Outstanding Student Contribution to International Education

The Outstanding Student Contribution to International Education Award acknowledges and recognizes the outstanding student contributions to international education at NIU. The awards are meant to encourage students to participate in and create greater visibility to international education at NIU.

The award will be presented to the recipient(s) on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. during the International Recognition Presentation at the Holmes Student Center Sky room.

Please contact Lauren Mock at 815-753-1988 or lmock1@niu.edu with questions.

Eligibility

All degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students in good academic standing and enrolled at NIU during the semester the award nominations are due are eligible for the award. Nominees must not have previously received this award. 

Not every nominee will have done something in every category. 

Recipients will have made a lasting contribution by a combination of efforts such as:

• Participating in study abroad courses
• Presenting or organizing seminars, workshops, exhibits, performances and other activities that promote international education
• Contributing to international and multicultural understanding through active involvement in student organizations, international residence hall floors, community groups, etc.
• Participating in international projects and publishing and/or presenting papers on international issues and related topics
• Receiving departmental, college, or external awards, scholarships and other recognitions for international activities
• Assisting the Division of International Affairs with the following activities at NIU

Two awards will be given.

Nominations

Any current faculty, staff or student at NIU can submit nominations for the award. Students can nominate themselves.

Requirements

• Outstanding Student Nomination Form (nominees can self-nominate)
• Up to three attachments that describe the nominee’s contribution to international education

Nomination Form

Submission

The nomination deadline is 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2025.

Selection Procedure

A Selection committee established by the Division of International Affairs will review the nominations and select award recipients. The committee may request additional information or clarifications from the nominees or nominators

Past Award Recipients

Year	Student(s)
2024	Fernando Marroquin Mendoza
2023	Galilea Santana and Rothsethamony Seng
2022	Harold Nii-Aponsah
2021	not awarded
2020	Anna Wojciechowski
2019	Matthew Werstler
2018	Michael Yurkiv and I Younan An
2017	Oleg Grachev
2016	Diana Garcia and Anurag Singh
2015	Shanay Murdock and Jiaqi Li
2014	Laurence Anthonie Tumpag and Nay Yan Oo
2013	Sarah Stuebing and Beatriz Anabell Rodriguez Zelaya
2012	Matthew Ropp and Hui Woon Sim