FTMBA graduates are eligible for a few Commencement Recognitions. The awards represent the opportunity for each graduating class to recognize their classmates who truly embody the spirit of Haas through the Defining Leadership Principles and have made a lasting impact on the community. This could mean they make a difference here at Haas
Students eligible for this nomination are actively enrolled in the graduating class of the Full-Time MBA Programs.
The nomination form will open in early March.
These scholarships will be awarded to graduating students who display exemplary leadership within the campus community. Both breadth and depth of involvement at Haas will be considered. Successful candidates will have demonstrated commitment and service to the Haas School of Business, acting as positive, innovative leaders who steward the Haas Brand and the Defining Leadership Principles.
Candidates will be identified through a nomination process by their peers. We expect the nomination process to launch in January. Selected candidates will be notified and receive recognition at commencement and receive a monetary award.
Question the Status Quo Award
This award recipient leads by championing bold ideas, taking intelligent risks and accepting sensible failures. This means speaking their minds even when it challenges convention. As a leader and creative thinker, they thrive at the world’s epicenter of innovation.
Confidence Without Attitude Award
This award recipient makes decisions based on evidence and analysis, giving them the confidence to act without arrogance. They lead through trust and collaboration.
Students Always Award
We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. This award recipient knows that there is always more to learn. They strive to engage with others in continuous pursuit of knowledge and growth.
Beyond Yourself Award
This award recipient shapes the world by leading ethically and responsibly. As stewards of their enterprises, they take the longer view in their decisions and actions. This often means putting larger interests above their own.
The Berkeley Leader Award
The Berkeley Leader redefines how they do business by embodying all four 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*
The form will open in early January.
One graduating student will represent the FTMBA Class of 2025 as a student speaker for our graduation. This is a unique opportunity to address all MBA graduates and their friends and family.
The Full-Time and Evening & Weekend MBA programs each select a student speaker to give a 5 minute commencement address.
If you would like to represent the FTMBA Program and your class, please complete the nomination form with the following.
Provide a video statement explaining the following questions:
- Why would you be a good representative of the Haas Class of 2025 and what will your Commencement speech cover?
- How has the FTMBA experience shaped your personal or professional growth?
- How do you plan to inspire your fellow graduates?
Nominees will be voted on by students.
Haas School of Business will recognize graduating students with a Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.800 as “Graduating with Honors.”
Graduation year is defined as students completing their degree in May, August, and December of the calendar year, regardless of when they started the program.
Students with a Cumulative GPA of 3.800 or above each graduation year, as measured at the end of the Fall semester prior to their graduation year, will be designated as being “Eligible for Graduating with Honors” in the following May Commencement program. Students are “eligible” for honors since final GPAs are not confirmed until after the Commencement ceremony.
Students “Eligible for Graduating with Honors” are recognized at the ceremony with a gold honor cord and in the Commencement program.
The final determination of Graduation with Honors will occur after degrees are conferred and will be based on the final Cumulative GPA for all courses completed during the FTMBA Program.
Please review the Academic Honors page for more information.
Academic Achievement Award
The Commencement program also recognizes the Academic Achievement Award, awarded to the student with the highest Cumulative GPA in each graduation year. The student who receives this award will be recognized on stage at the Commencement ceremony and in the Commencement program.
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. The deadline is the end of March 30th, 2025.
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 in a club or FTMBAA 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.