Emerging Leader Nomination Form
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an outstanding SMU alum who graduated in or after 2012 and holds a minimum of an undergraduate degree. Each year, the DAA Selection Committee selects one individual to receive this prestigious award.
Nominations for the 2026 Emerging Leader Award have closed. You may submit a nomination for consideration for the 2027 Emerging Leader Award.
Nomination resources
Download the resources below to help prepare and submit your Distinguished Alumni Awards nomination.
- Nomination guidelines
- Mock nomination
- Sample Letters:
Nomination requirements
Any individual may nominate an SMU alum for this award. Although nominators are not required to be alumni of SMU, the nominee must be an SMU alum who graduated within the last 15 years.
The selected nominee is announced in late spring and is honored at the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner which takes place on the Thursday evening of Homecoming Weekend.
If a nominee is not selected, their nomination remains in effect for a total of three consecutive years. They do not need to be renominated within that three-year timeframe, however, supporting documents can be continuously added to their nomination file. After the three years, the individual must be nominated again to be eligible.
Please note: To build a strong candidate file, the following is highly suggested: a minimum of three recommendation or support letters, resume or bio, magazine or newspaper articles, publications, recognitions, etc...
For questions or to submit supporting documents, please contact Samantha Sapon-Amoah at ssaponamoah@smu.edu or 214-768-4787.