Northwestern Alumni Association

Student Director Position on the NAA Board of Directors
The NAA Board Student Directors serve as the undergraduate face of the Northwestern Alumni Association. Candidates will be required to attend the President’s Forum (held early to mid-October at the John Evans Alumni Center) and lead a discussion with student group leaders to gather their thoughts and feedback and then work with the NAA professional staff and the Board of Directors to determine what areas of undergraduate need we may feasibly be able to address. The NAA Board membership and staff look to the Student Directors to be our eyes and ears on campus so we can work together to meet the ever changing needs of the undergraduate population.

Northwestern Class Alliance (NCA)
The NCA is a student-run organization that connects students to alumni on campus, online, and in their home communities. NCA collaborates with the Northwestern Alumni Association and Center for Student Involvement to plan and implement programs such as Dinner with 12 Strangers, the Etiquette Banquet, NU Day at Wrigley and Senior Week.

Homecoming Committee
The mission of the student-run Homecoming committee is to complement the academic experience through a variety of cultural, social, community service, and recreational events that celebrate Northwestern Wildcat Pride. Northwestern Homecoming will infuse Purple Pride into Northwestern students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Evanston community members, thereby strengthening and unifying the greater Northwestern community yearlong. Committee co-chairs are selected in November and committee members are chosen in February.

Senior Week Committee
Senior Week takes place during the second week of June, between the end of finals week and Commencement ceremonies. The goal of the Senior Week Committee is to provide a week of class building events that the entire Senior Class can participate in. These events are designed to provide a sense of pride and nostalgia for Northwestern at the end of their Senior Year, while building upon the relationship and recognition of the Northwestern Alumni Association. The Senior Week Committee is advised by a staff member from the NAA and Center for Student Involvement.

A Day With Northwestern (ADWN) Board of Directors
A Day With Northwestern (ADWN) is an annual day-long educational program sponsored by the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) and planned by a volunteer alumni and student Board of Directors. The program incorporates expert faculty and alumni lecturers speaking on a broad variety of topics including arts, sciences, business, law, medicine, journalism and more. A position on the ADWN Board of Directors will give students leadership experience and provide them with an opportunity to rub elbows with prominent alumni and faculty members. Interested students must be available for monthly board meetings in Evanston and are expected to staff the event in April.

To learn more about the leadership opportunities listed above, please contact students@alumni.northwestern.edu for more information.

Senior Class Gift Committee
The Senior Class Gift is a collective contribution from members of the graduating class to Northwestern in honor of their graduation. Being a member of the Senior Class Gift committee allows seniors the opportunity to participate in the University’s larger class identity program, build their resumes and learn more about including Northwestern in their philanthropic plans. Committee members assist and advise with marketing the program to their peers, speak to their classmates about the importance of supporting University programs, attend the donor recognition even during Senior Week and support the area of Northwestern to which they feel the most connected. For more information about the Senior Class Gift Committee, please contact Mitch Neubert, Associate Director of Young Alumni and Reunion Programs, Annual Giving at m-neubert@northwestern.edu.

Undergraduate Leadership Program

The Center works with students, faculty, alumni, trustees, researchers, authors, and other leaders around the world.Through their programs, they offer Northwestern students an introductory Leadership Course and a Leadership Certificate.

Office of the Provost Awards and Honors

Honorary degrees, McCormick Professors of Teaching Excellence, Alumnae of Northwestern Teaching Professors, McCormick University Distinguished Lectures/Clinical Professors, Nemmers Prizes, Ver Steed Fellowship, Walder Award

Medill Awards

OSR Awards

Program of African American Studies

LGBT Awards

Council of One Hundred Trailblazer Award

The Council of One Hundred Trailblazer Award has in the past recognized women who have demonstrated courage, initiative, innovation, risk taking and leadership – those same qualities that result in successful careers. Effective April 1, 2009, the award will continue to recognize such women, but the award will be made to these same young women for their community service projects. The young female student will receive the award, and her project organization will receive the financial benefit. At the same time a mentor from the Council will be assigned to the student.

Trailblazer Award was originally called The Ruth Whitney Trailblazer Award, named for Ruth Reinke Whitney (WCAS49), managing editor of Glamour magazine for 30 years and a founding member and chair of the Council of One Hundred. As a woman, Ruth was a pioneer in the field of journalism. In this role she initiated major national programs to honor and promote the achievements of American women. The Ruth Whitney Trailblazer Award is designed to recognize the female Northwestern student who best exemplifies Ruth’s pioneering spirit.

Each spring, the Council of One Hundred will grant this award to outstanding Northwestern undergraduate women who are involved in their community. The award amounts will be determined by donations to the fund by Council of One Hundred members. At least one $1,000 financial award will be granted each spring. This award is another important way the Council of One Hundred enjoys making a contribution to the young women at Northwestern University.

A Trailblazer Award winner should be a female Northwestern University woman, who has demonstrated courage, initiative, innovation, risk taking and leadership in her community-based activities. Nominees should have demonstrated extensive participation in community service activities which have benefited the campus and/or the community. They must have assisted in developing organizations or projects which address issues affecting the local and/or global community.

The Council of One Hundred, founded in 1993, is an organization of highly successful Northwestern alumnae who represent diverse career fields including advertising, the arts, consulting, education, finance and business, government, law journalism, medicine, the not-for-profit sector, radio and television, and science and technology. These women are dedicated to providing networking, mentorship and leadership development to undergraduate and young female alums. The organization focuses on assisting students in preparing to make career choices and finding jobs and dealing with the complexities of life after graduation. The Council members act as role models, mentors, career counselors, and often assist in job placement and career development.

Please complete the nomination form, click to print the form, save as a pdf, and email your nomination and supplemental description information to c100trailblazer@alumni.northwestern.edu.

Leadership Greater Chicago

Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America

Universal Women Scholarship (JPG)

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Prize for Community Service

Established to honor the Ryans’ generous commitment to volunteer service on behalf of Northwestern University and the Chicago community, the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Prize for Community Service will honor a graduating senior who exemplifies leadership and service through participation in university and community activities. Because Northwestern greatly values the Ryans’ extraordinary example of volunteerism and commitment to community, this prize and its recipients will be prominently recognized by the university. Each year a committee appointed by the President will select the winner of the Ryan Prize. The recipient will receive a cash award of $5,000.

The Alumnae Senior Women’s Award