Hilltop Excellence Awards

The "M" Award is the highest recognition bestowed upon students, faculty, staff and administrators on the SMU Campus. The recipients' efforts have been continuous during their years at the University and are not limited to a narrow vested interest. The "M" Award honorees are an inspiration to others, giving unselfishly of their time and talents in order to make the University, and indeed the world, a better place.

Criteria:

Nominees must be students of senior standing or graduate/professional students who will graduate during Spring commencement (undergraduate or graduate) of the same year of the selection process or who have already graduated in December of the semester prior to the selection process. Faculty/staff nominees must have at least six (6) years of continuous employment at SMU. The "M" Award may only be received once; previous recipients are not eligible.

List of Past Award Winners

The A. Kenneth Pye Award was first awarded in 1996 to recognize students with an outstanding balance of scholarship, community involvement, campus involvement and a personal commitment to the ideals in their fraternity and sorority rituals. The award is named in honor of one of SMU's finest past presidents, A. Kenneth Pye. President Pye was an advocate for students, and had a strong belief in the value of student leadership at SMU. It was during Dr. Pye's term of office that a student representative was added to the Board of Trustees. A maximum of 6 students may receive the award each year.

Criteria:

• Campus Involvement - chapter, council & other student organizations
• Community involvement & service
• Scholastic achievement (at least a 3.0 GPA)
• Commitment to the ideals in their fraternity/sorority values
• Senior graduating in May or December

This award is given to a graduating senior based on scholarly excellence, exemplary character, and significant contribution to the SMU community. This award is generously funded by the Avella Winn Hay Award Endowment.

Criteria:

• Nominee must be an undergraduate student who will graduate by August of the same year the award is given.

Emmie V. Baine Legacy Award

This award is given to a student who has made outstanding contributions to gender equity on campus and is in honor of our former Dean of Women and founder of the SMU Women's Center, Emmie V. Baine.

Criteria:

• Nominee must be a graduating Senior. The nominee, or their nominator, should indicate ways in which they have contributed to gender equity efforts in the University community while a student at SMU.

The Dr. James E. Caswell Award will be presented to a student who has served Residence Life and Student Housing and the resident students of SMU with distinction.

Award Criteria:

• Current SMU undergraduate student with Junior or Senior standing (could have been a December graduate that will walk in May) who has worked for RLSH and/or held a student leadership position for RLSH for at least two academic years.
• Lives up to the principles of 
  • Community
  • Leadership
  • Learning
• Exemplifies the legacy of Dr. Jim Caswell
• Has provided significant service to the RLSH and SMU Resident students

Who was Dr. Jim Caswell?

SMU President Kenneth Pye appointed Dr. James E. Caswell as Vice President for Student Affairs in January of 1998. As Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Caswell was responsible for most of the out of classroom programs and service at the University.

Dr. Caswell earned his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Sacred Theology and a Bachelor of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at SMU. He earned his Doctorate and Masters degrees at Columbia University. In addition, he did his post-doctoral studies at Harvard’s Institute of Educational Management in 1984. And finally, in 1999, Dr. Caswell was presented the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Oklahoma City University.

Dr. Caswell began his work within student affairs at SMU as a member of the Housing Department. As an undergraduate he lived in Boaz Hall. He then moved on as a graduate student to serve 6 years as a Hall Director in Morrison-McGinnis and Cockrell-McIntosh residence halls.

Dr. Caswell has embodied the award’s principles of outstanding service, advocacy, ethical leadership and student focus throughout the years. His passion for the residential experience through his own positions, leadership and support have demonstrated the commitment SMU has for our students’ residential experience.

Dr. and Mrs. Lytle J. Freehafer established a memorial award in 1967 in honor of their son, John L. Freehafer, a 1965 graduate of SMU, who died October 6, 1965 in the Philippines on an around-the-world tour following graduation. In establishing the award, Dr. Freehafer, former Vice President at Purdue University, asked that a committee of student leaders and university administrators who are concerned with student personnel and student life, select the students who are to receive the awards. This award is generously funded by the John L. Freehafer Memorial Endowment Fund.

Criteria:

• The John L. Freehafer Memorial award is given to one or more sophomore, junior or senior students who have demonstrated an interest in people, in student life, in student activities and in student government and/or who have a special interest in how people govern themselves.

The Presidential Award of Excellence - Scholar/Athlete is given to an outstanding student athlete who has demonstrated outstanding ability on the field and in the classroom. This award is generously funded by the John L. Freehafer Memorial Endowment Fund.

Criteria:

• A graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and an outstanding record on the field of play at SMU is eligible for the Presidential Award of Excellence - Scholar/Athlete.

The Presidential Award of Excellence - Scholar/Leader is given to an outstanding student leader who has shown qualities of leadership which have benefited the SMU community. This award is generously funded by the John L. Freehafer Memorial Endowment Fund.

Criteria:

• A graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and an outstanding record of leadership at SMU is eligible for the Presidential Award of Excellence - Scholar/Leader.

The Presidential Award of Excellence - Scholar/Volunteer is given to an outstanding student who has volunteered his or her services to the greater Dallas community and beyond. This award is generously funded by the John L. Freehafer Memorial Endowment Fund.

Criteria:

• A graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and an outstanding record of volunteerism at SMU is eligible for the Presidential Award of Excellence - Scholar/Volunteer.

“To know Christ and to make Him known" is the essence of the Sheri Mooney Memorial Recognition. This award is a unique opportunity within the SMU community to recognize students whose Christian faith is evident as a recognizable priority in their day-to-day campus life. This recognition was established by the Mooney family in an endowment as a living memorial to their daughter Sheri, who died in an automobile accident in Tennessee while participating in a program whereby she was sharing her faith with others.

Criteria

• The Sheri Mooney Memorial Recognition is given to one or more sophomore, junior or senior students whose daily lives, in behavior, values and relationships, reflect the quality of their commitment to Christ.

The Umphrey Lee Award is named for the first president of the student body at SMU, who then went on to become the University's 4th President in 1939. In the spirit of the servant-leader role that defined his life, the Umphrey Lee Award is presented annually to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding involvement in and contribution to the University community while a student at SMU.

Criteria:

• Nominee must be an undergraduate student who will graduate in same Spring term that the award is given. The nominee, or their nominator, should indicate ways in which they have been involved and what contributions have been made to the University community while a student at SMU.