Academic Awards

The award is presented to one graduating student in each Auburn University college for a given academic year. The graduate must have a high grade-point average and possess outstanding qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability. Recipients are awarded at a university level ceremony in the Spring semester.

Candidates are recommended by departments from Dean’s Medalist nominations.

Established in 1924, the Comer Medal for Excellence is Auburn University’s longest‑running student award. It recognizes graduating seniors with outstanding academic performance in rigorous majors, along with involvement in research, campus organizations, and outreach. Each spring, three medals are presented: the Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Candidates are recommended by departments from Dean’s Medalist nominations.

The Dean Schneller Award honors the legacy of COSAM’s first dean, Dr. Stewart Schneller, by recognizing seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who embody COSAM’s highest ideals. Nominees excel in research and mentorship, leadership, representation of COSAM, and collegiality. The award is presented each April at the COSAM Honors Convocation. Candidates are recommended by departments from Dean’s Medalist nominations.

The COSAM Dean's Medalists are outstanding graduating seniors from each COSAM department or program. Students are selected by faculty within their department or program, and selection is based on academic performance, character, and potential. Recipients are awarded at the COSAM Honors Convocation in April.

The COSAM Outstanding Junior award is given annually to recipients from each department or program within COSAM. The award is given based on the student's academic performance, character, and professional potential. Recipients are awarded at the COSAM Honors Convocation in April.

The COSAM Outstanding International Student Award recognizes up to two international students each year, undergraduate or graduate, who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, strong character, and clear professional promise. Recipients are honored each April at the COSAM Honors Convocation.

The COSAM Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award honors up to three graduate students who excel in their teaching roles, promote high standards in COSAM courses and labs, demonstrate strong character, and show clear professional promise. Nominees come from all five COSAM departments, and awardees are recognized each April at the COSAM Honors Convocation.

The COSAM Outstanding Faculty Teacher Award recognizes one faculty member each year who demonstrates instructional excellence in COSAM courses and labs, shows strong character, and maintains exemplary professional engagement. The recipient is selected from nominations across the five COSAM departments and honored each April at the COSAM Honors Convocation.

The COSAM Outstanding Faculty Undergraduate Mentor Award honors one faculty member each year who fosters undergraduate scholarly work, mentors students in lab or field research, demonstrates strong character, and shows exemplary professional engagement. One recipient is selected from nominations across the five COSAM departments and recognized each April at the COSAM Honors Convocation.

The Student Choice Award for Favorite COSAM Student Support honors teachers, advisors, and staff who make a meaningful impact on students. Chosen entirely by student votes, the award highlights those who consistently go above and beyond. Each spring, the ADAA Office invites current students to vote, and the award is presented at the April COSAM Honors Convocation.