Intercultural Celebrations

Spellman Awards

Spellman Achievement Awards

The Spellman Awards program was created 33 years ago as a way to recognize and acknowledge the academic achievements of our students of African, Asian, Latino and Native American heritage.

The program’s purpose was later expanded to include recognition of outstanding student leadership and community service. In 1991, both the program and the awards presented were named in honor and memory of one of the University’s most highly regarded colleagues, the late Dr. Seth Spellman, Jr.

Spellman Top Academic Achievement Award

To receive a Spellman Award for academic achievement, scholars must be currently enrolled full-time undergraduates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above as of the end of the Fall 2018 semester. Upperclassmen must have been matriculated at the University for a minimum of two consecutive semesters. Top Academic Achievement Award honorees are the highest-ranking male and female recipients of African, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American heritage in their class. Our top honorees have an average GPA of 3.97 and many of them have perfect 4.0 GPA’s!

Spellman Award for Distinguished Leadership

The purpose of the Spellman Awards for Leadership is to recognize African, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American heritage students at the University at Albany who have made notable efforts to enhance the quality of life for the University community. The Award for Distinguished Leadership is presented to students or organizations who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Have served as an appointed, elected or situational student leader;

• Planned, organized or presented successful activities and programs for a student group, club or organization;

• Functions and is recognized as a leader and role model by peers, faculty and administrators.

Spellman Queer/Trans People of Color Leadership Award

The purpose of the Spellman QTPOC Leadership Award is to recognize students at the University at Albany who provide exemplary leadership in support of the QTPOC community at UAlbany or in the surrounding community, coordinate activities for a student organization in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion, serves in a leadership capacity or functions as a leader in this area, or functions and/or is generally recognized as a role model and effective leader by peers, faculty and staff in regards to advocating for the QTPOC/LGBTQ+ community.

Spellman Award for Outstanding Community Service

The purpose of the Spellman Awards for Community Service is to recognize African, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American heritage students at the University at Albany who have made notable efforts to enhance the quality of life for the University community. The Award for Outstanding Community Service is presented to students or organizations who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Have demonstrated unselfish involvement in efforts to improve the quality of campus life;
• Dedicated considerable time and energy to worthwhile projects that benefit others;
• Identified by student peers, faculty and administrators as an individual or group which has consistently given of themselves to improve the University community.

Dr. Seth Spellman NIA ALANA Scholarship Award

The NIA Scholarship Award recognizes students who have exhibited a strong commitment to the University at Albany community through their Outstanding Service AND Leadership. The recipients of this scholarship will be presented with a monetary award. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 by the end of the previous academic semester. They must also have been full-time students at UAlbany for a minimum of two semesters and be in good judicial standing. Financial need will be considered.