MIT MLK Celebration

MIT undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, staff and faculty are eligible for nomination for this award. Both individuals and groups, including living groups and student and professional associations, may be considered.

Service to the community is defined in the broadest sense and includes academic, research, religious and secular contributions in which integrity, leadership, creativity and positive outcomes are apparent.

Anyone at MIT (including alumni) may nominate an individual or a team for an award during the nomination period, which runs each fall.

Each year the MLK Celebration Committee reviews nominations and selects award recipients. Committee members are not permitted to submit nominations and are not eligible to receive an award during the time they serve.

The committee evaluates the nominations based on how well they address the questions posed in the nomination form (see below). 

Undergraduate Student

Graduate Student

Staff

Faculty

Alum

Group

1. Describe the nominee’s service to the community. How has the nominee contributed to the MIT community or broader society through their academic, research, religious or secular work?

2. What distinguishes this nominee’s leadership? Provide examples that show how the nominee demonstrates integrity, initiative and creativity in their service.

3. Describe the positive outcomes or impact of the nominee’s efforts. How have their actions created lasting change, strengthened community connections or inspired others?

4. How does the nominee’s work embody the spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? Explain how their approach reflects MLK’s values — such as justice, equity, compassion and civic responsibility.

5. (Optional) Share supporting materials or testimonials. Letters, media or links that illustrate the nominee’s contributions may be included.

Choose a category. Describe how your nominee meets the criteria of the category you have selected.

Use these nomination questions as a guide. Respond to as many of the questions as apply to your nominee’s situation.

Get support. Ask co-workers, supervisors, students and/or faculty (including those in other departments, labs or centers who may work with the nominee) to contribute detailed information about the team or individual being nominated.

Use bullet points. Don’t worry about crafting beautiful paragraphs – it’s just fine to provide information in a bulleted list.

Avoid jargon. While you are familiar with your nominee’s work, more than likely the members of the selection committee won’t be. Keep that in mind as you describe the nature and quality of the contributions and accomplishments.

Include measurable results. Where possible, include measurable results (e.g., monetary savings, a new product or service, clients receiving goods or services in a more timely and/or professional manner, staff morale increasing, students being more informed and better prepared for courses or graduation, etc.).

Use multiple examples. Include more than one example (the more the better) of how the individual or team went above and beyond the daily responsibilities of the job.

Keep recognizing. If you submitted a nomination last year, consider revising it and citing more recent, specific examples of contributions made.

It may be helpful to reference the MIT Excellence Awards example questions as a guide.

Please see this listing of previous award recipients.