Awards We Offer
Outstanding community engagement is formally recognized through the following awards:
John A. Lindquist Award Ivory Community Leadership Award Presidential Awards for Community Engagement
JOHN A. LINDQUIST AWARD

The John A. Lindquist Award is given annually to a current Weber State University faculty or staff member who has demonstrated sustained and outstanding commitment to mentoring WSU students in learning through community engagement. It recognizes university-community partnerships in support of students’ learning and honors John A. Lindquist’s devotion to education and community.
Learning through community engagement is a dynamic and collaborative process wherein students immerse themselves in situational problems of a social, economic, or environmental nature. They consider possible outcomes and create potential solutions that benefit communities. As students apply their skills, knowledge, and research to community issues, they, in turn, develop civic leadership. Frequently, they are models of how an education can improve and sustain the well-being of individuals in their communities.
Award is $8,000 cash (less benefits and withholding taxes).
- Criteria
The recipient of the John A. Lindquist Award must demonstrate that she or he has provided an excellent education to WSU students and has addressed needs in surrounding communities.
Describe the faculty or staff member’s accomplishments according to the following criteria:
- The nominee has demonstrated sustained (minimum of five years) and outstanding commitment to mentoring WSU students in learning through community engagement.
- The nominee’s Community Engaged Learning projects have made a demonstrable impact on both the student and the community. Actions taken are making a positive difference on the campus, in the community, regionally, and beyond.
- The nominee has succeeded in making a sustained, long-term commitment to campus and community service as well as evidence of consistent positive performance reviews.
- The nominee has used sound pedagogy that combines research, theory, community action, self-reflection and assessment in planning learning objectives and community engagement activities for students. (This criterion is primarily applicable to faculty nominees.)
- The nominee’s projects involve a strong relationship with the community partner(s) based on a foundation of mutual ownership and commitment and address complex and important community issues.
- The nominee has been able to integrate community engagement with her or his own continued research and teaching. Teaching may be through a mentoring relationship or in the classroom. Preference will be given to those individuals who have shown evidence of embracing the institution’s commitment to community engaged learning through association with the Center for Community Engaged Learning.
In summary, the committee will evaluate candidate packets against the following criteria:
- Breadth of community engaged work geographically -- locally or internationally
- Longevity in community engaged learning
- Sustained and varied community partnerships
- Demonstrated impact on community members and organizations
- Work with CCEL or other promotion of CEL among faculty and staff
- Demonstrated impact on student learning and their relationship to a complex and diverse world
- Reflection on his/her own transformation as a faculty/staff member
- Responsibility of Recipient
The recipient of the John A. Lindquist Award will give a presentation to faculty, staff, and students regarding his/her work with WSU students and the community. This presentation is expected to occur within a year of having received the award. Additionally, the recipient must continue to be employed at WSU for a minimum of one year after receiving the award.
- Nomination Process
Submit via email a 1-2 page letter of nomination that addresses the award criteria listed above to the Office of the Provost (provostwsu@weber.edu) no later than Monday, January 30, 2023.
If a nominee accepts the nomination, he or she will be responsible for submitting the following additional information to provostwsu@weber.edu by Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
- A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing the award criteria and reflecting what community engagement means to the nominee
- A 2-3 page resume reflecting a community engagement focus
- Three 1 to 2-page letters of reference. One reference should be a community member with whom the nominee has partnered to mentor WSU students through community engaged learning. One reference should be a student (current or former) who has personally benefited, or been involved with, the person being nominated. Students’ letters should include how community engagement enhanced their learning and reflection in meaningful ways. The final reference should be a colleague who is familiar with the work of the nominee.
A selection committee consisting of two college representatives from Academic Affairs, the dean of students, provost, vice president for Student Affairs, Associate Provost for High Impact Programs, Executive Director of Student Affairs Strategic Initiatives, Student Association vice president for service, and two community partners will be appointed by the offices of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. A member of the Lindquist family will also serve on the committee. The selection committee will review the nomination materials and select the award recipient.
- About John A. Lindquist
John A. Lindquist spent a lifetime supporting the greater Ogden community. His community service dates back to World War II, when he served as a bombardier-navigator in the United States Air Force. Following his return to Utah, Lindquist became active in the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. As president of the chamber, he helped create the Weber Economic Development Corporation and Ogden Industrial Development Corporation—entities that helped build and fill the Weber Industrial Park.
Lindquist worked to create the Ogden-Eccles Conference Center and helped to restore Ogden’s Peery’s Egyptian Theater and Union Station, as well as save the Ben Lomond Hotel. In 1981, Lindquist was part of the original committee to raise funds to build the Hill Air Force Museum and restore WWII planes. He continues that work today.
Lindquist’s ties to WSU date back to the late 1930s, when he attended Weber College and was a student body officer. Through the years, he has generously supported cultural, academic, athletic and student activities and programs at Weber State. The Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks event, held annually on campus in July, has delighted audiences for more than 25 years. Lindquist’s generosity has helped create such campus landmarks as the Ada Lindquist Plaza and the Lindquist Alumni Center. From 1987 to 1995 he served as a member of the WSU Board of Trustees and he continues to serve on the WSU Foundation Board and National Advisory Council.
- Awards Timeline
IVORY COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Ivory Community Leadership Award encourages and recognizes the extraordinary efforts of Weber State University students who positively impact student success and/or provide leadership in community engagement.
Each year, the recipient of the Ivory Award will receive a cash prize of $2,000 (less taxes, etc.) along with up to a $10,000 donation towards the recipient's cause, initiative, and/or team.
- Award Criteria
Prize recipients will have demonstrated positive influence on student success and/or provided leadership in community engagement, for example:
- A student leader who marshaled support over several years to meet a particular student need, such as a new program or center;
- A student whose work with the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) developed a program that impacts an economically underserved population in a meaningful way;
- A student who led a legislative initiative that changed the way higher education is funded or organized and affects institutions around the state;
- A student whose leadership turned around a struggling organization, or developed a new program on campus that met a critical need.
- Eligibility Criteria
- Award nominees must be currently enrolled, or recently graduated (within the last five years) from Weber State University.
- Nominees can be undergraduate or graduate students, or recent baccalaureate or graduate degree recipients.
- Nominees cannot be serving as a Trustee at the time of nomination.
- Nominees (those who are current students) must be in good academic standing at the time of consideration and award.
- Awards Process & Timeline
Announcement & award criteria sent to university community |
February 8, 2023 |
Nomination and letters of support due |
March 1, 2023 |
Ivory Award Committee begins review process |
March 1, 2023 |
Selection of recipient |
March 15, 2023 |
Announce award recipient(s) |
March 15, 2023 |
CCEL Recognition Event |
March 30, 2023 |
- Recognition
- The creation of the Ivory Award will be announced in a University press release.
- Announcement of the Ivory Award recipient will be made public just before the end of the school year. The recipient and a small set of the top nominees will be recognized at CCEL’s annual celebration in the spring.
- The recipient of the Ivory Award will be highlighted on the University website.
- Each year, the Ivory Award recipient will be memorialized in a prominently placed display in the Shepherd Union.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Each year, WSU recognizes the work of outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. Awardees will be selected for each of the categories below and recognized at the annual CCELebration.
Award Categories
- Awards (Faculty, Staff, Student/Student Group, Community Partner, & Alumnus)
COMMUNITY ENGAGED FACULTY MEMBER
This award recognizes an individual with:
- Successfully incorporated community engaged teaching with demonstrable outcomes and/or
- Conducted outstanding community engaged research
COMMUNITY ENGAGED STAFF MEMBER
This award recognizes a staff member that:
- Shows leadership in advancing community engagement as a critical component within Weber State
- Forms innovative campus and community partnerships
- Engages, models, or influences students to be involved in community engagement and/or service learning
COMMUNITY ENGAGED STUDENT OR STUDENT GROUP
This award recognizes a student or student group that:
- Takes action in pursuit of long-term positive social change
- Inspires and engages others
- Demonstrates efforts to sustain their work through developing strategies for institutional and community commitment
- Exhibits motivation and potential for effective long-term civic engagement
COMMITTED COMMUNITY PARTNER
This award recognizes an individual or organization that:
- Strengthens community engagement at Weber State
- Provides meaningful service and learning opportunities for students
- Enhances their agency's mission/programs/goals by partnering with Weber State
COMMUNITY ENGAGED ALUMNUS
This award recognizes an alum of Weber State University that:
- Demonstrates on-going and deep commitment to community engagement
- Leads, inspires, and engages other members of their community toward positive social change
- Furthers the community engagement efforts of Weber State
- Awards Process & Timeline
Nominations Open |
February 5, 2023 |
Nominations Due |
February 28, 2023 |
Recipients Announced |
March 9, 2023 |
Public Recognition at CCELebration (Annual CCEL Recognition Event) |
March 15, 2023 |