Awards

Excellence is a crucial aspect in the development of MIT’s community. Each year, individuals and teams make a real difference in student life at MIT. The Division of Student Life hosts or contributes to a variety of opportunities to recognize excellence and commitment.

Community Awards

The RISE Awards celebrate students, staff, and faculty who support community and equity.

List of awards.

List of awards and nominate a student (Kerberos login required)

Student Awards

Howard W. Johnson Award

Presented annually to the male senior athlete of the year.

Betsy Schumacker Woman Athlete of the Year Award

Presented annually for excellence in athletic competition by a female undergraduate.

Malcolm G. Kispert Awards

Presented annually to the female and male scholar-athletes of the year.

Harold J. Pettegrove Award

In recognition of outstanding service to intramural athletics.

Pewter Bowl Award

Presented annually to the female senior who has shown the highest qualities of inspiration and leadership in contributing to women’s athletics

Admiral Edward L. Cochrane Award

Presented annually to a male senior who has shown the highest qualities of humility, leadership and inspiration in intercollegiate athletics.

Varsity Club Awards

Given to the outstanding female and male freshmen athletes of the year.

Philip A. Trussell Prize

Given to one female and one male undergraduate student athlete who each demonstrate skill, sportsmanship and levity.

Fitness Student Employee of the Year

In recognition of hard work and dedication at MIT Recreation while balancing rigorous academics.

Member Services Student Employee of the Year

In recognition of hard work and dedication at MIT Recreation while balancing rigorous academics.

Aquatics Team Player of the Year

In recognition of hard work, dedication and displaying a positive attitude at work.

Fitness Team Player of the Year

In recognition of professionalism throughout the service as a member of the fitness staff.

Member Services Team Player

In recognition of the hard work and dedication displayed on a routine basis by an employee.

Eager Beaver of the Year

In recognition of being a great team player who exemplifies DAPER’s core values.

About the FSILG Awards

The Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups (FSILGs) Office hosts an annual awards reception in the late spring to recognize individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond throughout the academic year.  Undergraduate members may submit an application on behalf of someone else or for themselves in a variety of categories.  Award winners are determined by the staff of the FSILG Office. 

FSILG Community Award Descriptions​

Frederick Gardiner Fasset, Jr. Award (FSILG Member of the Year)

This award is presented annually to up to four individual members of the FSILG Community, one from each of the four student councils, who have most unselfishly demonstrated the qualities of spirit, dedication, and service in furthering the ideals of MIT brotherhood, sisterhood, and membership excellence.

David N. Rogers Ideals and Values Awards

Established in 2006, this award is named for a former Dean of Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Group. His contributions and years of service made an immeasurable contribution to the development of our Greek community and its members. His model has been one which we now encourage all of our members to emulate.

IFC and Panhellenic collaborated to create their most prestigious award given to the organizations that best represent the collective values of the MIT Greek Community. Our community pursues the values of character, scholarship, leadership, service, and fraternity; however, the recipient of this award has incorporated these values into their every day actions. They have continually served as an example, which has guided other members of the community to the realization of what it truly means to be Greek.

Organizations will be evaluated based on their fulfillment of the Ideal Greek Community Vision Statement (included below), which was developed by Presidents of both organizations to outline their common values, which unite us as one community.

Ideal Greek Community Vision Statement:
 We are one united community in our pursuit of shared values: character, scholarship, leadership, service, and fraternity. These shared values form our collective bond that is strengthened by our diverse experiences. Mindful of our responsibility to honor our values, we support and hold each other accountable. Our actions resonate not only within our organizations, but also in the global community.

Stephen D. Baker Outstanding Change Initiative Award

This award is presented to an FSILG that has made outstanding improvement within their fraternity, sorority, independent living group or within the entire FSILG community. This award recognizes major initiatives that have led to positive change and has measured improvements, results and positive outcomes in all or some of the following areas: scholarship, leadership, member development, risk management, retention and membership recruitment.

The purpose of this award is to acknowledge the excellent work of the chapters in strengthening the MIT FSILG community and creating sustainable chapters.

Nominations must include specific information regarding the environment within the chapter or community that led to the change as well as information in the initiative and how it built partnerships between MIT, alumni, students and the inter/national organization (if applicable). 

The James R. Killian, Jr. Community Service Award

This award is presented to the FSILG organization with the most outstanding community service program. The award is made in honor of Dr. James Killian, Jr., an avid supporter of MIT’s FSILGs and president of MIT from 1949-1959. Excellence in community relations is also essential to the award.

The Kenneth R. Wadleigh Faculty Interaction Award

This award is presented to the FSILG organization that has best promoted and encouraged faculty-student interaction in the organization. The award is made in honor of Kenneth R. Wadleigh, former Dean of Student Affairs and Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School from 1975-1983, for his long-standing commitment and service to the FSILG Community at MIT. Selections are based on program innovation, excellence, and effectiveness.

Senior Legacy Awards

Senior Legacy Awards are presented to individual members of the graduating class who have made extraordinary contributions to the FSILG Community and who have implemented programs, events, or new traditions that promote the values of the FSILG Community.

Outstanding Graduate Resident Advisor Awards

These awards are presented to FSILG Graduate Resident Advisors (GRA) who have provided outstanding service to the FSILG in the past year.  Nominees should have performed above and beyond the expectations of the job.

Outstanding Alumnus/Volunteer Advisor Awards

This award recognizes outstanding volunteers, chapter advisors or house corporation members who best exemplify the value volunteer service to the FSILG community or to an individual FSILG. 

The FSILG Advocate Award

The FSILG Advocate Award was established in 2011 to recognize those staff members or organizations of the MIT community that have demonstrated consistent support and understanding of our fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Through their interactions with chapters, organizations, and alumni, the FSILG Advocate furthers the principles of leadership, scholarship and citizenship by helping to make the MIT FSILGs stronger and safer places for members and guests.  Winners are selected by the FSILG Office team.

D. Reid Weedon, Jr. ’41 Alumni/ae Relations Award

The D. Reid Weedon, Jr. ’41 FSILG Alumni Relations Award was established by Mr. Weedon, an alumnus of Phi Beta Epsilon Fraternity, to encourage Fraternity, Sorority, and Independent Living Group (FSILG) student outreach to their alumni. The award is given to the FSILG that has demonstrated the greatest effort in alumni relations for the academic year. This award has a separate application and review process. 
Application process & list of past winners.

In addition to the FSILG Awards, the IFC and Panhellenic Councils honor their members with individual accolades which are also presented at the FSILG Annual Awards Banquet.

  • Panhel Awards
  • IFC Awards

Staff Awards

MIT Excellence Awards – Held each year, the Excellence Awards are the Institute-wide component of MIT’s Recognition and Rewards Program. The Excellence Awards focus on recognizing MIT service, support, administrative, SRS staff, and faculty and other academics

The original “Infinite Mile Award” was established in 2001 as part of a larger Institute-wide Rewards and Recognition program. This award is now given to employees in more than twenty departments throughout MIT. Each year, the Division of Student Life gathers to acknowledge the outstanding dedication and performance of its employees in a broader ceremony called the Infinite Mile Awards Ceremony. It’s our chance to thank everyone for their hard work and to recognize a number of our exemplary colleagues.

The DSL bestows several awards at this ceremony. The categories are: Here for Students, Meeting the Need, Bringing out the Best, Unsung Hero Award, the Innovation Award, and the Building Community Awards. To help us recognize and celebrate a wide range of efforts, we’re asking for your help: we urge you to nominate a colleague or co-worker for one of these important awards.

Here for the Student Award

The Division of Student Life makes community possible at MIT and supports and enhances the educational mission of the Institute. Our goal is to make the experience of MIT as safe, healthy, fulfilling, and complete as possible for every student who comes here to learn. To do so is to embrace a spirit of service and excellence in all our interactions with the students who rely on us.

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Epitomize the spirit of the Division of Student Life
  • Are committed to excellence and to enriching the MIT experience for all our students
  • Demonstrate a passion for helping students develop intellectually, socially, physically, emotionally, and culturally
  • Go the extra mile to meet student needs and to be aware, accessible, and accountable
  • Strive to tackle every task and any difficult situations in a way that produces the best possible outcome for the students, the Division, and MIT

Meeting the Need

Working in the Division of Student Life requires interactions with a diverse range of clients from students, faculty and staff, to outside vendors. Whether they are anticipating client needs, improving the efficiency of the service they provide, or modeling positive and productive client relationships, these individuals are always looking to take interactions with clients to the next level.

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Take the initiative to improve the value and efficiency of the services they provide
  • Maintain a consistently high quality of service to Institute customers including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external clients
  • Anticipate client’s needs and potential problems before they arise
  • Create new, cost-effective, and/or innovative methods for performing day-to-day operations
  • Serve as role models to others through positive and productive client and colleague relationships

Bringing Out the Best Award

Some people have a special ability to make everyone around them more positive, more effective, and happier contributors. Whether it is through specific actions or their outlook and attitude, these individuals make the Division a better place.

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Inspire excellence in everyone around them through their attitude, effort, and collaborativespirit
  • Foster a sense of purpose, vision, and mission for their co-workers and staff
  • Develop trust and credibility with open, respectful communication; an unselfish approach; and a clear sense of responsibility for their obligations and actions
  • Continually work to build consensus and promote teamwork when partnering with others
  • Manage and champion change effectively through formal or informal leadership
  • Help others develop by investing time and effort in coaching and/or mentoring

Outstanding Contributor Award

The Division of Student Life touches nearly every person at MIT. From housing and dining to the Campus Activities Complex and Enterprise Services, our reach extends to professor, student, and staff member. Often, however, many exemplary efforts and top-notch performances take place behind the scenes and do not get the recognition they deserve.

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Make MIT a better place through their work
  • Consistently go above and beyond without fanfare
  • Fill in when and wherever needed and always perform at a high level
  • Solve problems and make improvements without being prompted
  • Demonstrate reliability, perseverance, and focus

The Innovation Award

The world looks to MIT for creative solutions to difficult issues. The same skills that MIT prizes in its students, faculty, and alumni are as important to the Division of Student Life: entrepreneurial spirit, imaginative thinking, problem solving, and a passion for experimentation and innovation.

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Continually strive to improve the way the Division gets its work done
  • Actively seek new methods and approaches to fulfill their responsibilities and to support the mission of the Division
  • Break down boundaries, re-think possibilities, and set new or expanded goals for themselves, their teams, and the Division
  • Act as responsible and effective stewards of MIT’s resources by finding ways to save money, time, and energy
  • Balance creative thinking with sound judgment and effective stewardship of the Division’s responsibilities

Building Community Awards

There are two awards in this category because fostering community has several important meanings for the Division of Student Life.

One of the most critical meanings is to make sure that every member of the community is welcome to join and participate in the life of the Institute. In this sense, building community means to open up and welcome in, striving to include people of all races, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.

As important, building community also means helping to knit together the various strands that make up the fabric of MIT. Through its various offices, units, and services, the Division has an opportunity to touch every other division, school, and office at MIT. In this sense, building community means to reach out—striving to establish strong relationships and effective collaborations with students, faculty, and staffthroughout the Institute and beyond

Building Community Award: Belonging and Community

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Work to make the Division of Student Life—and MIT—a place that welcomes people regardless of gender, nationality, orientation, and religion
  • Actively raise awareness of and educate others about belonging and community
  • Respect and value differences and promote fairness and equity
  • Demonstrate formal or informal leadership by embracing inclusion through positive interactions
  • Actively seeks to create and promote a diverse workforce.

Building Community Award: Outreach and Collaboration

This award is for teams and/or individuals who:

  • Collaborate with others at the Institute and within the greater MIT
  • Amplify the effectiveness of the Division of Student Life by reaching out to form strongpartnerships with staff, faculty, alumni, students, and/or parents
  • Fosters a collegial and cohesive environment within DSL by sharing resources,ideas, and successes with other departments inside the Division
  • Finds and works with the right people to address issues, get results, and solve problem

These awards are intended primarily to acknowledge the work of benefits eligible service, support, administrative, and other academic staff. Staff must be employed by DSL at the time of the Infinite Mile Awards to be recipients. Both teams and individuals are eligible to be nominated for any of the award categories. Subcontractors, consultants, and outsourced or temporary employees are not eligible for the awards.

To nominate a staff member or group for the 2026 Infinite Mile Awards, fill out the appropriate form at the links below.

To nominate an individual: https://forms.gle/ZtMap3HuN49ik2fr8

To nominate a group: https://forms.gle/7MsruVm6F8wzTR7q9

In addition, please save the date for the ceremony on June 10 at 3:00 p.m., location TBA.

Note: All personnel in the Division for Student Life are eligible to nominate or be nominated for an Infinite Mile award, except for one restriction, which is part of Institute Best Practices. It states that no one can win an Infinite Mile Award two years in a row. In addition, DSL staff are encouraged to nominate employees or teams of other MIT offices who have provided exceptional service to DSL. Nominations of DSL staff from other MIT offices will also be considered for eligibility.

At the end of April, the Infinite Mile Award Selection Committee will review all nominations and select the finalists. This committee includes some of the previous year’s recipients and includes representatives from a cross-section of DSL offices and staff categories.

After a finalist has been selected by the committee, DSL-HR will contact the primary nominator of that recipient so that he or she may be the first to share the good news. DSL Human Resources will then notify each of this year’s recipient individuals and teams, and announce the names to the DSL community.

At the awards ceremony in June, Vice Chancellor Nelson will present the recipients with a letter of congratulations and a plaque honoring their contributions to the DSL and MIT. The letter will also be copied to their Department Head and put in their personnel file. Note: All individuals who were nominated but not selected for an award will also receive letters recognizing their nomination (copied to their managers) following the awards ceremony.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Alicja Estabrooks or Katie Tavares.

The DSL Appreciates Recognition Program allows staff members to express immediate and spontaneous appreciation for the contributions of their peers. Giving a DSL Appreciates Recognition card is a great way to say thank you to fellow colleagues and recognize excellent work.

“WOW!” Notice an action/attitude that you would like to recognize.

SUBMIT Submit your form.

SAY THANKS Download and write a thank-you note to the person you are recognizing (cards are available at the end of the form). 

RECOGNIZE! Email the card to the person you would like to recognize.

DRAWING At the end of the month, HR will draw for up to five $50 supplemental payment or up to $50 from https://www.baudville.com/.

A DASH OF CASH HR will process the supplemental payment for the recipients of the drawing.

For more information about the DSL Appreciates program, please contact Alicja Estabrooks at (617) 253-1496.

(This program has been updated in 2020 to be in compliance with a change in tax laws related to gift card use)

The DSL Spot Award Redesign Committee, comprised of a cross-section of DSL staff, was charged with developing a fair, consistent, user-friendly recognition program that can be applied across the many unique areas of DSL. Committed to fostering a Community of Appreciation, the Committee looked to design an “award” that was personal and immediate.

The Committee also focused on clarifying what types of actions are appropriate for recognition, developing methods for educating staff about the program, and creating a unified community across DSL. These values resulted in a new name, a new program, and new educational materials. In order to clarify the purpose of the program, while maintaining a piece of its history, the Committee chose to call the program the DSL On-The-Spot Recognition Program. *The Recognition is a digital thank-you note to be emailed, and a drawing at the end of the month for everyone who received an appreciation for one of up to five $50 supplemental payment or up to $50 from https://www.baudville.com/.*

When will the drawing recipients see their supplemental payments? It can take up to two pay periods for the money to be included in the paycheck.

How will my recipent know that they are receiving a DSL Appreciates? In addition to you sending an e-card (several options are available at the end of the recognition form, link above), when you fill out the form, an automatic email is sent to the recipient.

How many DSL Appreciates can I send? As many as you like! Please note that each recipient of a DSL Appreciates will be entered into the end of month drawing once per month, regardless of how many appreciations they have received.

Will my recipient be publicly recognized? The recipients of the drawing will be announced in an email each month. Please note that we will allow recipients to opt-out of having their name included, if they choose