Outstanding Service Project of the Year

This award is presented to the student organization which recognizes a responsibility to give their time and energy to improve their community. Any project that provides support to the Gainesville community will be considered. The project should be a one-day or ongoing community service project not simply a fundraiser. Projects taking place between January 2022 and December 2022 are eligible for consideration.

Application

In order to apply for this award, you will need to complete the two steps below by 11:59PM on February 4th:

  1. Create a compelling 8-minute audio-recorded PowerPoint presentation adhering to the submission requirements below, that showcases why your organization should be selected as the award winner.
    1. If your organization is also applying for any of the following presentation-based awards, you will address these in the same presentation.
      1. Student Organization of the Year
      2. Most Improved Student Organization of the Year
      3. New Student Organization of the Year
      4. Heavener Sponsored Program of the Year
      5. Outstanding Event/Program of the Year
  2. Submit the Application Form where you will include the link to your recorded presentation, as well as a PDF of your slide deck.

Submission Requirements for Audio-Recorded PowerPoint

In addition to the requirements listed below, organizations are encouraged to follow best practices with regard to slide design and visual aids to best showcase their impact.

Presentations must include voice-only narration (cameras must be turned off) utilizing
PowerPoint’s Recording Feature. Total presentation time must not exceed 8 minutes and must include the following slides:

  1. Opening slide needs to include the names of each of the presentation-based awards (including this award) that you are applying for, and you should verbally announce these in your audio recording.
  2. Organizational fact slide that highlights organization relevant statistics including size, list of events, and their type such as socials, professional, service, and other information.
  3. Informational slides answering the following questions:
    • List the projected outcomes, strategic goals, and the number of members who participated in this project.
    • Who and how many people in the community benefited from this project?
    • What is innovative or creative about the project?
    • Description of collaboration with other student organizations or College departments, as well as nature and frequency of this collaboration.
    • How did this project impact the personal and professional development of your members?
    • How does the project foster dynamic and inclusive growth for your members?
    • Describe ways that the project incorporated reflection for members?
    • How did the project have a positive impact on the greater College community?
    • What qualitative or quantitative evidence do you have regarding your project’s impact?
    • How does the project support or relate to your organization’s mission/vision/values?
  4. Appendix slides at the end of your presentation detailing the following:
    • A copy of the organization’s budget and expenses
    • List of members who participated, with names and email addresses
    • Please insert link to PDF displaying all appendix information.

Submission Instructions for Audio-Recorded PowerPoint

Once you have finalized your audio-recorded PowerPoint, please follow the instructions below to make it shareable using Microsoft Stream.

  • With your presentation deck open, click the Recording tab, then select Publish to Stream. If you don’t see a Recording tab, you can add this setting as follows:
    • Windows OS: Open PowerPoint > File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Select "Main Tabs" from dropdown list on the right > Scroll down and click the check box next to "Recording" and then click OK
    • Mac OS: First, Export Video – File > Export > Select “MOV” in the File Format dropdown list > Make sure check box next to “Use Recorded Timings and Narrations” is clicked > Click Export Button > Open Microsoft Stream through GatorCloud > Select “Upload Video” from Create dropdown list > Click “Browse” and select MOV file containing your presentation
  • Type a title and a description for the video.
  • Check the boxes that follow to allow everyone in your organization to see this video (on Mac OS this will appear under the “Permissions” drop down tab) and upload your original PowerPoint file along with this video.
  • Click the Publish button and then allow a few minutes for this process to occur.
  • Windows OS users will see a status progress bar at the bottom right of the PowerPoint window, and a message will display once the upload is successful.
  • Once you have received the successful upload notification, click it to view your video.
  • The video will then open in a browser for Gator Cloud. Copy the browser link for your video and then when you are ready to submit the Application Form, please insert the link there.
  • For Mac OS – Click “Share” > Copy the browser link for your video and when you are ready to submit the Application Form, please insert the link there.

Selection Process & Criteria

The winning project will be chosen by a selection committee of Heavener staff members, based on the following criteria:

  • Does the audio-recorded PowerPoint adhere to all submission requirements?
  • Does this project focus on the development of personal and professional skills for their members?
  • Does this project foster dynamic and inclusive growth in its members?
  • Is there evidence that this project provides experiences that support its mission and values?
  • Is there evidence of significant project impact in the UF or Gainesville community using quantitative or qualitative metrics?
  • Is the service project facilitating reflection and action that is representative of intentional community service?

By submitting an application, applicants agree to release their academic records and discipline records to the selection committee. This year’s selection committee members are: Autumn Santos, Dalon Coleman, Danica Mandarano, Jeff Danso, Satcha Sanon, Sarah Morais, and the BCC President.


Previous Award Recipients

Global Business Brigades – Brigade

The TRUing Project Enactus

Champion’s Cup Blood Drive

Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity, created the semi-annual Champion’s Cup Blood Drive through LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to help non-social Greek organizations compete and raise donations to LifeSouth’s Blood Bank. The competition helped LifeSouth collect more donations than any other two week period from non-social Greek organizations ever before at the University of Florida.

“Animals, Biomes, recycling, Oh My” - ASTRA

ASTRA’s Project “Animals, Biomes, recycling, Oh My” partnered with Kids Count in Alachua Country to put on a service project geared toward teaching children about the earth’s animals and environment in a fun and engaging atmosphere. The project educated 20 children and ASTRA continues to volunteer with this organization.

Multiple Projects-Delta Sigma Pi

The members of Delta Sigma Pi coordinated and participated in multiple projects that gave back to the Gainesville community and beyond. These projects included collection of clothing for the St. Francis House here in Gainesville, and preparation of meals to be delivered to low-income families through the Campus Kitchen project throughout the year. Members also traveled to St. Petersburg Beach to take part in a beach clean-up, and performed service to beautify a school as part of Make A Difference Day, a national service opportunity. Finally, Delta Sigma Pi raised $3,100 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation during this academic year.

GIFT Gardens

International Business Society reached out to Florida Organic Growers in September 2009 to help work on the Gainesville Initiative for Tasty Gardens (GIFT Gardens) project. GIFT Gardens builds raised-bed vegetable gardens for Alachua County residents and the institutions that serve them, helping them become more self-sufficient and increasing their ability to provide for some of their own food needs. International Business Society believes this partnership provided a means to fight against hunger while promoting sustainability, which it strongly advocates. Through their hard work IBS impacted 271 Gainesville Residents, allotted 68 volunteer hours, and installed 18 gardens.

Ronald McDonald House Series

This past fall and spring, members of the Student Finance Group visited the Ronald Mc Donald House twice a month serving dinner each time to over 75 guests. SFG spends hundreds of dollars of their own money to make these dinners which feed the community while at the same time build retention and cohesiveness amongst the SFG members. They have built an ongoing relationship with the staff members of Ronald McDonald House and both the staff, Gainesville community, and SFG members look forward to the next visit.

Build a Bear, Make a Smile

In the Fall of 2007, The Retail Society worked with Build a Bear to donate up to 20 bears to deserving children. They donated the bears around Christmas time to the Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Unit at Shands. With the help of the nurses, the students were able to match the bears to the children’s personalities. The Retail Society was able to bring some brightness into the children’s lives with their feel good activity.

Day of Difference

In the Spring of 2007, Florida Women in Business partnered with Junior Achievement to bring the Junior Achievement Program to local elementary schools. Florida Women in Business was able to mobilize 120 business students to participate in 62 elementary school classrooms around Alachua County. Through their efforts, 1200 students had the opportunity to learn the valuable lessons offered by the Junior Achievement Program.

The Pop Tab Challenge for the Ronald McDonald House

This year the members of Phi Beta Lamba, with a great deal of community involvement, have collected approximately twenty gallons of aluminum can pop top tabs to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Phi Beta Lambda members have also volunteered at Ronald McDonald house hosting babysitting, movie nights, and a Christmas toy drive.