Student Organizations offer unique opportunities for students to engage in and build community, make a positive impact, and demonstrate leadership. With over 400 organizations, these special groups represent the amazing diversity of students at James Madison University. In order to recognize and honor the contributions of these groups and their leaders, Student Life hosts the Student Organization Awards and Recognitions (SOAR) Ceremony every April.
This year’s award ceremony is set to take place on Monday April 20, 2026 from 7-9pm in the Festival Grand Ballroom. Award winners are revealed at the ceremony. All nominees are encouraged to attend this exciting event.
Nominations
- Anyone can submit a nomination for an award.
- Individuals and organizations are welcome to self-nominate.
- Nominations are submitted through a form on BeInvolved and are evaluated based on their quality. Nominators should submit thorough responses to prompts within the nomination form and should include specific examples whenever possible.
- Nominations are reviewed by a committee of Student Affairs Faculty and Staff
Dates and Deadlines:
- February 9, 2026: Nominations Open
- March 10, 2026: Nominations Closed at 11:55pm
- April 20, 2026: Award winners are revealed at the ceremony
Submit a Nomination:
Award Categories & Descriptions
Awards are divided into five main categories, with 19 specific awards available for nomination:
- Organization-wide awards are open to any student organization. There are three specific awards within this category, with two of these awards honoring two recipients each year.
- Individual Awards are open to students involved with an organization, with several specific awards focusing on those who hold leadership positions within their organization. There are a total of seven specific awards within this category, with four of these awards honoring two recipients each year. There are also scholarships attached to two of the specific awards in this category.
- Faculty & Staff Awards are open to professional staff members at JMU. There are two specific awards within this category.
- Fraternity and Sorority Life Individual and Chapter Awards are open to Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council organizations and their members. There are seven specific awards within this category, with two of these awards honoring two recipients each year.
- Fraternity and Sorority Life Accreditation Awards are not available for nomination but are determined by the annual accreditation process run through the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. There are two specific awards that go to chapters that are selected based on accreditation criteria. Furthermore, there are four categories of excellence that organizations are evaluated on during their accreditation process. Those accreditation ratings are celebrated and displayed during this event.
Emerging Organization
This award acknowledges a recognized organization in good standing that has recently (within the past two academic years [Fall 2023]) gained official recognition or re-instatement JMU and has positively contributed to the JMU community. This organization should have exemplified significant efforts to provide involvement opportunities and community building efforts to meet a need at JMU not met by another organization.
Outstanding Student Organization (2 awards given)
There are two categories for this award: front-end budgeted groups and non-front-end budgeted groups. The award acknowledges a recognized organization in good standing that has a positive influence on the JMU community through exceptional programming, leadership, and goal attainment.
Outstanding Program/Event (2 awards given)
There are two categories for this award: front-end budgeted groups and non-front-end budgeted groups. This award acknowledges a program or an event on campus that has made a positive impact on JMU and/or the Harrisonburg community. The program or event must have been sponsored/run by at least one student organization in good standing.
Emerging Leader (2 awards given; scholarship award)
This award recognizes two students who have demonstrated exceptional potential, maturity, leadership skills, passion, and dedication to JMU and/or Harrisonburg as a first- or second-year student. This student should also have demonstrated an ability to adequately balance their academic pursuits and co-curricular involvements by maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Each recipient will receive an academic scholarship applied to their tuition the following year. Nominees must be returning as an undergraduate to JMU for the next academic year.
Outstanding Leader (2 awards given)
This award recognizes two student leaders that have actively pursued leadership opportunities and have positively impacted their community. These students should have outstanding skills in organization, motivation, delegation, and communication. These students should also have demonstrated an ability to adequately balance their academic pursuits and co-curricular involvements by maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
Outstanding Individual Contribution to a Student Organization (2 awards given)
This award recognizes two students that have provided exceptional contributions to the success of a recognized organization in good standing. These students should also be outstanding role models to those within their organization. These students should demonstrate an ability to adequately balance their academic pursuits and co-curricular involvements by maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
Engaged Citizen of the Year
This award recognizes a JMU student who has embodied the mission of JMU by being an “educated and enlightened citizen who leads a productive and meaningful life.” This individual should meet JMU’s 3 criteria for Engagement: Engaged Learning, Civic Engagement, and Community Engagement.
Dukes Pride Award
This award recognizes one student who has demonstrated their commitment to the JMU community through their display of JMU spirit and pride. This student should also have demonstrated an ability to adequately balance their academic pursuits and co-curricular involvements by maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Nominees must be returning as an undergraduate to JMU for the next academic year.
The Pepsi Scholarship Award for Positive Campus Impact (2 awards given; scholarship awarded)
This scholarship awards a JMU student who has positively impacted individuals, organizations, or agencies within the JMU and/or Harrisonburg communities by acting as a role model and creating or sustaining positive traditions. Two recipients will be selected for this award. Each recipient will receive an academic scholarship applied to their tuition the following year. Nominees must be returning as an undergraduate to JMU for the next academic year.
Good Neighbor Award
The Good Neighbor Award recognizes a current student who exemplifies one or more of the following:
- Active involvement in the local Harrisonburg/Rockingham community: The student should have a proven track record of actively contributing to the community through volunteer work, community service, or other initiatives.
- Positive impact on others: The student's contributions should have had a positive impact on those around them and have made a tangible difference in the local community.
- Leadership and initiative: The student should have shown leadership and initiative in their community efforts and should be seen as a role model by their peers.
- Dedication and passion: The student should have a genuine passion for serving others and making a positive difference in the local community.
Outstanding Faculty/Staff of the Year
This award recognizes a faculty/staff member who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to student learning outside of the classroom, has given their time outside of office hours and job requirements, and has had a significant influence on the lives of students.
Student Organization Advisor of the Year
This award recognizes a JMU faculty/staff advisor of a recognized organization in good standing who has had a positive influence on an organization by providing support, approachability, and encouragement of effective communication within the organization.
Chapter Advisor of the Year
A fraternity or sorority chapter advisor who provides superior advising and service to individual members of his or her chapter, the chapter itself, and to the fraternity and sorority community as a whole.
Outstanding New Member in a Fraternity and Sorority (2 awards given)
A fraternity and sorority new member that has distinguished him and herself during their first year of membership. Students who joined in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 are eligible for this award.
Outstanding Executive Member in a Fraternity and Sorority (2 awards given)
An executive board member (including the President) of a fraternity and sorority whose leadership has made a significant impact upon his or her chapter.
Fraternity Man of the Year
A fraternity member in good standing with the chapter and university whose leadership has made a significant impact upon their chapter and the University community as a whole.
Sorority Woman of the Year
A sorority member in good standing with the chapter and university whose leadership has made a significant impact upon their chapter and the University community as a whole
Outstanding Philanthropic Event/Program
Awarded to one chapter that has organized and implemented an outstanding charitable fundraising program or event (evidenced by charitable service to the university, national or local philanthropy and/or fraternity and sorority community).
Outstanding Educational Program
Awarded to one chapter that has organized an implemented an outstanding non-scholastic educational program (for the chapter and/or the fraternity and sorority/University communities) in such areas as new member education, continuing chapter education, personal development, or awareness programming.
Excellence in Academic Achievement
This award is based on chapters’ Accreditation Program scores. The fraternity and sorority that score in the top three in this category will receive a bronze start (3rd), silver star (2nd), or gold star (1st) rating.
Excellence in Citizenship and Social Responsibility
This award is based on chapters’ Accreditation Program scores. The fraternity and sorority that score in the top three in this category will receive a bronze start (3rd), silver star (2nd), or gold star (1st) rating.
Excellence in Member Development
This award is based on chapters’ Accreditation Program scores. The fraternity and sorority that score in the top three in this category will receive a bronze start (3rd), silver star (2nd), or gold star (1st) rating.
Excellence in Service and Philanthropy
This award is based on chapters’ Accreditation Program scores. The fraternity and sorority that score in the top three in this category will receive a bronze start (3rd), silver star (2nd), or gold star (1st) rating.
Most Improved Chapter
Awarded to the fraternity and sorority that exhibits significant improvement in one or more of the following areas: academic achievement, citizenship and social responsibility, member development, and service and philanthropy.
Chapter of the Year
Awarded to the fraternity and sorority that have exhibited superior achievement in the areas of academic achievement, citizenship and social responsibility, member development, and service and philanthropy. This fraternity and sorority have worked to cultivate cross-campus relationships, serve local and national communities, and to implement creative measures to promote their image positively. This fraternity and sorority encourage others to believe in something bigger than themselves, to set an example by remembering their values, and to live their ritual.