Class of 2020 – nominations* due 5PM on March 13.  

Question the Status Quo Award
We lead by championing bold ideas, taking intelligent risks and accepting sensible failures. This means speaking our minds even when it challenges convention. As leaders and creative thinkers, we thrive at the world’s epicenter of innovation. This award recipient should embody these characteristics.

Confidence Without Attitude Award
We make decisions based on evidence and analysis, giving us the confidence to act without arrogance. We lead through trust and collaboration. This award recipient should embody these characteristics.his award embodies these characteristics.

Students Always Award
We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. We know that there is always more to learn. We strive to engage with others in continuous pursuit of knowledge and growth. This award recipient should embody these characteristics.

Beyond Yourself Award
We shape our world by leading ethically and responsibly. As stewards of our enterprises, we take the longer view in our decisions and actions. This often means putting larger interests above our own. This award recipient should embody these characteristics.

The Berkeley Leader Award – chosen by committee, not by student vote
The Berkeley Leader redefines how we do business by embodying our defining leadership principles. This award recipient should demonstrate sharing our defining leadership principles, aspiring to live our principles, or living them/put them into practice.

Self-nominations* due 5PM on March 11.

One student will be selected to represent the Class of 2020 as the student speaker for the commencement ceremony. This is a unique opportunity to address all MBA graduates and their friends and family. The Evening & Weekend and Full-Time MBA programs each select a student speaker to give a 5-minute address. If you would like to represent the EWMBA Program and your class, please complete the self-nomination form using these guidelines:

• Submit 1-2 paragraphs explaining why you would like to be the commencement speaker and the content of your speech. These will be shared with the graduating class during the voting process.
• Optional link to a YouTube video (under 3 minutes) can also be accepted with your statement as a sample of your public speaking to be shared with your class.
• Nominees will be voted on by students.

The top 10% of students in each graduating class, as measured by final GPA, will have the distinction of Graduation with Honors.

Students who have completed at least 85% of their units by May of the graduating year will be recognized in the Commencement program and at the ceremony with a gold honor cord. However, the final determination for Graduation with Honors will occur after Commencement and will be based on the cumulative GPA for all courses completed during the MBA Program.

The Program Office will not post GPAs of those who have graduated with honors as it will vary depending on each class year. Historically, the lowest GPA for those who graduated with honors was in the mid 3.7s. This is not used as a cut-off point, nor does it guarantee that a student with a GPA in that range will be eligible for or graduate with Honors.

The program also recognizes the Academic Achievement Award, awarded to the student with the highest GPA. This will also be announced at WE Lead and recognized on stage at Commencement.

The Beyond Yourself Fellow designation is awarded to graduating MBA students who have displayed a commitment to the “Beyond Yourself” defining principle by completing 60 or more hours of community service during their time in the program. Hours may be logged in the Service Hours website.

Criteria for hours:

Unpaid service: student cannot receive course credit or payment for his or her services
Beyond Haas: service should have a direct impact on individuals or an organization that is not part of the Haas community
Social impact: the organization that receives the service must be either a nonprofit or social enterprise

Examples of service that qualify:

• Volunteering for a C4C organization, like bowling with Special Olympics or working at Alameda Point Collaborative
• Volunteering for a local food pantry, being a volunteer coach or tutor at a local school or providing free consulting for a national charitable organization
• Participating in Board Fellows

Examples of service that do not qualify:

• Planning a tailgate to benefit the Haas Social Impact Fund
• Planning Haas club events or Conferences
• Volunteering at a Haas social event, case competition or conference
• Being a club or EWMBAA officer

Please note that we recognize that these are very important volunteer opportunities that have a great impact on the school, but do not meet the criteria for Beyond Yourself Fellows because they do not directly impact the community outside of Haas.