Annually, the excellence of outstanding faculty, staff, and students in Arizona Arts is formally recognized by the awards listed below.
Student Awards
Creative Achievement Award
The Creative Achievement Award honors students who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship, creativity, innovation and passion for the arts. Selections are made by a designated committee within each school. The names are forwarded to the Dean’s office and presented at the annual Creative Achievement Awards Convocation in the fall.
CFA Outstanding Graduating Senior
The CFA Outstanding Senior award goes to a student who shows exceptional accomplishment in creative activity/scholarship, leadership, and citizenship (including outreach activities). This award is given twice during the academic year, at both the December and May graduation convocations. For both convocations, the Dean’s office selects one senior from those submitted by schools as the college’s Outstanding Graduating Senior, with the above-mentioned criteria receiving equal weight in the selection.
CFA Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
The CFA Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award goes to a graduate student who has shown exceptional teaching ability as exemplified through a demonstration of at least two semesters of excellent teaching. One student per School is nominated and their names are sent forward to the Dean’s Office. The selection is made by the Dean’s office.
Faculty Awards
The Charles and Irene Putnam Award
The Charles and Irene Putnam award is considered the College’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in teaching, as demonstrated by outstanding achievement in teaching during the eligible review period. Nominations are accepted from the Directors of the various Schools and must be submitted to the Dean’s office each spring. An Ad Hoc committee, composed of the five previous Putnam winners, reviews the dossiers, make the selection, and forwards the recommendation to the Dean.
James Anthony Award
The James R. Anthony Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching is awarded to a member of the College faculty who has consistently demonstrated a sustained level of outstanding achievement in teaching. This award is for the more senior faculty who should be recognized for the longevity of “excellence” and for sustaining their reputations for quality teaching over an extensive period of time. Anthony nominees (one per department/school) come forward as detailed letters of recommendation from the director/head and must be submitted to the Dean’s office. The College Advisory Committee selects the winner of the James Anthony Award.
The Roy A. & Stardust K. Johnson Faculty Mentoring Award
This award is given in the College of Fine Arts each year in recognition of outstanding faculty-to-faculty and/or faculty-to-GTA mentoring. Any faculty member and/or GTA in the respective unit may nominate a faculty candidate directly to the unit Director or Department Head. One final nomination for the Roy A & Stardust K. Johnson Faculty Mentoring Award should be made directly to the Deans’ Office. The Dean selects the winner from the nominations submitted by the Directors.
CFA Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award
This award goes to a faculty (including adjuncts/academic professionals) or Graduate Teaching Assistant who exhibit true excellence in undergraduate academic advising or mentoring. Nominations by students or faculty and endorsed by the School Director for the Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award should be made in the spring. The Dean selects the winner from the nominations submitted by the Directors.
Development Awards
College of Fine Arts Excellence in Fundraising Award
This award is presented to a member of the College’s faculty or administration who makes an important contribution to fundraising endeavors. Selection is made by the Development Office with approval by the Dean.
Pat Bjorhovde Excellence in Fundraising Award
This award is presented to a member of the College’s staff who makes an important contribution to fundraising endeavors. The recipient is selected by the Development Office, with approval by the Dean.
Arizona Arts Staff Awards
Shirley J. Heafy Award
Each year, we will honor a staff member who has worked in Arizona Arts or one of its units for no more than three years, and whose overall performance has been at an exemplary level of excellence.
Donna Altenhof Award
Each year, we will honor a staff member who has worked in the College of Fine Arts or one of its units for a minimum of eight years, and whose overall performance has been at an exemplary level of excellence for a sustained period of time.
Excellence In Service Awards
Each year, Arizona Arts will honor staff members who are providing outstanding service through their work.
One award will be conferred in each of the following categories:
- Student Services
- Community Engagement
- Office & Administrative
- Technical and Facilities
