University Awards

President Jared Tice invites all Capital University faculty and staff to nominate a colleague for the Stellhorn Award for outstanding service to the University. The grandchildren of F.W. Stellhorn established the Stellhorn Foundation to honor the memory of their grandfather, F.W. Stellhorn, Capital University’s sixth president who served from 1894 to 1900. In 1985, the foundation created the Stellhorn Award to recognize a Capital employee who has displayed exemplary service to the University. 

Please indicate the reasons for your nomination and provide as much supporting information as possible. You can submit your nomination online using the button below, or you may mail your nomination directly to the President's Office, 228 Yochum Hall no later than Friday, March 6, 2026.

Criteria
This award is given annually to a Capital University employee who:

1. Has provided outstanding service to the University;
2. Is a member of the faculty, support staff or administration; and
3. Has been employed at Capital for at least 10 years.

Previous Stellhorn Award honorees include: Jeff Cisco, Bruce Epps, Becky Hare, Donald Walls, and Stacie Hemphill.

Submit a Nomination

Mrs. Cotterman endowed the Cotterman Award to recognize the critical role student advising plays on our campus. Her husband Homer, a former faculty member in the Department of Education, was widely recognized for his success in helping students make career decisions and manage personal problems, and in helping to make campus life an even more meaningful experience. Mrs. Cotterman established an endowment to enable Capital to honor one undergraduate faculty member each year. This year’s recipient will be announced at Honors Convocation on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

All undergraduate students, undergraduate faculty, and staff are urged to nominate a faculty member who best exemplifies the criteria stated below. Please indicate the reasons for your nomination and provide as much supporting information as possible.

Criteria
This award is to be given to the undergraduate faculty member who:

1. Has been a full-time Capital University faculty member during the current academic year;
2. Provides exemplary advising both formally and informally;
3. Offers advice and leadership to student organizations beyond the expected level;
4. Gives generously of their time and talents to enhance learning and to foster ethical living;
5. Serves students as a role model in both personal and professional aspects of their role as a faculty member;
6. Is not a previous Cotterman Award winner and will not achieve emeriti status in the current year.

Previous Cotterman honorees include: Stephen Bruning, Lynn Dailey, Kevin Griffith, Andrea M. Karkowski, Keirsten Moore, Tracey Murray, Alexander Pantsov, Chad Payton, Pat Shields, Tianshu Wang, and Gail Zugger.

Submit a Nomination

The presentation of the Praestantia Award for Outstanding Teaching is one of the high points at the annual Honors Convocation, which will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2026. To be chosen as the Praestantia Award winner is the highest honor that can be given to a Capital University undergraduate faculty member.

The call for nominations is intended to go to all juniors, seniors, and undergraduate faculty members. You are invited to submit a nomination for this award. Please indicate the reasons for your nomination and provide as much supporting information as possible. 

Criteria
This award is to be given to an undergraduate faculty member who:

1. Has taught full time at Capital during the current academic year;
2. Holds at least the rank of assistant professor;
3. Is not a previous Praestantia Award recipient and will not achieve emeriti status in the current year

Previous Praestantia honorees include:  Stephen Bruning, Andy Carlson, Kevin Griffith, Laura Boser-Kane, Andrea M. Karkowski, Tracey Murray, Alexander Pantsov, Chad Payton, David Reed, David Shields, Pat Shields, Nick Van Horn, and Tianshu Wang. 

Submit a Nomination

We invite College faculty members to nominate a colleague for the Faculty Scholarship Award, which will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence event on Thursday, April 9, 2026 and recognized at the annual Honors Convocation on April 15, 2026. Along with the Praestantia Award, which recognizes excellence in teaching, and the Cotterman Award, which acknowledges service through advising, the Faculty Scholarship Award represents the third pillar of recognition that a faculty member has reached an advanced level of achievement and contribution to the University.

Criteria
This award is to be given to a College faculty member who:

1. Holds a tenured or tenure-track appointment at the minimum rank of associate professor;
2. Exhibits excellence in scholarship, whereby scholarship is defined as the process of discovery, integration, and application of knowledge or artistic work that contributes to one’s profession and is documented through dissemination;
3. Demonstrates a record of scholarly products which require a high level of expertise, innovation, and significance to others in the field; and
4. Is not a previous recipient of the Faculty Scholarship Award and will not achieve emeriti status in the current year.

Previous Faculty Scholarship honorees include: Christine Anderson, Lynn Dailey, Kevin Griffith, Lynda Hasseler, Dan Heaton, Andrea M. Karkowski, Dina Lentsner, Alexander Pantsov, Nick Van Horn, Tianshu Wang, and Nate Whelan-Jackson.

Submit a Nomination
 

The Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award recognizes excellence in and commitment to student learning and reflective practice. This award honors one part-time faculty member each year. To be chosen as the Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award winner is the highest honor that can be given to a Capital University part-time faculty member. The presentation of the Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award will occur during Convocation on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

The call for nominations is intended to go to all students and faculty members. You are invited to submit a nomination for this award. Please, indicate the reasons for your nomination and provide as much supporting information as possible.

Criteria
This award is to be given to a part-time faculty member who exemplifies many of the criteria below:

1. Has taught at least two semesters at Capital University;
2. Has the support of their department chair, dean, or department/program designee;
3. Develops and implements innovative teaching practices to enhance the student experience;
4. Receives formal student feedback (e.g., end-of-term student surveys) indicating that the part-time faculty member helps student achieve the course or program student learning outcomes;
5. Demonstrates a commitment to Capital University students;
6. Participates in campus professional development opportunities; and
7. Is not a previous Part-Time Faculty Teaching Award recipient.

Previous Part-Time Faculty honorees include: Chad Baker, Bev Finley, Joy Longfellow, Otto Shaw, Doug Shrake, John Soloninka, and Anthony Weikel.

Submit a Nomination

The Student Impact Award recognizes excellence in and commitment to student learning, development, and success. This award honors one full-time staff member or administrator each year. The presentation of the Student Impact Award will occur during Honors Convocation on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

All Capital students, staff, and faculty are urged to nominate a staff member or administrator who best exemplifies the criteria stated below. Please, indicate the reasons for your nomination and provide as much supporting information as possible. The call for nominations is intended to go to all students, staff, and faculty.

Criteria
This award is to be given to a staff member or administrator who best exemplifies the criteria below:

1. Has been a full-time Capital University staff member or administrator during the current academic year;
2. Develops and implements innovative practices to enhance the student experience;
3. Gives generously of time and talents to enhance student learning, development, and success;
4. Serves students as a role model in both personal and professional aspects of their role as a staff member or administrator;
5. Is not a previous Student Impact Award recipient.

Previous Student Impact Award honorees include: Matthew Cook and Dan Parker.

Submit a Nomination