OURS Outstanding Mentor Award

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) recognizes the pivotal role of faculty mentors in providing transformative learning opportunities to our undergraduate students through research and creative inquiry. The OURS Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes demonstrated excellence in mentoring and supporting undergraduate researchers. This is a yearly award announced as part of the Student Engagement Forum. All undergraduate student nominations will be shared with their mentors after awards are announced in the spring.

Student nominations are now open!

Nominate your mentorso that they may be recognized! Nominations must be completed by 5 pm, Friday, March 7th.

Previous Award Winners: 

2022 Sarah Foltz & Maggie Pate

2023 Chet Bhatta & David Sallee 

2024 Dayna Hayes & Tara Pelletier

To be considered for the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, a mentor must demonstrate commitment to the following criteria:

• Student Development: The faculty mentor challenges students from all backgrounds to develop the ability to become more independent scholars by being available, attentive, encouraging, and understanding.
• Creating Opportunities: The faculty mentor supports students in developing and leveraging both technical and transferable interpersonal skills in a safe, supportive, ethical research environment.
• Dissemination: The faculty mentor provides students with the transformative opportunity to understand the field and the broader impact of their work through the sharing of their results in presentations, demonstrations, performances, and/or publications.
• Career Development: The faculty mentor provides professional connections both on and beyond campus as well as guidance on pursuing career goals, including applying to internships, jobs, and/or graduate programs.

Eligibility:

1. Nominations are now open! Students, nominate your outstanding mentor! Nominations must be complete by 5 pm, Wednesday, March 7.
2. The nominator must be a current undergraduate student at Radford University.
3. The mentor must be a full-time faculty mentor (this includes T&R and AP faculty) from any department at Radford University.
4. The mentor must have at least one year of experience mentoring undergraduate research students.
5. The mentor must not have previously won the award (previous winners are Drs. Sarah Foltz, Maggie Pate, Chet Bhatta, David Sallee, Dayna Hayes & Tara Pelletier).

If you have any questions regarding this form, please email the OURS office at ours@radford.edu or visit us in Whitt 118.