Robins Award Finalists

Robins Awards are the most coveted of all Utah State honors; students and faculty are rewarded for their hard work and dedication to their individual goals, as well as the goals of USU. The awards memorialize William E. Robins, a campus hero who had a rare quality to turn his vision into Utah State’s vision. Robins was a Sigma Nu at Utah State who served as USU’s student body president in 1949. He was also the primary and initial visionary of today’s Taggart Student Center. In 1954, Bill and his wife Geraldine died in a plane crash, leaving behind the one-year old orphan Nick Robins. This prompted Bill’s fraternity to set up the Bill E. Robins Memorial fund to raise money that would provide a scholarship for the boy’s education when he was old enough to enroll in the University. Tragically, Nick Robins died at the age of eight from leukemia. Now we honor this families memory and impact at USU through the Robins Awards. 

Awards nominated by student, faculty and staff Award

This award is presented to the student who represents the best youth has to offer. This student has excelled academically, displayed outstanding leadership ability, shown dedication to Utah State, and possesses traits that set him or her apart as a rare individual. The Bill E. Robins Memorial Award has been awarded to the highest achieving student regardless of gender since 1960. Students that would have been nominated for Man of the Year and Woman of the Year will be eligible for the new Bill E. Robins non-gendered awards.

 This award, established in honor of Val R. Christensen’s outstanding lifetime contribution to volunteerism, is presented to the student or organization whose volunteer service significantly impacted Utah State University and the community. This student or organization shows a level of commitment to volunteerism exemplified by Val R. Christensen, former Vice President of Student Services of Utah State University.

This award is presented to the student organization that demonstrates the excellence of the organization’s stated purpose and service to Utah State University.

This is defined as something accomplished by superior ability, distinctive effor, great courage or heroic action.

This award goes to the individual member of the University administration or staff who, through his or her work at Utah State University has displayed superior leadership skills and abilities, as well as unsurpassed dedication and service to students. This award is not open for nomination and it chosen by the Robins Awards committee.

For Robins Awards nominated by faculty, staff and students, there is a three month nomination period where individuals are able to nominate others who deserve to be recognized. After being nominated, each group and/or individual nominated will be notified and asked to submit comprehensive paperwork in which a selection committee will evaluate to select finalists and winners for each category. Both nominees and winners are invited to attend the Robins Awards ceremony, where the winners are revealed and further recognized for their hard work, dedication and success at Utah State University. Rules Governing the Acceptance of Nomination & Document Submission

  1. All individuals desiring to accept a nomination must submit a biography that is no more than two pages long, which should include all the questions asked, within the time permitted by the Robins Awards Committee. This is a one-time submission so prepare attractive, well-written materials that can be displayed
    2. All submissions that exceed the required page length – two pages for a biography of the questions asked – will be edited without further notice
    3. Time extensions will not be given

Awards nominated by faculty, staff and respective departments/colleges

The Eldon J. Gardner Teacher of the Year Award is given each year to recognize and emphasize excellence in teaching. Other scholarly activity such as research and publication records may become consideration in the selection process, but the main emphasis will be on teaching excellence as judged by faculty and students.

The Faculty University Service Award will be given each year to recognize and emphasize excellence in service to the operations and governance of the University. Recognized activities will include service at the University, College and/or Department levels and may include Libraries and Extension.

This award is given each year to recognize and emphasize a student who represents the heart and soul of the University. Students should show a commitment to the institution and their program of study, as well as demonstrate internal involvement and service, department dedication, perseverance during times of adversity, and contribution behind the scenes.

This award is presented to the professional advisor at Utah State University who has provided students with outstanding academic advising.

This award is given each year to recognize and emphasize excellence in scholarship. Other service and student activity involvement may become a consideration in the selection process, but the main emphasis will be on scholarly achievement.

This award is presented to the individual who demonstrates an outstanding mental endowment or superior capacity in the field of music, art, or theater.

This award goes to the faculty advisor at Utah State University who has displayed personal interest in students and demonstrated ability to provide superior academic advisement.

The School of Graduate Studies seeks nominations from the colleges for outstanding graduate students to be considered for University Graduate Student Teacher of the Year.

This award is presented to the individual female athlete who has demonstrated exceptional qualities of athletic skill, sportsmanship and determination and brought recognition to the Utah State University athletic program.

This award is presented to the individual male athlete who has demonstrated exceptional qualities of athletic skill, sportsmanship and determination and brought recognition to the Utah State University athletic program.