ability in the study of Computer and Information Science.
Most Outstanding Performance in Management
This award is given to the graduating student who has shown outstanding ability in the study of Management.
Most Outstanding Performance in Marketing
This award is given to the graduating student who has shown outstanding ability in the study of Marketing.
Wilbur "Pete" Peterson Most Promising Biologist Award
This award is presented to the most promising graduating student majoring in and planning a career in Biology. The award is based on scholarship, leadership, and observed abilities of the student as demonstrated throughout his/her program of study.
Mr. and Ms. Cumberland
This honor is awarded to the young man and young woman who best exemplify the ideals of Cumberland. The honor is not based entirely on academic achievement, but upon total personal, social, and academic contributions to Cumberland. Nominations for this honor are made by the student development staff with the final selection being made by the student body.
MSP Award of Excellence
This award is presented annually to a graduating student in each of the two second year cohorts of the Master of Science degree program with an option in Public Service Management who excels academically and in leadership plus service to his/her fellow classmates. The recipient is voted on by the faculty members teaching in the program and by the graduating students.
New Kid on the Block Organization Award
For outstanding consistent efforts in establishing an organization at CU and adding unique and exciting programs to the calendar for the student body during the academic year. Awarded by the Office of Student Life.
Outstanding Freshman Mathematics Student Award
This award is given to a first-year student who has shown outstanding promise in the study of Mathematics.
Outstanding General Physics Student Award
This award is given, when merited, to a student who exhibits outstanding mastery of general physics topics, a talent for experimentation, and curiosity regarding the mechanisms and models that provide us our present understanding of the physical universe and its impacts on our lives.
Outstanding Mathematics Student Award
This award is given to a junior or senior mathematics major that has shown outstanding ability in the study of Mathematics.
Outstanding Nursing Clinician Awards
This award is given to a senior Nursing student who best demonstrates the ability to prioritize responsibilities and time management skills in clinical practice, seeks new learning experiences, displays ethical behavior, and conducts himself/herself in a professional manner.
P. Henry Meadows Award
Presented by the Office of Greek Affairs, this award is given annually to the top male and female who have served as ambassadors for the Office of Greek Affairs. Selected by the Director of Greek Affairs, the winners are chosen based upon their academic, social, and philanthropic experiences and their representation of Cumberland University.
Peer Mentor Bulldog Achievement Award
This award is given annually by the Office of Residence Life & Greek Affairs to the Peer Mentor who has served as a Peer Mentor for multiple years and has displayed personal growth in the ability to mentor.
Peer Mentor of the Year
This award is given annually by the Office of Residence Life & Greek Affairs to the Peer Mentor who has achieved distinction in all categories of the Peer Mentor program.
Pre-Professional Society Award
This award is given annually to the most promising student planning a profession in the field of medicine. It is based upon scholarship, participation, and observed abilities desirable in a medical career.
Presidential Excellency Award
From the Office of Student Life this award recognizes one Student Organization President who displayed the highest level of excellence, commitment, and impact as a leader of a student organization.
President’s Award
The President’s Award is presented annually to the graduate who, in the opinion of the faculty and staff, most nearly embodies the ideals, principles, and spirit of the University. The candidates for this award are judged on the basis of their scholastic attainment, personal bearing and integrity, leadership development, moral and ethical conduct, and loyalty to the University.
Psychology Award
This award is presented annually to the graduating Psychology major who has shown the most insight and interest in Psychology.
Raymond Cleveland Award in Social Science
This award, which began in 1983, is presented annually in honor of Raymond Cleveland, who was a seaman, scholar, businessman and friend of Cumberland. It is awarded to the student who, by the determination of the Social Science faculty, has shown, through academic achievement and sense of purpose, the potential for future contributions in the field of Social Science.
Research Award in English
This award is presented to the student who submits the most outstanding research project in English.
Residence Life Distinguished Service Award
This award is given annually to recognize a Resident Assistant who has been dedicated to their position for multiple years and has shown exemplary service and leadership to the Cumberland University Residence Life Department.
Resident Assistant of the Year
Given annually, this award is designed to recognize the outstanding and continuous service of a Resident Assistant (RA) to the Office of Residence Life and its member halls and organizations, and the communities in which the nominee has lived over the course of the year. Nominated by a residence life staff member, the winner is chosen by a select committee who reviews each nomination packet submitted.
Residence Life Coordinator of the Year
This award is designed to recognize the outstanding and continuous service of a Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) to the Office of Residence Life, its member halls, organizations, and the communities in which the nominee has lived over the course of the year. Nominated by a resident assistant, the annual winner is chosen by a select committee who reviews each nomination packet submitted.
Residence Life Academic Achievement Award
This award is given to the Residence Hall staff that has shown stellar academic achievement while providing a positive role model for their residents. The winning hall is chosen by computation and average of a formula including cumulative and semester GPA’s for all resident assistants from the previous spring and fall semesters.
Student Leadership Academy Awards
Given annually to one undergraduate student and one graduate student who have completed Student Leadership Academy and have demonstrated excellence in achieving the five practices of exemplary student leadership: Modeling the Way, Inspiring a Shared Vision, Challenging the Process, Enabling Others to Act, and Encouraging the Heart.
The Chamber of Commerce Award in Business Administration
An inscribed plaque is awarded in years of merit by the Board of Directors of the Lebanon and Wilson County Chamber of Commerce in consultation with the professors of Business Administration. Judgment for the award is based on insight of the student into practical business affairs.
The Future Educators Award
This award is presented to the most promising young woman or young man planning a profession in the field of teaching. It is based upon scholarship, participation, and observed abilities of the candidate in the courses of Education.
The Imogene Bradley Ahles Chair of Excellence in Business Administration and Economics
Established by the former Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Trust Rodney V. Ahles (LL.B 1958) in memory of his late wife. The Chair honors the relationship Mrs. Ahles had with Cumberland University over a nearly fifty-year period until her death in 1993. Mrs. Ahles earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from Cumberland University in 1946 and served in many administrative and teaching roles in the University, including Secretary to the Business Executive, Registrar, member of the faculty, Executive Assistant to six Presidents, and Executive Assistant to the Board of Trust. The Chair supports faculty development in the University’s Master of Business Administration degree program.
The Irvin F. Bass Excellence in Education Award
This award is given annually to the senior Education major that has made significant contribution to the Education Program. This award is based on character, moral and ethical attitudes toward professional responsibilities, and the promise of future achievement in the field of Education. Mr. Bass was a former student and employee of Cumberland University.
The June Heydel Award for Playwriting
This award is given to the student who submits for evaluation the best 10 Minute, One Act, or Full Length play judged on originality, use of dialogue, form, and stagebility. June Heydel is a great supporter of theatre at Cumberland. She and her husband, Bill, donated the funds to build the Heydel Fine Arts Center.
The Mary Argo McKee Commitment to Improvement in Education Award
This award is presented annually by the Education faculty to the Education major who has significantly improved in his/her professional education studies. Mrs. McKee was a long-time educator in Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee.
The President’s Cup
Given annually each April by the Office of Greek Affairs, this award recognizes one Greek social organization for outstanding leadership over the previous year. Selected by the Director of Greek Affairs, this award is based on an organizations ability to recruit and sustain membership, maintain excellent academic standing, and provide meaningful philanthropy to the Cumberland University and Lebanon communities.
The Richard and Virginia Lawlor Award for Creative Non-Fiction
This award is given to the student who submits for evaluation the best piece of creative non-fiction – either memoir, travel writing, food writing, or opt/ed piece – judged on originality, use of language, form, imagery. Richard and Virginia Lawlor were benefactors of Cumberland University and donated the Phoenix Nest CU’s Centre for Creative Arts and Media.
Thomas H. Shriver Award in Criminal Justice
This award is given to a graduating senior who best exemplifies the qualities of character, scholarship, effort, and attitude that are essential to a career in the field of criminal justice. The award is in memory of Thomas H. Shriver, Criminal Court Judge for Nashville-Davidson County, who was a member of the Cumberland University Board of Trust.
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
The editors of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges select students based on their academic achievements, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success. Outstanding students, selected from more than 1,800 institutions of higher education in all 50 states and the and several foreign countries, have been honored in the annual directory since it was first published in 1940.
William A. McShain Memorial Award
This award is presented to the student in the Labry School of Science, Business, and Technology who has demonstrated the high ideals of Business and Economics through their work for and with the Cumberland University chapter of Phi Beta Lambda. It is presented in memoriam of William A. McShain, MBA, an assistant professor at Cumberland University, 1998-2003.
William Bowen Campbell Award in American History
This award is given in memory of William Bowen Campbell, citizen of Wilson County, Judge, Member of Congress (four terms), Brigadier General U.S.A. and Governor of Tennessee. Awarded annually to the student who earns the highest grade point average throughout the year in the study of American History.