CLICK HERE to read the profiles of the 2024 Top Ten Seniors
WHAT IS TOP TEN SENIORS?
From the early 1900's to the 1980's, Washington State University recognized the best five men and five women seniors. These students were called "The Big Five Men" and "The Big Five Women." The Student Alumni Ambassadors and the WSU Alumni Association are continuing this tradition with the Top Ten Seniors award program. The most qualified ten students, each representing a specific aspect of the college experience, will be chosen. The categories are:
Academics
Athletics
Campus Involvement
Community Service
Visual and Performing Arts
Winners will demonstrate excellence in one of these categories. Selection criteria can be found on this page. A committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students will review the nominations. Nominees must be undergraduates graduating from any of the WSU campuses during the 2024 calendar year.
NOMINATION FORM -
Nominations for 2024 are now closed. Nominations for 2025 will be open January-February 2025.
NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS
- Nominees must be undergraduates from any of the WSU campuses, graduating during the 2025 calendar year.
- Winning students will demonstrate excellence in one of these categories.
- Students may be nominated in multiple categories but will only be chosen as a winner in one category.
Each nomination must include:
- Nominator and student contact information - Application completed through the online form that will be available once nominations are being accepted
- Copy of student resume or CV
- Letter(s) of nomination - A senior graduating from any of the WSU campuses may be nominated by a peer, faculty, staff, or community member. Multiple letters of nomination may be submitted in support of one student. Nominations will not be accepted from family members.
Need help? Please contact Jamaica Vandolah at 509-335-6902 or at jvandolah@wsu.edu.
SELECTION CRITERIA
ACADEMICS
Nominees for this category may include seniors that demonstrated superior excellence in academics through efforts in and out of the classroom at WSU.
Please describe:
- Knowledge and skills gained, and how those will be applied in future career/life pursuits
- Any academic awards and/or recognition from colleges and national organizations
- Involvement in WSU registered student organizations, including leadership positions
- Involvement in Honorary/Professional Societies
- Research endeavors/papers published
- Any additional information as it pertains to the nomination category
ATHLETICS
Nominees for this category may include varsity, intramural, professional, outdoor, club, or disabled athletes that demonstrated superior excellence in athletics throughout his/her time at WSU.
Please describe:
- Athletic achievements including pertinent statistics
- Athletic awards and recognition received at WSU
- Leadership position(s) on athletic team(s) and within registered student organizations
- Outreach to community through participation in athletics
- Student's future career goals
- Any additional information as it pertains to the nomination category
CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT
Nominees for this category may include seniors who have demonstrated superior excellence in campus involvement throughout their time at WSU. Nominees may have been involved in (but not limited to): ASWSU, registered student
organizations, university committees, hall governments, fraternities, sororities, etc.
Please describe:
- All activities, including length of participation
- Leadership positions held through campus involvement
- Awards and recognition related to student's involvement and leadership
- Student's impact on campus life and culture
- Student's future career goals
- Any additional information as it pertains to the nomination category
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Nominees for this category may include seniors who have demonstrated superior excellence in their off-campus community service pursuits. Nominees may have been involved with outreach to children, senior citizens, the impoverished, women's safety, the environment, etc.
Please describe:
- Participation details for all off-campus community service projects
- Leadership roles related to their community service involvement
- Awards and recognition for their off-campus community involvement
- Number of hours served and the impact on the target audience(s)
- Student's future career goals
- Any additional information as it pertains to the nomination category
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Nominees for this category may include seniors who have demonstrated superior excellence in their art throughout their time at WSU. Nominees may be painters, sculptors, graphic artists, singers, musicians, composers, writers, actors/actresses, and/or directors.
Please describe:
- Scope of works created or performed
- Awards and recognition from college(s) and national organizations
- Involvement and membership in professional societies
- Student's future career goals
- Any additional information as it pertains to the nomination category
NOTES:
- Students may be nominated in more than one category, but can only be chosen as a winner in one category.
- Students may be moved from the originally nominated category to another if they meet the criteria of the new category.
- Nominations from family members will not be accepted.