In a Joint Statement of Principles in Support of International Education, the United States Departments of State and Education noted that “the presence of international students, researchers, and scholars on US campuses enhances diversity, contributes to academic vibrancy, and fosters creativity and innovation in the sciences and the arts.” At the University of Florida, we fully embrace this statement as we recognize the value and importance of the contributions of our international students and colleagues to our research, teaching and service missions.
The International Student Achievement Awards (ISAA) were established to highlight the accomplishments of international students at UF. The awards are made annually in recognition of the contributions of students who distinguish themselves not only by their exemplary academic achievements, but also by a wide range of accomplishments and contributions to UF and the community.
UFIC sponsors three awards based on degree level and five winners are chosen for each award. In addition, UFIC coordinates with all UF colleges on the selection of students to receive Certificates of Outstanding Merit. The review and selection of winners for the awards is the responsibility of a committee including UF faculty, administrators, and staff. Nomination packages will be evaluated on the respective criteria of the award as reflected in the letters and the student statements. Please note that past winners cannot be nominated again until five years have passed from their last award (for monetary awards only; certificates can be awarded multiple times).
The 2025-26 nomination period begins November 3, 2025 and nominations are due by 5:00PM on January 30, 2026. Each college has a dedicated representative who will coordinate the selection of the nominees and upload the required documents with Victoria Dolce, PhD from the International Center.
The annual International Student Achievement Awards ceremony will be held on March 24, 2026 at 5:30PM in the J. Wayne Reitz Union Grand Ballroom. Monetary awards will be deposited directly into the student’s account and are subject to tax deductions.
Any questions about eligibility or the process can be addressed to Victoria Dolce, PhD at vdolce@ufic.ufl.edu.
The Alec Courtelis Awards for Outstanding Doctoral Degree Students
The Alec Courtelis Awards are made possible through a generous endowment established in 1996 by the late Louise Courtelis in honor of her late husband, a former chairman of the Board of Regents, and in recognition of his interest and support for international students. The awards are presented annually at the International Student Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Students must be nominated by their college to be considered for this award.
Who is eligible:
Doctoral students holding a non-immigrant J-1 or F-1 student visa in valid status and maintaining minimum GPA of 3.75. The students must be enrolled in compliance for the spring semester in which they are nominated.
How are students nominated?
UFIC will provide a list of all eligible students to each college and each college develops its own process for nominating two students for these awards.
Nominees should be students who have distinguished themselves in various ways, including:
- academic excellence
- outstanding teaching and mentorship
- community service and civic involvement
- leadership and innovation
- developing creative solutions to global problems
What does the award entail?
The five students selected for this award will each receive $2,000 and will be publicly recognized and presented with a plaque at the awards ceremony.
I was nominated for this award, what do I do now?
Nominated students should consult with their nominator, as well as their advisors and professors as relevant, to submit the required documents listed below. Students are responsible for the essay and their CV.
What are the requirements of the nomination?
- A letter of support
- An essay or statement by the student addressing how they contribute to the global dimensions of UF’s missions of teaching, research, and/or service (600-word limit)
- A current C.V.
When will the award recipients be announced?
February 24, 2026 via email.
How will I receive my award?
All awardees will be honored at the International Student Achievement Awards ceremony on March 24, 2026. The students will receive their plaque at the awards ceremony and their monetary award a few weeks after the winners are announced. Monetary awards will be deposited directly into the student’s account and are subject to tax deductions.
Outstanding Master's and Professional International Student Awards
This award recognizes international students pursuing a master’s or other post-graduate professional degree and who have distinguished themselves by excelling in their studies while advancing a global citizenship mindset and contributing to the internationalization of UF’s missions of teaching, research, and service.
Students must be nominated by their college to be considered for this award.
Who is eligible?
Master’s or professional degree students in law, the health sciences, or related areas holding a non-immigrant J-1 or F-1 student visa in valid status and maintaining minimum GPA of 3.75. The students must be enrolled in compliance for the spring semester in which they are nominated.
How are students nominated?
UFIC will provide a list of all eligible students to each college and each college develops its own process for nominating two students for these awards.
Nominees should be students who have distinguished themselves in various ways, including:
- academic excellence
- outstanding teaching and mentorship
- community service and civic involvement
- leadership and innovation
- developing creative solutions to global problems
What does the award entail?
The five students selected for this award will each receive $1,500 and will be publicly recognized and presented with a plaque at the awards ceremony.
I was nominated for this award, what do I do now?
Nominated students should consult with their nominator, as well as their advisors and professors as relevant, to submit the required documents listed below. Students are responsible for the essay and their CV.
What are the requirements of the nomination?
- A letter of support
- An essay or statement by the student addressing how they contribute to the global dimensions of UF’s missions of teaching, research, and/or service (600-word limit)
- A current CV.
When will the scholarship recipients be announced?
February 24, 2026 via email.
How will I receive my award?
All awardees will be honored at the International Student Achievement Awards ceremony on March 24, 2026. The students will receive their plaque at the awards ceremony and their monetary award a few weeks after the winners are announced. Monetary awards will be deposited directly into the student’s account and are subject to tax deductions.
Outstanding Undergraduate International Student Awards
This award recognizes undergraduate international students who have distinguished themselves by excelling in their studies while advancing a global citizenship mindset and contributing to the international profile of the UF community.
Students must be nominated by their college to be considered for this award.
Who is eligible?
Undergraduate students holding a non-immigrant J-1 or F-1 student visa in valid status and maintaining minimum GPA of 3.75. The students must be enrolled in compliance for the spring semester in which they are nominated.
How are students nominated?
UFIC will provide a list of all eligible students to each college by the beginning of the fall semester. Each college develops its own process for nominating two students for these awards.
Nominees should be students who have distinguished themselves in various ways, including:
- academic excellence
- outstanding teaching and mentorship
- community service and civic involvement
- leadership and innovation
- developing creative solutions to global problems
What does the award entail?
The five students selected for this award will each receive $1,000 and will be publicly recognized and presented with a plaque at the awards ceremony.
I was nominated for this award, what do I do now?
Nominated students should consult with their nominator, as well as their advisors and professors as relevant, to submit the required documents listed below. Students are responsible for the essay and their CV.
What are the requirements of the nomination?
- A letter of support
- An essay or statement by the student addressing how they contribute to the global dimensions of UF’s missions of teaching, research, and/or service (600-word limit)
- A current C.V.
When will the scholarship recipients be announced?
February 24, 2026 via email.
How will I receive my award?
All awardees will be honored at the International Student Achievement Awards ceremony on March 24, 2026. The students will receive their plaque at the awards ceremony and their monetary award a few weeks after the winners are announced. Monetary awards will be deposited directly into the student’s account and are subject to tax deductions.
Certificates of Outstanding Merit
Please note there are no monetary awards attached to Certificates of Outstanding Merit. These certificates provide colleges with an opportunity to recognize the exceptional contributions of a broader number of international students.
The criteria for choosing students to be recognized will be determined by each college. We encourage colleges to work with department chairs and their faculty to review and consider not just academic achievements but also other ways in which these students have distinguished themselves.
Each college may submit the names of up to six students to receive a certificate (CLAS may submit up to 10, and Engineering may submit up to 15).
Students must be selected by their college for this distinction.
How are recipients chosen?
The criteria for choosing students from the list of eligible students provided by UFIC to be recognized with certificates is determined by each college.
When will the certificate recipients be announced?
February 24, 2026 via email.
When are certificates awarded?
Certificate recipients will be honored at the International Student Achievement Awards ceremony on March 24, 2026.