2025 ACES Alumni Award nomination forms are now live!

Do you know an alumnus who is deserving of a College of ACES Alumni Award?  Consider nominating them!  Review our award nomination forms and descriptions below for reference:

Nominate an ACES Alumnus

We invite you to nominate an ACES alumnus today to recognize their outstanding contributions.  

Learn more about each award below.

View all past award winners

ACES Award of Merit

Recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of living University of Illinois College of ACES alumni who have excelled in their careers, leadership or service upon graduation from college. Awardees will be honored at the ACES Alumni Association Awards Gala. The selected individuals will also become Round Barn Society members and will be pinned when receiving their recognition.


Scoring


Scoring will consist of professional accomplishments and service to professional organizations, service to the University of Illinois and College of ACES, community achievement and service to the community as demonstrated in the nominator’s letter of endorsement and additional letter(s) of reference.


Guidelines for Nomination:

  • Submit the completed nomination form.
  • Attach one to three additional letters of reference. Consider one letter of reference from a University of Illinois past or current faculty or staff member. Names, addresses and an email must be included on reference letters.
  • Attach candidate's professional document(s)- resumes preferred, CVs accepted
  • All nomination forms, resumes, and letters of recommendation must be completed and submitted electronically to acesalumni@illinois.edu.

Candidates will be considered for one year. Nominators can resubmit an updated nomination for two subsequent years. If a nominee is not selected within a three-year period, the candidate can be re-nominated after three additional years.

View videos of ACES Award of Merit winners

ACES Career Achievement Award

Recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of living University of Illinois College of ACES alumni who have had exceptional professional achievement and/or made extraordinary humanitarian contributions. Awardees will be honored at the ACES Alumni Association Awards Gala. The selected individuals will also become Round Barn Society members and will be pinned when receiving their recognition.


Scoring


Scoring will consist of professional achievements, growth in career path, impact on industry, impact on others from professional experience, leadership exhibited in profession, professional organization membership and roles, and service to others as demonstrated by the nominator’s letter of nomination and additional letter/(s) of reference.


Guidelines for Nomination:

  • Submit the completed nomination form.
  • Attach 1-3 additional letters of reference. Names, addresses and an email must be included on reference letters.
  • Attach candidate's professional document(s)- resumes preferred, CVs accepted
  • Past Award of Merit winners are not eligible for this award.
  • All nomination forms, resumes, and letters of recommendation must be completed and submitted electronically to acesalumni@illinois.edu.


Candidates will be considered for one year. Nominators can resubmit an updated nomination for two subsequent years. If a nominee is not selected within a three-year period, the candidate can be re-nominated after three additional years.

View videos of ACES Career Achievement Award winners

ACES Outstanding Young Alumni

Recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of University of Illinois College of ACES young alumni who have had exceptional professional achievement and/or made extraordinary humanitarian contributions. Awardees will be honored at the ACES Alumni Association Awards Gala event. The selected individuals will also become Round Barn Society members and will be pinned when receiving their recognition.


Scoring


Scoring will consist of professional accomplishments and service to professional organizations, community achievement and service to the community, service to the University of Illinois and College of ACES as demonstrated by the nominator’s letter of nomination and additional letter(s) of reference.


Guidelines for Nomination:

  • Nominee must be under the age of 40 as of January 1, 2023.
  • Complete and submit the nomination form.
  • Attach one to three additional letters of reference. Consider one letter of reference from a University of Illinois past or current faculty or staff member. Names, addresses and an email must be included on reference letters.
  • Attach candidate's professional document(s)- resumes preferred, CVs accepted
  • All nomination forms, resumes, and letters of recommendation must be completed and submitted electronically to acesalumni@illinois.edu.

 

Candidates will be considered for one year. Nominators can resubmit an updated nomination for two subsequent years. If a nominee is not selected within a three-year period, the candidate can be re-nominated after three additional years.

View videos of ACES Outstanding Young Alumni Award winners

ACES Family Spirit Award

Recognizes a family who has demonstrated their support of the College as alumni and/or current students. Selection will be based on, but not limited to, a display of sincere dedication to the College of ACES and significant connections to the College and University. Awardees will be honored at the ACES Alumni Association Awards Gala.

Scoring

Scoring will consist of service to the University of Illinois and College of ACES after graduation, engagement as a student/(s), service to the community; family engagement with the University as demonstrated in the nominator’s letter of endorsement and additional letter/(s) of reference.


Guidelines for Nomination:

  • Complete and submit the nomination form.
  • Attach 1-3 additional letters of reference. Names, addresses and an email must be included on reference letters.
  • All nomination forms, resumes, and letters of recommendation must be completed and submitted electronically to acesalumni@illinois.edu.


Candidates will be considered for one year. Nominators can resubmit an updated nomination for two subsequent years. If a nominee is not selected within a three-year period, the candidate can be re-nominated after three additional years.

View videos of ACES Family Spirit Award winners

University of Illinois Alumni Association Awards

Every year during Homecoming weekend at the University of Illinois, the UI Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni for their successes and contributions. Learn more about university awards and how to nominate an alum today.

University of Illinois Alumni Awards include:

  • Alumni Achievement Award
  • Chicago Illini of the Year Award
  • Distinguished Service Award
  • Illini Comeback Award
  • Lou Liay Spirit Award
  • Diversity and Inclusion Award
  • Young Alumni Award
  • Honorary Alumni Award

Please let the College of ACES Alumni Association know if you nominate an alum for a university alumni award.

Stay Connected!

Online social networking is a great tool to stay in touch with alumni and friends from the College of ACES!