High School Awards Program

The University of Rochester is pleased to sponsor these international programs which recognize high school students' outstanding achievements in leadership and their academic pursuits.

Nomination Information

Each year, participating schools may nominate qualified students for these four awards. All nominees will have their application fee waived, and selected students are eligible to receive scholarships worth $7,500 per year at the University of Rochester. To be considered for this scholarship, students must first apply and be admitted to University.

Participation in these programs is open to all secondary schools. In order to participate, school officials are encouraged to complete and submit nomination forms for the students they would like to recognize by March 15th.

We will accept notifications until school closes in the spring, but we would appreciate receiving names as soon as possible so that we can mail awards in a timely manner. Click here for a PDF of the High School Awards Program brochure.

Awards Descriptions and Qualifications

Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award
One qualified junior may be chosen each year. Nominations for the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award should be based on the following criteria:
  • Successful completion of a freshman- and sophomore-year science course, and one semester of a junior-year science course. (If a junior-year science course is not offered, a one-year course in mathematics may be substituted.)
  • Academic excellence in science
  • Rigor of courses taken in the sciences
  • PSAT Math, SAT Math, and/or ACT Science/Math scores
Nominate one student online... Or If you prefer to nominate a student using a paper application, Click here to download the pdf version.
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award
One qualified junior may be chosen each year. Nominations for the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences should be based on the following criteria:
  • Course grades and co-curricular activities in the humanities and/or social sciences, and rigor of courses taken in these disciplines
  • A demonstrated commitment to understanding and addressing difficult social issues
  • Leadership
  • A dedication to community action
Nominate one junior online... Or If you prefer to nominate a student using a paper application, Click here to download the pdf version.
George Eastman Young Leaders Award and Scholarship
One qualified junior may be chosen each year. Nominations should be based on strong academic achievement and leadership skills. The application fee is waived for all high school nominees for the George Eastman Young Leaders Award. Nominated students may be selected to receive the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Scholarship upon enrollment. Nominations for the George Eastman Young Leaders Award should be made according to the following criteria:
  • Displays strong leadership skills
  • Is receiving excellent grades in a challenging curriculum
  • Participates in and shows dedication to varied, extensive, or time-consuming co-curricular activities
Nominate a junior online... Or If you prefer to nominate a student using a paper application, Click here to download the pdf version.
Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology
One qualified junior may be chosen each year. Nominations for the Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology should be based on the following criteria:
  • Demonstrate a strong interest in innovation and/or information technology and are proven to be high achievers in this area relative to their peers
  • Effective and enthusiastic use of technological equipment in their curricular choices, for example, excellence in a computer science course
  • Enthusiastic use of technology in service or other requirements, for example, development of Web sites or audiovisual presentations when given the opportunity
  • Exposure to new technologies outside of school, such as pursuing serious work opportunities in local laboratories or industry
  • Leading other students to new approaches to old problems: business plans for fundraising; innovative community service; after-school activities; and best uses of internal communications tools such as chat, BBS, and blogging
Nominate one student online... Or If you prefer to nominate a student using a paper application, Click here to download the pdf version.

To nominate a student for one of these awards, .