Nominate

Each nominee must be an alumnus/alumna of University College. Graduates aged 18 to 35 are eligible for the Young Alumni of Influence Award. Be sure to select the correct category when submitting your nomination. 

Explain in no more than 500 words, based on the terms of reference, why your nominee should be chosen for the Alumni of Influence Award or the Young Alumni of Influence Award. 

Anyone can nominate someone for an Alumni of Influence.  People can self-nominate. Posthumous nominations are eligible. 

Nominations will be made through an online submission form at the top of this page.    

Nominations must illustrate how the nominee exemplifies at least one of the following:   

1. Professional Achievement & Innovation   

• Success, executive leadership, or groundbreaking advancements within their field   
• Solved major societal challenges, changed their field, or pioneered new standards.    

2. Leadership & Influence   

• Vision & Influence: Recognized as a pillar, pioneer, or role model who elevates their peers and paves the way for others.   
• Core Values: Demonstrated integrity, perseverance in the face of adversity, and a commitment to championing equity and diversity.    

3. Community & Public Service   

• Social Impact: Measurable contributions to local, national, or global communities through voluntary leadership, humanitarian work, or philanthropy.   
• Advocacy: Dedicated service that reflects positively on the college's values.   

4. Connection to the College   

• Campus Engagement: Acts as an active advocate, mentor, or volunteer for current students, or serves on institutional boards and committees.   
• Lifelong Connection: A history of supporting the college's mission and inspiring future generations of graduates.   

5. Creativity, Ideas & Culture: 

• Advanced the arts, humanities, or public discourse in ways that shape how people understand or imagine the world.  

The Alumni of Influence Award selection committee will independently review and rank each nomination form according to the award criteria. Recipients will be selected based on the highest aggregate score. An announcement identifying the recipients will be made in the IN TOUCH newsletter. 

November 16, 2026 at 11:59 pm

The Alumni of Influence Awards, University College’s most prestigious alumni awards, publicly recognize and celebrate distinguished University College alumni for their contributions to their community and/or professional field. 

1. Award Recipients 
   a. Must be alumni of University College; 
   b. Must have achieved distinction in their field; 
   c. Must have made a contribution of significance that reflects positively on University College; e.g., volunteer leadership, mentorship, community-building, commitment to diversity, etc.; 
   d. May not be sitting politicians, University of Toronto President or Vice-president, Chancellor, member of Governing Council.
2. Nominations: 
   a. A call for Nominations will be announced each year; 
   b. Nominations must be signed and accompanied by a letter of support; 
   c. Individuals may nominate more than one nominee in any particular year; 
   d. Nominees may not be previous AOI recipients. 
3. Selection Committee: 
   a. Members of the selection committee are chosen from amongst alumni, students, faculty and staff by University College;  
   b. Membership on the selection committee is voluntary; 
   c. Selection Committee members are responsible for reviewing all nomination materials received and for selecting recipients; 
   d. Committee members agree to maintain complete confidentiality regarding nominees, the selection process, and decisions. 
   e. Members of the Selection Committee are not eligible for nomination during the years of their service on the committee. 
4. Selection Process: 
   a. The University College Office of Advancement will receive and compile all nomination materials for the Alumni of Influence Awards and distribute them to the Selection Committee; 
   b. Each committee member will rank each nominee on a criteria-ranking form; 
   c. Results will be submitted, in confidence, to University College’s Office of Advancement, tallied, and provided to the Selection Committee for consideration and ratification; 
   d. Individual committee members' rankings will be kept confidential; 
   e. Highest aggregate scores will determine the recipients of the Alumni of Influence Award; 
   f. Recipients are to be determined no later than March 31, 2027; 
   g. The Selection Committee, at its discretion, may reactivate a nomination in any subsequent year; 
5. Recognition of Recipients: 
   a. Recipients will be presented with an award during an annual Alumni of Influence ceremony; 
   b. Recipients who are unable to attend the awards ceremony, may request to receive their award in a subsequent year or choose a designate to accept the award on their behalf; 
   c. Recipients must agree to allow for their name, photograph and short biography to appear in the IN TOUCH newsletter, the UC website and other media as determined; 
   d. Awards may be granted posthumously. 
6. University College reserves the right to: 
   a. Revoke a recipient’s award should circumstances arise whereby the recipient’s conduct or behavior are deemed to have an unfavourable impact on the reputation and/or image of University College and the University of Toronto; 
   b. Authorize deviation from these Terms of Reference, from time to time, on the recommendation of the Selection Committee; 
   c. Vary the number of recipients chosen from year to year; 
   d. Make changes to these Terms of Reference. 

The Young Alumni of Influence Award is a way for University College to publicly recognize and celebrate young graduates who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through professional achievement, entrepreneurship, community, public, or humanitarian service and/or dedication to University College and the broader University of Toronto community. Recipients must serve as a source of pride and inspiration for UC students and new graduates. The Young Alumni of Influence Award is an opportunity to recognize the achievements of recent graduates who may not yet qualify for the University College Alumni of Influence Award. 

1. The Award: 
a. Shall be named the "Young Alumni of Influence" (YAOI) Award; 
b. Is the most prestigious University College Young Alumni Award. 

2. The Award Recipient: 
a. Must be alumnus/a of University College; 
b. Must be age 18-35; 
c. Demonstrated outstanding leadership in a chosen field of endeavour; 
d. Made an outstanding contribution in their field, which has not necessarily received public acclaim; 
e. Made a contribution of significance that has reflected positively on University College; for example: volunteer leadership, mentorship, community-building, and demonstrating commitment to diversity; 
f. May not be sitting politicians; 
g. May only receive the Young Alumni of Influence Award once; 
h. May not be currently sitting on the award selection committee.
i. May be eligible at a later date for the Alumni of Influence Award. 

3. Nominations: 
a. Call for Nominations will be sent out each year; 
b. Nominations must be signed and accompanied by a letter of support; 
c. Individuals may nominate more than one nominee in a particular year; 
d. Nominations may be carried forward and treated as a submission for the succeeding year; 
e. If no nominations are received, the selection committee may consider nominations received in prior years or submit its own nomination. 

4. Selection Committee: 
a. Members of the selection committee are chosen from amongst alumni, students, faculty and staff by University College; 
b. Membership on the selection committee is voluntary; 
c. Selection Committee members are responsible for reviewing all nomination materials received and for selecting recipients; 
d. Committee members agree to maintain complete confidentiality regarding nominees, the selection process, and decisions. 
e. Members of the Selection Committee are not eligible for nomination during the years of their service on the committee. 

5. Selection Process: 
a. The University College Office of Advancement will receive and compile all nomination materials for the Young Alumni of Influence Awards and distribute them to the Selection Committee; 
b. Each committee member will rank each nominee on a criteria-ranking form; 
c. Results will be submitted, in confidence, to University College’s Office of Advancement, tallied, and provided to the Selection Committee for consideration and ratification; 
d. Individual committee members' rankings will be kept confidential; 
e. Highest aggregate scores will determine the recipients of the Alumni of Influence Award; 
f. Recipients are to be determined no later than March 31, 2027; 
g. The Selection Committee, at its discretion, may reactivate a nomination in any subsequent year; 

6. Recognition of the Recipient: 
a. Recipient will be presented with an award during Alumni of Influence Gala; 
b. If the recipient is unable to attend the ceremony, the recipient may identify a designate to accept the award; 
c. Publicity will appear in the IN TOUCH newsletter; 
d. In the event of the death of the recipient prior to the ceremony and in consultation with the recipient's family/next of kin, the award will be granted posthumously. 

7. University College Reserves the Right to: 
a. Revoke an award granted to a recipient should circumstances arise that could unfavourably impact the reputation and/or image of University College; 
b. Make changes to these terms of reference on the recommendation of the selection committee; 
c. Authorize the deviation from these terms of reference, from time to time, on the recommendation of the selection committee.