Submit a Nomination Today for the 2012 Alumni Awards

Do you know a Fairmont State University graduate who deserves recognition? Fairmont State will celebrate the achievements of former students, a tradition since 1977. You are invited to submit the name of outstanding alumni in three categories:  2012 Outstanding Alumni, Alumni of Achievement and Outstanding Young Alumni Awards.

Nominations should be submitted in the form of a letter of recommendation outlining the reasons for which your candidate meets and exceeds the criteria in his or her category. Send nominations to Emily Swain, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, by March 15, 2012, at Emily.Swain@fairmontstate.edu. Please remember to include your name and contact information along with your letter of recommendation.

“So many Fairmont State alumni are doing well for themselves,” said Swain, when asked what she hoped to see in this year’s nominations. People who have never before submitted a name for consideration are encouraged to submit, in order to build, “a wider selection to better showcase the ways in which alumni are succeeding.”

The three awards are:

• Outstanding Alumni – Graduate of Fairmont State prior to 1987 who displays loyalty to Fairmont State, is successful in chosen career, serves community and exhibits ethical behavior and exemplary character.
• Alumni of Achievement – Graduate of Fairmont State who has achieved a high level of success in chosen profession and is recognized for professional accomplishments, service to the community, ethical behavior and exemplary character.
• Outstanding Young Alumni – Graduate of Fairmont State under the age of 35 during the year of nomination, who is successful in chosen career, displays service to the community, is recognized for professional accomplishments, maintains communication with Fairmont State and exhibits ethical behavior and exemplary character.

Once the nominations have been received, they are given to a committee of six, which then vets the entries. Choosing only three names out of the many worthy entries submitted is an arduous process (a reason why the Outstanding Young Alumni Award was added in 1993), but once the committee makes its selections, they are approved by the entire Board of Directors of the Alumni Association.

According to Swain, the Saturday brunch during Homecoming weekend, when the awards themselves are given out, is one of the major events of the year for the Fairmont State Alumni Association. It brings people back to campus and is a chance to display what great things alumni are doing with their education.

If you have any further questions, please call Emily Swain at (304) 367-4015.