SRU seeks nominations for Syed Ali-Zaidi Award

Travonya Kenly from Cheyney University accepted the 2015 Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence from former State System Chancellor Frank Brogan.

Nov. 14, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Nominations for the 2018 Syed Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, presented by Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education, are being accepted through Dec. 8.

The award honors a graduating senior who exemplifies academic excellence and involvement. Fourteen finalists will be chosen to represent each one of the PASSHE institutions and the winner will be chosen from that group.   

A selection committee appointed by State System Interim Chancellor Karen Whitney will review all nominees' accomplishments and select a winner and two runners-up. The winner receives $1,000.

Nominees will be evaluated on a number of criteria, including:
-Graduating senior with outstanding academic performance in his or her academic major and in other areas of study.
-Recognition of scholarship by members of the faculty.
-Participation in extracurricular activities as an undergraduate.
-Quality of the nominee's two-page essay describing how SRU prepared them for a career or graduate school.

Students must also submit a copy of their transcripts, a resume and two letters of recommendation.

Slippery Rock University deans, department chairs, faculty, staff and students may nominate a graduating SRU senior for the annual award, with nominations being submitted online at: https://secure.sru.edu/forms/AliZaidiAward.

SRU's nominee will receive a $250 award from the University, a medallion and be recognized at the 2018 Academic Honors Convocation.

Ali-Zaidi, a charter member of the State System's board of governors, established the award in memory of his grandfather, Mir Wilayat Husain, to reward academic achievement. He served two terms on the board of governors. Ali-Zaidi served as chair of the Academic Policy and Planning Committee and on the Task Force on Science and Advanced Technology Education, Workforce Development and Implementation Research.

For additional information, contact the Office of the Provost at 724.738.2001.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robb.king@sru.edu