Outstanding Chapter Award

The Outstanding Chapter Award shall be presented on an annual basis to a very limited number of chapters of Blue Key Honor Society. This award recognizes excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service of the chapter through its actions and activities. Award winners are model chapters and best exemplify the spirit and purpose of Blue Key Honor Society. NOTE: A Blue Key Chapter winning the Outstanding Chapter Award may not be nominated for the same award the following year.

Outstanding Chapter Award Previous Winners

2025: Northern Arizona University
2024: Clemson University
2023: Northern Arizona University
2022: University of Toledo
2021: Clemson University
2020: Kansas State University
2019: Clemson University
2018: Michigan Tech University
2017: Emory and Henry College
2016: Clemson University
2015: Michigan Tech University 

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• Essay highlighting how your chapter has excelled in scholarship, leadership, and service through its activities on campus and in the community. 
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent digital photo of your chapter

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
• Maximum length: 2 pages

Outstanding Advisor Award

The Outstanding Advisor Award may be presented annually to the one advisor who has excelled in service to the chapter and the Society.  The advisor must be in good standing with the Blue Key Honor Society. The nomination for this award must be approved at either a regular or special meeting of the chapter, with at least a majority of the chapter members approving. Collegiate chapters may nominate one advisor annually for this award.

Criteria:

• Display an exemplary record of achievement and service to Blue Key.
• Be a model representative of Blue Key to the college or university and community.
• Fulfill the motto, “Serving I Live.”
• Be actively engaged in the normal and regular meetings and activities of the chapter. Must attend a majority of the meetings of the chapter.
• Provide advice and guidance to the executive officers and members of the chapter.
• Go beyond the normal “position requirements of advisor” in the advising and guidance role.
• Communicate with the national executive office of Blue Key Honor Society.

Outstanding Advisor Award Previous Winners

2025: Glenn Hansen, Northern Arizona University
2024: Leslie White, University of West Alabama
2023: Dr. Logan Britton, Kansas State University
2022: Janet Lance, University of Georgia
2021: Alex Helmbrecht, Chadron State College
2020: Heather Sander, Michigan Technological University
2019: June Coleman, Emporia State University
2018: Laura Bulleit, Michigan Tech University
2017: Kerri McMillan, Clemson University
2016: Russell Carson Guill, Clemson University
2015: Robert Lee Izlar, The University of Georgia 

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• Essay highlighting how your advisor has excelled in relation to the criteria information listed above.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent photo headshot of the nominee

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximum length: 2 pages

Distinguished Service Award

The Blue Key Distinguished Service Award is given in recognition to a Blue Key member, alumnus, or advisor who has served the Society for a significant portion of the honoree’s adult life.  This award recognizes distinguished service and excellence in leadership, scholarship, service, and character.  This individual embodies the Blue Key motto “Serving I Live.”

Criteria:

• Served Blue Key Honor Society for a significant number of years and contributed in a meaningful way to the success of a Blue Key chapter and its members.
• Represented Blue Key in the nation or world by distinguished service.
• The nominee must be a living member of Blue Key. The nominee may be an alumnus or honorary member.

Distinguished Service Award Previous Winners

2025: Dr. Ron McNinch-Su, University of Guam
2024: Rusty Guill, Clemson University
2023: Cherie Crisp, Emporia State University
2022: Dr. Emily Lehning, Kansas State University
2021: Bob Izlar, University of Georgia
2020: Rich Mistler, Kansas State University
2019: Dr. Pat Bosco, Kansas State University
2017: Dr. Christopher Sieverdes, Clemson University
2016: Thomas Daniel Buckalew, Univ of West Alabama
2015: Keith Bjerke, NDSU 

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• An essay highlighting the individual's service to the Blue Key chapter and organization, as indicated in the criteria listed above.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent photo headshot of the nominee

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximum length 2 pages

President's Award

The President’s Award shall recognize a current or past Blue Key Chapter President who is considered an outstanding collegiate member of the Blue Key Honor Society.  This president shall represent his or her chapter as a standard-bearer and role model. The significant feature of this person’s performance is that they have been a difference-maker who has enhanced the profile and reputation of Blue Key among all other honor and service groups on campus. This president shall have an outstanding record of extracurricular activities, a clear and demonstrated level of commitment to abide by the Blue Key motto, a sense of responsibility to self and others, and a reputable pattern of conduct that conforms to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

The nominee shall demonstrate an exemplary record of leadership, scholarship, and service to Blue Key and the chapter institution.  This award recognizes the one outstanding collegiate member of the Society who, by his or her record has exemplified the values inherent and perpetuated the ideals as set forth in the Preamble to the Bylaws of the Fraternity.  The President’s Award is one of the highest honors that the Society can bestow on one of its own members.

Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership and commitment to Blue Key as Chapter President.
• Demonstrated campus and community involvement, leadership, and service as President.
• Demonstrated character and integrity.

President's Award Previous Winners

2025: Karli VanderMeersch, Northern Arizona University
2024: Callie Lowe, Northern Arizona University
2023: Nicholas Mercer, Clemson University
2022: Frank Lumpkin, University of Georgia
2021: Ethan Kallenberger, Kansas State University
2020: Cherie Crisp, Emporia State University
2019: Eric Norfleet, Truman State University
2018: Drew Costa, Clemson University
2017: Ian Greenlund, Michigan Tech University
2016: James Sullivan, Clemson University
 

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• An essay highlighting your President's achievements or involvement in the criteria listed above.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent photo headshot of the nominee

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximum length 2 pages

Gregory Lee Smith Exemplary Blue Key Member Award

This is an individual award that recognizes a Blue Key member for demonstration of an exemplary record of leadership, dedication, commitment and service to Blue Key and the chapter institution.  This individual shall represent his or her chapter as a standard-bearer and role model. The significant feature of this person’s performance is that they have been a difference-maker who has enhanced the profile and reputation of Blue Key among all other honor and service groups on campus. This individual shall have an outstanding record of extracurricular activities, a clear and demonstrated level of commitment to abide by the Blue Key motto, a sense of responsibility to self and others, and a reputable pattern of conduct that conforms to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

This award carries a $1000 scholarship to the award recipient.

Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership and commitment to Blue Key.
• Demonstrated Commitment and Dedication to Blue Key.
• Demonstrated campus and community involvement, leadership, and service.
• Demonstrated character and integrity.

Gregory Lee Smith Exemplary Blue Key Member Award Previous Winners

2025: Camila Viorel, Emporia State University
2024: Jacob Lombardi, University of Toledo
2023: Abby Goins, Kansas State University
2022: May Pleyte, Michigan Technological University
2021: Abigail Hendrix, Michigan Tech University
2020: Miranda Moore, Kansas State University
2019: Molly Bassette, Kansas State University
2018: Lauren Sevenish, Univ of West Alabama
2017: Caitlyn Webb, Kansas State University
2016: Alyxandria Schwarzwalder, North Central College
2015: Kasey Darley, University of Georgia 

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• An essay highlighting the individual's service to the Blue Key chapter and organization, as indicated in the criteria listed above.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent photo headshot of the nominee

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximum length 2 pages

Outstanding Feature Award

This award recognizes a special feature or contribution to campus life. The feature shall be observable or measurable. Normally the feature could be described as something that raises the profile of the chapter on campus or at the national level among peer Blue Key chapters.  It could be a fund-raising event for the college or university.  It may include an academic program, a leadership program or service activities such as an outstanding scrapbook, campus event, activity, publication or digital presentation.

Criteria:

A Blue Key chapter gains significant recognition on campus when it is identified with a special contribution to campus life in the area of scholarship, leadership or service.  The event, activity or feature gives Blue Key respected name recognition and may serve to attract students to become members.

Outstanding Feature Award Previous Winners

2025: Emporia State University (Dr. Sam and Jeannene Hayes Lecture Series)
2024: University of West Alabama (Miss Paragon)
2023: Kansas State University (LeadX)
2022: Michigan Technological University (Winter Carnival)
2021: Kansas State University (Quest)
2020: Colorado School of Mines (M-Climb)
2019: Clemson University (Tigerama)
2018: Michigan Tech University (Winter Carnival)
2017: Missouri S&T (Student Success programming)
2016: University of Georgia (Alumni Banquet)
2015: Emory and Henry College (Merger with Cardinal Key) 

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• An essay that highlights an event that goes above and beyond, impacting the university and students on a larger level.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent digital photo of your chapter or photo of the feature event.

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximum length 2 pages

Undergraduate Research Award

The Undergraduate Research Award was established in 2024 to recognize outstanding undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to academic research and scholarly excellence. This award celebrates students who have made a contribution to an academic field through original research or innovative projects. The Undergraduate Research Award comes with a $250 scholarship.

Award applicants should include a digital version of their research poster, a copy of their manuscript, or other digital copy of their research. The research must be fully complete and conducted within the student's undergraduate career.

Undergraduate Research Award Previous Winners

None as of Fall 2025

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• An essay that highlights a student's contribution to their academic field, per the criteria listed above.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent photo headshot of the nominee

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximum length 2 pages 

Director's Choice Award

The Director’s Choice Award shall recognize an active Blue Key Chapter for demonstration of an exemplary record of leadership, dedication, commitment and service to Blue Key and the chapter institution.  This individual chapter shall have an outstanding record of extracurricular activities, a clear and demonstrated level of commitment to abide by the Blue Key motto, sense of responsibility to self and others, and a reputable pattern of conduct that conforms to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

This award recognizes the one outstanding chapter of the Society, that by its record, has exemplified the values inherent and perpetuated the ideals as set forth in the Preamble to the Bylaws of the Blue Key.  The Director’s Choice Award is one of the highest honors that the Society can bestow on one of its chapters. The award recognizes chapter contributions, achievements, participation at the national level, and the personal character of its members.

NOTE: This award can only be given once to a chapter in a ten year period.

Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership and commitment to Blue Key.
• Demonstrated Commitment and Dedication.
• Demonstrated campus and community involvement, leadership, and service.
• Demonstrated character and integrity of its membership.

Director's Choice Award Previous Winners

2025: Emporia State University
2021: Northern Arizona University
2020: The University of Toledo
2018: Kansas State University
2017: Clemson University
2016: Colorado School of Mines
2015: NDSU
2014: Concord University

Award nominations must include the following information at a minimum:

• An essay highlighting the chapter's leadership and dedication to the Blue Key national organization, as indicated in the criteria listed above.
• Essay Formatting to include:
  • Maximum Length: 2 Pages
  • Font: 12 pt. Times New Roman
  • Spacing: Single or double-spaced
  • Margins: 1 Inch
• A recent digital photo of your chapter.

Optionally, to support your award nomination, you may include the following information:

• Up to 1 letter of recommendation from an advisor, faculty, or staff member from your institution.
  • Maximal length 2 pages