Tennessee Tech Alumni Association

This award shall be presented to an alumnus who has demonstrated the ideal of excellence by achieving success and recognition and instilling great pride among the faculty, students, and alumni of the University. The recipient shall be a highly recognized scholar, writer, actor, artist, musician, entertainer, executive, politician, or person of comparable stature, who clearly exemplifies the quality of excellence to which the University is so deeply committed. In particular, the Distinguished Alumnus Award is different from an award exclusively for service or financial gifts. This is an award for developed talent that reflects favorably on the quality of the University, the faculty, and the administration who are charged with creating and sustaining this quality. The Distinguished Alumnus Award shall carry the prestige of the highest award the ASSOCIATION has the power to bestow.

Selection criteria for the Distinguished Alumnus Award include, but are not limited to:
(a) National or international reputation in the alumnus’ field.
(b) Outstanding contribution to science, medicine, the arts, or other fields.
(c) Selection for national or international awards.
(d) Exceptional personal reputation and history of service to the community
(e) Recipient must be a graduate of the University or former student.

This award shall be given to an alumnus who is age 40 or younger, for outstanding accomplishments in their profession, business, community, state, or nation which bring a high level of honor and pride to the University.

Selection criteria for the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award include, but are not limited to:
(a) National or international reputation in the alumnus’ field.
(b) Outstanding contribution to science, medicine, the arts, or other fields.
(c) Selection for national or international awards.
(d) Exceptional personal reputation and history of service to the community
(e) Recipient must be a graduate of the University or former student.
(f) Recipient is the age of 40 years or younger at the time of nomination.

This award shall be given to an individual, business, or organization who continues to donate their resources, finances, and personal time to the University. This award may be given to an individual who is not an alumnus of the University. Candidates for this award include an organization or individual that has been very generous to the University and its students. This award is for visionaries, statespersons of the community, employer and workforce partners, and regional leaders.

Selection criteria for the criteria for Outstanding Philanthropy Award are as follows:
(a) Generous giving of resources (money or time) to the University.
(b) Major influence on volunteers to become involved in fundraising or supporting the University.
(c) Outstanding volunteer efforts in raising money for the institution or expanding business/employer collaboration for the University.
(d) Exceptional civic responsibility and integrity.
(e) A continued commitment and philanthropic effort that has improved the quality of life for the University, students, and community.
(f) Priority will be given to a graduate of the University or a former student. In the case of a business organization, preference will be given to businesses or organizations with significant employee/member ties to the University (i.e. Owner/Chair/CEO is a graduate, the business employs graduates, etc.)

This award shall be given to an individual who has given outstanding service to the University through recruiting, advocacy, or faithful service, or who has given outstanding service to the community through involvement in civic endeavors, religious leadership, or philanthropic works.

Selection criteria for the Outstanding Service Award include, but are not limited to:
(a) Major influence over volunteers to serve in an advocacy role for the University or to a community.
(b) Outstanding contribution to a community via civic involvement, religious leadership, or philanthropy or to the University through an ambassador/advocate role, a mentor role to a student, offering internships for students, recruitment efforts, or some special service to a unit of the University.
(c) Recipient must be a graduate of the University or a former student.