Applications are now open for 2025 AKO Leadership Awards

Alfred University's Beth Robinson Judson Leadership Center announces that applications for the 2025 Alpha Kappa Omicron Leadership Awards are now open.

Each year, two students receive these awards, which are generously endowed by the Alpha Kappa Omicron sisterhood of Alfred University. AKO was an Alfred University sorority established in 1944 as interfaith and interracial, with the ideals of truth understanding and sisterhood in equity. The AKO Achievement Award and AKO Social Change Leadership Award have been created to carry on their legacy.

Award eligibility is based on time at the University, not just by credit (i.e., a first-year student with enough credits to be listed as a sophomore cannot apply.) The descriptions and criteria of each award are as follows:

AKO Achievement Award - Honors a sophomore (second-year student) who has demonstrated excellent personal academic leadership. This award comes with a $250 honorarium. To be eligible for this award the student must be:

• Sophomore earned status (non-transfer student)
• 3.25 or higher GPA
• Be involved in at least one organization or club that is related to academics

AKO Social Change Leadership Award - Honors a junior (third-year student) who has demonstrated a commitment to change-for-the-good leadership and embodies the values of integrity, collaboration, civility, common purpose, and citizenship. This award comes with a $500 honorarium. To be eligible for this award students must be:

• Junior earned status
• 3.0 or higher GPA
• Demonstrated leadership in a student club or an organization that is service-related

While a nomination is not required for a student to apply for the AKO Leadership Awards, it certainly helps. Nominations should be emailed to [email protected]by February 5, 2025. Students wishing to apply for one of the awards can do so using this form. Applications are due Feb. 28, 2025.

Questions about the awards should be directed to Abby Hurley, coordinator of the Beth Robinson Judson Leadership Center, at [email protected].