Purpose:  The Alumnus of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed upon alumni of Virginia State University by the Virginia State University Alumni Association on behalf of the University. The hallmark of each recipient is a unique distinction of career and/or lifetime achievements; complemented by personal contributions made to support the mission and purpose of both the University and the Alumni Association; and the unselfish giving of time, talents, and resources to alumni-related activities through an active chapter in good standing.

Criteria:
To be considered for the Alumnus of the Year Award, a nominee must meet the following criteria:    

• Nomination is required and must be made by a financial member or an active chapter in good standing with the Virginia State University Alumni Association.  All nominations are confidential and must be forwarded to the Alumni Association’s Awards Committee for consideration.
• Nominee must hold an earned degree from Virginia State University, or any of its predecessors.
• Nominee must be a member in good standing with the Virginia State University Alumni Association.    
• Nominee must have demonstrated continuing interest in and support of Virginia State University through contribution of time, talent or resources through an active chapter in good standing.
• Nominee must have provided significant services to or have personally contributed financially to the support and mission of Virginia State University and the Virginia State University Alumni Association.
• Nominee must have a record of community involvement and student/alumni recruitment.  
• Only nomination forms that have been distributed or posted online by the Association are acceptable for submission. In addition to the nomination form, supporting supplemental material a vita, newspaper or magazine clippings, photos, letters, or other awards must also be submitted.  Copies of these materials are acceptable.

Calendar:  Nomination forms and any supporting materials should be received by the Alumni Association Awards Committee no later than the third week in March of the year in which the person is being nominated.  Deadline for nominations in 2012 will be March 23^rd.

Selection Methodology:  The Awards Committee, comprised of members of the Association’s Board of Directors, will review all nominations and make the final decision. Qualified applicants will receive a numerical rating based on the responses to the questions applicable to this award. These responses must be submitted along with any supporting documentation. A photograph -preferably head and shoulder- 300 dpi or higher must also accompany the application.  Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.  The Alumnus of the Year Award recipient will be officially announced during the Annual Meeting held during the University’s Alumni Weekend & Commencement celebration in May, and more formally recognized during the University’s Commencement exercises.

Completed forms and other supporting documention can also be sent through this site, by clicking here: 

Previous Recipients of the Alumnus of the Year Award

1988                 Wilbert J. Briggs, Sr.
1989                 Percy E. Pollard, Sr. 
1994                 Shirley Alexander
1995                 Dr. Foster B. Miles, Jr.
1998                 Alveta Green
1999                 Jimmie Steverson
2001                 Yvette G. Robinson
2002                 Pearly M. Edwards
2003                 Lucille V. Olds
2004                 Goldie Miles
2005                 Edith Thompson Stanley
2006                 Clarence Sessoms
2007                 Emmett Smith
2008                 Dr. Porcher L. Taylor, Jr.
2009                 Dr. Mildred F. Johnson, '56
2010                 John Hill