First-Generation Student Achievement Award 

Award Description

The First-Generation Student Achievement Award honors one first-generation undergraduate student and one graduate or professional first-generation college student. This award recognizes exceptional students who have pursued and met ambitious goals and/or made notable achievements while enrolled at the University of Iowa, demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, and created pathways for or inspired other first-generation students to also excel at the University of Iowa. Recipients of the award will be honored in March during the annual 1stGen@Iowa Awards and Recognition Ceremony.

Nomination Instructions

First-Generation College Student Definition:

First-generation college students are students who do not have a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who completed a four-year degree. See https://firstgen.uiowa.edu for more information.

Eligibility for Award:

  • All current UI first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students
  • Two awards will be given - one to a UI undergraduate student and one to a UI graduate or professional student

Who May Nominate:

  • Any current UI student, faculty, or staff member may make a nomination.
  • Note on Self-Nominations: While self-nominations are permitted, they are generally discouraged. Nominations submitted by others carry greater weight in the selection process. Nominees should not solicit more than one nomination to be submitted on their behalf.  

Deadline:

  • Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026. 

Nomination Materials:

To nominate a student for this award, please submit the following materials. Note that each nomination requires two participants:

  • Primary Nominator – responsible for completing and submitting the nomination form.
  • Secondary Nominator – provides the required letter of support.
  1. The Nomination Form: The primary nominator completes the online nomination form (available 11/3/25), responding to the following three questions (limit: 2,000 characters per question):
    • Significant Goals & Achievements: What ambitious goals has the nominee pursued and/or what notable achievements have they accomplished while enrolled at the University of Iowa?
    • Academic Excellence: How has the nominee demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence throughout their collegiate experience?
    • Leadership & Inspiration: In what ways has the nominee created pathways for, or inspired other first-generation students to excel at the University of Iowa?
  2. One Letter of Support: Include one letter of support, provided by a secondary nominator (a current UI student, faculty, or staff member) that also directly addresses each of the three questions listed above. The letter of support is limited to two pages; no more than one letter will be accepted. The letter of support must be uploaded to the online nomination form at the time of submission by the primary nominator.
Nominate

Selection Process:

A committee of four people composed of 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative members and 1stGen@Iowa Student Advisory Board members will review the nominations according to the criteria outlined in the above nomination materials.

Timeline:

  • Nomination Form Opens: Monday, November 3, 2025
  • Nomination Submission Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Recipients notified in February 2026 and awards presented in March 2026.

Contact:

Please contact Angie Lamb (angela-lamb@uiowa.edu) with questions.