If you would like to nominate a current MSU student, faculty member, staff member or alumni for one of the Accolades categories, please fill out the nomination form below. You will find descriptions of each monthly theme planned for 2024 also below. Please note each theme has a deadline in which to nominate. Any questions please contact Nwando Achebe, Associate Dean for Access, Faculty Development, and Strategic Implementation at achebe@msu.edu.

To verify that your nominee has not been previously celebrated, please review the list of past features below.

• Past Features

  International Holocaust Remembrance Day  - January

  • Dr. Kirsten Fermaglich (Champion 2021)
  • Reid Elefson-Frank (Torch 2021)
  • Dr. Gregory Levin (Spotlight 2021)
  • Dr. Amy Simon (Champion 2022)
  • Jordan D. Robinson (Torch 2022)
  • Micaela Procopio (Spotlight 2022)
  • Dr. Ronen Steinberg (Champion 2024)
  • Jacob Starner (Torch 2024)
  • Rabbi Simon Stratford (Spotlight 2024)

   

  Black History Month - February

  • Dr. Joseph Darden (Champion 2021)
  • Wisdom Henry (Torch 2021)
  • Dr. Philip S. Hart (Spotlight 2021)
  • Enslaved.Org & Black Geographers (Special 2021)
  • Dr. Jualynne Dodson (Champion 2022)
  • Jen Fry (Torch 2022)
  • Faron Paramore (Spotlight 2022)
  • Dr. Lee June (Champion 2024)
  • Advancing Geography through Diversity Program (Torch 2024)
  • Dr. Patricia M. Carey (Spotlight 2024)

   

  National Women's History Month - March

  • Dr. Amy Bonomi (Champion 2021)
  • Danielle McClain (Torch 2021)
  • Christine Mason Soneral (Spotlight 2021)
  • Women’s Leadership Institute (Special 2021)
  • Dr. Deborah Johnson (Champion 2022)
  • Alexis Hampton (Torch 2022)
  • Dr. Theda Skocpol (Spotlight 2022)
  • Dr. Lisa Fine (Champion 2024)
  • Taylor Hughes-Barrow (Torch 2024)
  • Dr. Barbara Lowrey (Spotlight 2024)

   

  Arab-American Heritage Month - April

  • Dr. Nazita Lajevardi (Champion 2021)
  • Marwa Bakabas (Torch 2021)
  • Secretary Spencer Abraham (Spotlight 2021)
  • Dr. Rebecca Karam (Champion 2022)
  • Tamara Siblani (Torch 2022)
  • Ikram Adawe (Spotlight 2022)
  • Dr. Nura Sediqe (Champion 2024)
  • Amina Darabie (Torch 2024)
  • Sarise Hammad (Spotlight 2024)

   

  National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - May

  • Thuy-Tram Butler (Champion 2021)
  • Alisha Phan (Torch 2021)
  • Ernest Wong (Spotlight 2021)
  • Asian Pacific American Studies Program (Special 2021)
  • Dr. Andrea Louie (Champion 2022)
  • Chloe Majzel (Torch 2022)
  • Anthony Knapp (Spotlight 2022)
  • Maya Craft (Champion 2024)
  • Megan Smejkal (Torch 2024)
  • Maggie Chen-Hernandez (Spotlight 2024)
  • Asian Pacific American Studies Program 20th Anniversary (Special 2024)

   

  Juneteenth - June

  • Dr. Kaston Anderson (Champion 2022)
  • A’Lexus Hunt (Torch 2022)
  • Larry Thompson (Spotlight 2022)
  • Dr. Amber Bryant (Champion 2024)
  • Justin Crouch (Torch 2024)
  • Alan Haller (Spotlight 2024)

   

  World Refuge Day - June

  • Dr. Stephanie Nawyn (Champion 2021)
  • Julian Trevino (Torch 2021)
  • Dr. Breanne Grace (Spotlight 2021)

   

  Disability Independence Day - July

  • Michael Hudson (Champion 2020)
  • Jasmine Jordan (Torch 2020)
  • Jenifer Barclay (Spotlight 2020)
  • Michele Brock (Champion 2021)
  • Katie Pezzetti (Torch 2021)
  • Anthony Ianni (Spotlight 2021)
  • Dr. Todd Elder (Champion 2022)
  • Nora Curley (Torch 2022)
  • Yvonne Fleener (Spotlight 2022)
  • Dr. Sarah Douglas (Champion 2024)
  • Olivia (Livy) Drexler (Torch 2024)
  • Laura Hall (Spotlight 2024)

   

  Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - August

  • Dr. Carl Taylor (Champion 2020)
  • Allie Klein (Torch 2020)
  • Dr. Dee Jordan (Spotlight 2020)
  • Enslaved: The Database Restoring Humanity to Enslaved People (Special 2020)
  • Dr. Nakia Parker (Champion 2021)
  • Zach Sneathen (Torch 2021)
  • Dr. David Blight (Spotlight 2021)

   

  Women’s Equality Day - August

  • Elizabeth (Beth) Drexler (Champion 2024)
  • Dasom Jang (Torch 2024)
  • Diamond Day-Parker (Spotlight 2024)

   

  Hispanic Heritage Month - September

  • Dr. Ignacio Acevedo (Champion 2020)
  • Ana Rivera (Torch 2020)
  • Dr. Carlos Aleman (Spotlight 2020)
  • Dr. Rene Rosenbaum (Champion 2021)
  • Brenda Pilar-Ayala (Torch 2021)
  • Dr. David Cordova (Spotlight 2021)

   

  LGBT History Month - October

  • Dr. stef shuster (Champion 2020)
  • Mircea Lazar (Torch 2020)
  • Dr. Kristen Prock (Spotlight 2020)
  • Dr. Robin Miller (Champion 2021)
  • John Steudle (Torch 2021)
  • Dr. Cameron T. Whitley (Spotlight 2021)

   

  PRIDE Research (Pride Faculty Features) - SPECIAL FEATURED

  • Kaston Anderson (2021)
  • Christina DeJong (2021)
  • Ning Hsieh (2021)
  • Anne Hughes (2021)
  • Cathy Liu (2021)
  • Jae Puckett (2021)
  • Dierdre Shies (2021)
  • stef shuster (2021)

   

  National Native American Heritage Month - November

  • Dr. Susan Sleeper-Smith (Champion 2020)
  • Angie Sanchez (Torch 2020)
  • Dr. Adam Farero (Spotlight 2020)
  • Dr. Heather Howard (Champion 2021)
  • Roxy Mashkawiziikwe Sprowl (Torch 2021)
  • Jason Cross (Spotlight 2021)

   

  Universal Human Rights Month - December

  • Dr. Monir Moniruzzaman (Champion 2020)
  • Juan Carlos Rico Noguera (Torch 2020)
  • Karen Phillippi (Spotlight 2020)
  • Dr. Eric Montgomery (Champion 2021)
  • Harnoor Kaur (Torch 2021)
  • Maen Hammad (Spotlight 2021)

   

• 2025 Monthly Topics

  International Holocaust Remembrance Day  - January

  International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the millions of Holocaust victims and enjoins individuals to promote programs to prevent further genocides. Submission deadline: November 1, 2024

   

  Black History Month - February

  Black History Month pays honor to the millions of African Americans who have contributed to all aspects of American life. Submission deadline: December 1, 2024

   

  National Women's History Month - March

  National Women’s History Month highlights the vital   role of women in American history. Submission deadline: January 1, 2025

   

  Arab-American Heritage Month - April

  Arab-American Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Arab-Americans to American life and their struggles to receive full protections as American citizens. Submission deadline: February 1, 2025

   

  National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - May

  National Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month commemorates the efforts of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in shaping the country which we now enjoy. Submission deadline: March 1, 2025

   

  Pride Month - June

  LGBT Pride Month celebrates the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Submission deadline: April 1, 2025

   

  Americans with Disabilities Act Signed "Disability Independence Day" - July

  “Disability Independence Day” celebrates the rights of people with disabilities to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Submission deadline: May 1, 2025

   

  Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - August

  On August 1791, enslaved Africans on the island of St. Domingue mounted a rebellion against the slaveholding elite of the island. August 23 is a UNESCO-designated day to memorialize the plight of peoples of African ancestry around the world, to gain their freedom from enslavement. Submission deadline: June 1, 2025

   

  Hispanic Heritage Month - September

  Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Submission deadline: July 1, 2025

   

  World Mental Health Day - October 10

  World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. Submission deadline: August 1, 2025

   

  Veterans Day - November 11

  Veterans Day/Armistice Day celebrates the end of World War I and all those who have engaged in warfare on behalf of the United States. Submission deadline: September 1, 2025

   

  MSU Staff Appreciation - December

  A month in which we recognize the hard work and contributions of our staff to our shared SSC success. Submission deadline: October 1, 2025