Division of Student Affairs

• Undergraduate students who have completed at least 60 credits (30 of those must have been earned at WCU) at the time their application is submitted
• Must be in good standing with regard to personal and academic conduct
• December graduates are welcome to apply and return for the spring award ceremony
• Students who have already recieved the award are not eligible to reapply

• Academics (GPA): 25%
• Leadership: 25%
• Community Engagement: 25%
• Career Readiness: 25%

View the selection criteria rubric here . 

• Personal information (e.g., name, contact information, major)
• Responses to five short-answer questions
• Resume
• Ram Plan Co-curricular Transcript (recommended)
• Two letters of recommendation: One must be from a WCU faculty or staff member, the second an individual of their choice (e.g., supervisor, mentor, advisor). WCU students should not write recommendation letters for their peers unless they directly supervise another student. These letters should be submitted to the student who will upload them to the application.
• View the 1871 Award application
• Click here to complete the application

Applications will be evaluated by a committee of WCU faculty and staff, as well as one student, representing the following areas:

• Student Affairs senior leader (chair)
• College of Arts & Humanities
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Business & Public Management
• College of the Sciences & Mathematics
• College of Education & Social Work
• Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• Division of Student Affairs
• Division of University Advancement & External Affairs
• School of Music
• Student 
• University College

• 1871 Award honorees will be recognized at a spring award ceremony that will be attended by WCU senior leadership.
• They will receive a certificate and a special “1871 Award” pin.
• They will receive a special designation next to their name within the commencement program.
• Their names will also be published and archived on the WCU website.

• October 1, 2024: Application opens
• November 3, 2024: Deadline to apply
• December 2024: Selections made
• January 2025: Applicants notified
• March 20, 2025:  Recipients honored at an award ceremony