The Office of Student Affairs offers opportunities to acknowledge the academic and extracurricular accomplishments of all students. Below you will find the ways that the Office of Student Affairs recognizes students.
Commencement Speaker
During each Commencement ceremony, an undergraduate or graduate student has the unique opportunity to address their fellow graduates. Commencement speakers speak on behalf of the graduating class to provide well wishes, a reflection on their experiences at Illinois Tech, and their personal encouragement for the future. The Dean of Students Office spearheads the selection of the commencement speakers.
Applicants who wish to be the student Commencement speaker must meet the following qualifications:
- Currently enrolled student graduating in the year they apply
- In good academic and judicial standing (i.e. must hold a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher for undergraduate students)
- Can demonstrate and highlight positive points of growth and experiences as an Illinois Tech student
- Comfortable with public speaking
Finalists will be selected based on their submissions and will then present their draft commencement speech to the Commencement Speaker Selection Committee. The person who is selected will work closely with the student affairs team to refine their speech and get ready for the big day. The committee will make its decision after listening to all finalists.
This year, we will select two students; one per ceremony.
The selected speaker (s) will also receive the Commencement Speaker Award and will be invited to attend the Student Leadership and Service awards banquet in April.
are now open. The deadline to submit all applications is Friday, March 7, 2025.
Awards
Below you will find the awards that are facilitated through the Office of the Vice Provost of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Office.
Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award
Illinois Tech Awards
Richard F. Babcock Leadership Award
Outstanding Commitment to Service Award
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year
Outstanding First-Year Involvement Award
Outstanding Student Organization Award
Student Organization Advisor Award
New Awards for the 24-25 Academic Year
- Resident Advisor of the Year Award: This award will honor an outstanding resident advisor with at least a 3.0 GPA, who demonstrates excellence in fostering an inviting, purposeful and educational community in their residence hall community.
- Outstanding Fraternity or Sorority of the Year Award: This award will honor a chapter that embodies the values of the Fraternity/Sorority community through leadership, positive impact, excellence and commitment on the Illinois Tech campus and beyond.
- Collaborative Program of the Year Award: This award will honor the execution of an event/program that significantly enhanced the social, recreational, educational, and/or cultural life of students at Illinois Tech. This event/program must be hosted by two or more Registered Student Organizations, and open to all students on campus. All involved organizations (or involved planning organizations must be in good academic and disciplinary standing).
- Talon Award: This award will honor a full-time undergraduate, Mies campus student, with at least a 3.0 GPA. The student must exemplify outstanding representation of the pride and spirit associated with being a part of the Illinois Tech community.
are now open. The deadline to submit all applications is Friday, March 14, 2025. . All nominees must submit an activities transcript. are due by Friday, March 21, 2025.