Eagle Excellence Awards

HALL OF LEADERS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE & LEADERSHIP

This award is given to a select group of seniors who have demonstrated outstanding involvement with campus life and extracurricular activities and who, through this service, have exemplified a 4-year commitment to the positive enhancement of the Georgia Southern University campus.  On the Statesboro campus, this award is named in honor of Dr. John F. Nolen, Jr., a retired Georgia Southern University Vice President for Student Affairs.  On the Armstrong campus, this award is named in honor of Nick Mamalakis, a successful Savannah businessman and long time supporter of leadership initiatives in Savannah.  This is a one-time award.

SOUTHERN TALON AWARD 

Presented annually to students with above 60 credit hours who have exemplified a commitment to enhancing campus life at Georgia Southern. Students must demonstrate outstanding involvement at Georgia Southern. This is a one-time award.

RISING STAR AWARD 

Presented annually to rising student leaders with less than two years of dedicated involvement in student life, and who have exemplified a commitment to enhancing Georgia Southern campus life (sophomores and freshmen).  On the Statesboro campus, this award is named in honor of Dr. Todd Deal, Executive Director Emeritus of the Office of Leadership & Community Engagement for his long-time support of student and community leadership development.  On the Armstrong campus, this award is named in honor of Cliff McCurry, a successful Savannah businessman who has invested heavily in the leadership development of students throughout Savannah.  This is a one-time award.

GRADUATE STUDENT LEADERSHIP & SERVICE AWARD 

Presented to a graduate student who has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of leadership and involvement in student life during the past year. This is a one-time award.

STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

Presented to a student who demonstrated outstanding involvement in sustainability-related initiatives and a commitment to educating or mentoring peers on sustainability topics or sustainable behaviors at Georgia Southern. This is a one-time award.

EAGLES LEAD SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 

This $500 award is presented by the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs to two student leaders with at least one semester remaining, one on the Statesboro campus and one on the Armstrong campus, who were the Presidents of a registered student organization for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is a one-time award.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION LEADER OF THE YEAR 

Presented to a Primary Student Leader/President who has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills within their organization, worked to enhance the mission of their organization, helped transform student life, and is excelling academically. This individual is an undergraduate or graduate student leader who serves in an executive board role (i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.) of a registered student organization.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION MEMBER OF THE YEAR

This award recognizes a non-officer member of a recognized student organization who has gone above and beyond. The nominee works hard to make their community a warm, friendly, exciting, and educational experience for students. They often place their heart and soul into everything for their organization. They may not hold a leadership position but always goes above and beyond the standard to help their student organization. This individual should display outstanding leadership, dedication, and involvement with their organization.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION ADVISOR OF THE YEAR 

This award recognizes the Primary Advisor that has shown a strong educational role within the organization and has contributed to overall student success. The nominee should demonstrate dedication, availability, and support in their involvement with their students and the organization. They should be valued and respected by those students with whom they work and have a strong understanding of the organization’s mission, values, needs and goals. Note: Only Primary Advisors listed on the organization roster through Student Activities are eligible for this award.

HIGGS-MCCARTER ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AWARD 

Presented to a student who has demonstrated exemplary commitment to their community through ongoing service with non-profit organizations. Service can be gained through personal endeavors, participation in student organizations, sorority/fraternity life, organized service connected to the classroom experience, etc. Service hours should be recorded in Eagle Engage. This award is named after Lindsay Higgs and Shelby McCarter, two former Georgia Southern students, who demonstrated outstanding service to the local and campus communities.

TRACK YOUR IMPACT AWARDS

Students who tracked their volunteer efforts will be recognized for their efforts if they acquired 50 or 100 hours of eligible service during a 12 month time period. Students with 50 hours of service may receive a 50 hour award and those with 100 hours of service may receive The President’s Volunteer Service Award or the 100 hour award.

ORGANIZATION LEGACY AWARD 

Presented to an active, registered student organization that has demonstrated a strong level of leadership, campus involvement, TRUE BLUE spirit, and community engagement throughout the year.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Awarded to an active, registered organization that has demonstrated a strong level of leadership, campus involvement, TRUE BLUE spirit, and community engagement throughout the year. This organization demonstrated significant effort to fulfill and further its purpose and mission through its contribution to its members, Georgia Southern, and/or the community at large.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF EXCELLENCE AWARD 

Awarded to active, registered organizations that have demonstrated a strong level of leadership, campus involvement, TRUE BLUE spirit, and community engagement throughout the year. These organizations demonstrated significant effort to fulfill and further their purpose and mission through their contribution to their members, Georgia Southern, and/or the community at large. Chapters selected for this award are excelling in areas such as: commitment to community service, membership development, engagement and advocacy on campus, and commitment to tracking and recording attendance and involvement by organization and members on Eagle Engage.

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

This award acknowledges a program hosted by an active, registered student organization that showcases the values of their organization, highlights a campus/community concern, or builds university pride. This event should exemplify creativity, effective planning, and contribute to the overall community building at Georgia Southern.

BEST NEW STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

This award recognizes a newly active organization chartered in the spring 2025 or the fall 2025 semester that has demonstrated a strong level of leadership, campus involvement, and/or community engagement.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION MEMBER ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AWARD

This award recognizes an organization that prioritizes the overall development of its leaders and members through initiatives beyond those that are required of them. This can be seen through events, projects, or efforts that engage members and develop their professional and interpersonal skills as students for their overall success.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION SERVICE AWARD

This award recognizes an organization’s service event, project, or effort that best demonstrates dedicated leadership and service to the university and community, and whose membership has made service an integral part of their college experience. This might be demonstrated through activities and partnerships with other campus groups or community organizations and/or high levels of personal engagement with community service initiatives on the part of the membership. The organization that receives this award will have sponsored a community service program, made significant, continuous community service efforts, or supported a service initiative that contributes to the broader mission of Georgia Southern and encourages students to engage in service beyond one experience.

WINGS INCENTIVE PROGRAM AWARDS

The Wings Incentive Program was established to recognize those organizations that make it a priority to improve themselves as a whole and the experience of each of their members. The Wings Incentive Program aims to provide opportunities for organizations to earn points from meaningful and productive experiences. Organizations will earn points that eventually will lead them to achieve either a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum status.