The George Norlin Award is the highest honor bestowed by the University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association. The award recognizes outstanding alumni who have demonstrated a long-lasting commitment to excellence in their professional career and a devotion to the betterment of society and their community. A Norlin Award recipient stands out amongst others as someone that has made a demonstrated positive impact on a national or global scale.

Award Evaluation Criteria

  • Outstanding and impactful professional accomplishments
  • Exceptional devotion to the betterment of society
  • Consistent demonstration of personal integrity
  • Demonstrated positive impact on a national or global scale

Once you submit your nomination, you will be directed back to the Alumni Association website.


The Alumni Recognition Award honors CU Boulder alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, commitment, dedication and service to the advancement of the institution and its mission.

Award Evaluation Criteria

  • ​Demonstrated leadership in their service to CU Boulder
  • Extraordinary service to the university
  • Demonstrated lasting and positive impact on the University of Colorado Boulder
  • Volunteerism in service to the University for at least five years

Once you submit your nomination, you will be directed back to the Alumni Association website.

The Leanne Skupa-Lee Award has been presented since 1984 and recognizes effective and passionate volunteers who serve the University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association. It honors alumni who embody the Forever Buffs spirit of connecting, contributing and celebrating their CU pride through extraordinary service to the university.

Award Evaluation Criteria

  • Positive advocate for the University of Colorado
  • Effective and passionate volunteer working directly to support alums, students, faculty and/or staff
  • Demonstrated leadership and extraordinary service to the Alumni Association
  • Volunteerism in service to the CU Boulder Alumni Association for at least three years

Once you submit your nomination, you will be directed back to the Alumni Association website.

This award has been presented since 1982 to recognize individuals who display outstanding career achievement and have made significant contributions to the community and/or the university, within 15 years of graduation from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Award Evaluation Criteria

  • Outstanding career achievement
  • Exceptional and impactful contributions to society and/or university
  • Significant accomplishments, honors or accolades

Once you submit your nomination, you will be directed back to the Alumni Association website.

The Stearns Award recognizes outstanding members of the current CU Boulder faculty and staff. It honors exceptional achievement or service in any one, but usually a combination, of the following areas: outstanding teaching, extraordinary service to the university, exemplary work with students, significant research and/or off-campus service to the community. The Awards Committee considers the qualifications of staff nominees separately from the qualifications of faculty nominees.

Award Evaluation Criteria

  • Outstanding teaching (if applicable)
  • Extraordinary service to the university
  • Exemplary work with students
  • Significant research (if applicable)
  • Off-campus service to the community
  • Impact on the University of Colorado Boulder

Once you submit your nomination, you will be directed back to the Alumni Association website.

University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association