UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Global is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Penn State Global Awards, including the Penn State Global Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the annual W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Award and the Ardeth and Norman Frisbey International Student Awards.
Completed application packages are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21.
The purpose of the Penn State Global Awards is to recognize outstanding contributions of individuals and academic units across the University, including the Commonwealth Campuses, who have demonstrated success towards achieving the global goals of the University.
"These awards celebrate the extraordinary individuals and programs who exemplify global engagement at Penn State,” said Sabine Klahr, vice provost for Global. “These individuals represent the very best of our University’s worldwide impact through research, teaching, and service. They help to position Penn State as a top university for international education, which is reflected by Penn State winning the Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization earlier this year.”
Recipients will be recognized at the Penn State Global awards luncheon on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Award
The W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Award recognizes one faculty member annually who has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the international mission of the University with an award of $1250. The award recognizes faculty for excellence in leadership and support for international education, service to the international community, and international research accomplishments.
Please note that a nomination is not complete unless all supporting documentation, including the letter of support, is submitted by the deadline.
Required Nomination Materials
- One letter of support
- CV or résumé of nominee (no more than 3 pages)
W. LaMarr Kopp International Faculty Nomination Form
Ardeth and Norman Frisbey International Student Awards
This award of $4000 honors and recognizes outstanding contributions to international understanding by one graduate and one undergraduate international student (holding non-immigrant status) enrolled in full-time resident instruction or its equivalent.
Eligibility
Consideration for this award shall be given to a full-time graduate or undergraduate international students (holding non-immigrant status) enrolled in an academic program at any Penn State campus who have exhibited exemplary contributions furthering international understanding. This could consist of academic, athletic or other extra-curricular campus activities and/or community involvement in school or civic group programs or service projects. Normally, recipients will have made contributions in more than one area. Please note that international activities should have taken place at Penn State and that students must be enrolled for the current academic year in order to receive the award.
Directions for Submission
Self-nomination
Students who are self-nominating must complete this nomination form with a brief statement of required qualifications and provide one letter of support from faculty, staff, or a community leader (no peer references).
Nominate a student
Those who are nominating a student, should provide one letter of support (the nominator's own letter and one additional, provided the nominator meets the requirements for a letter of support) from faculty, staff or a community leader (no peer references).
Please note that an application is not complete unless all supporting documentation, including the letter of support, is submitted by the application deadline.
Frisbey International Student Nomination Form
The Global Lifetime Achievement Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has consistently demonstrated exceptional achievement towards furthering the global vision of Penn State across their career at the university.
- Eligibility: Full-time faculty and staff members who currently employed with the University are eligible for selection.
- Criteria: The award seeks to recognize and acknowledge an individual who, through their efforts, has profoundly advanced the global vision of Penn State by providing extraordinary staff or faculty leadership in their college, on their campus, or across the institution over an extended period of time resulting in a lasting impact. Nominators should consider exemplary colleagues for this award.
- Amount of Award: $1500 and an engraved plaque.
Global Lifetime Achievement Nomination Form
The Outstanding Global Program Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an innovative program at the university that has advanced the vision global excellence at Penn State. Selected programs shall have demonstrated that they further Penn State’s global mission to be a world leader in global engagement with a culture of critical global citizenship.
- Eligibility: The award shall recognize the academic department or unit responsible for developing and implementing the program
- Criteria: The award seeks to recognize and acknowledge an innovative program that has advanced global excellence at Penn State through specific integration of global content through multiple lenses in the program scope and sequence.
- Amount of Award: $1,500 and an engraved plaque
Outstanding Global Program Nomination Form
The Global Research Impact Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize innovative research projects and/or initiatives that can be shown to be advancing progress towards meeting one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
- Eligibility: Faculty members at any Penn State campus are eligible for selection.
- Criteria: The award recognizes international research conducted by an individual or a team of individuals that can be shown to be advancing progress towards one or more of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- Amount of Award: $1,000 and an engraved plaque.
Global Research Impact Nomination Form
The Excellence in Global Engagement Staff Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an exemplary member of staff or an outstanding team of staff that consistently provides excellent support and leadership for global success at Penn State. These nominees will have conducted their work with intentional and inclusive excellence over an extended period and are known for going above and beyond to ensure academic and/or research success for students, staff or faculty.
- Eligibility: All staff members at any Penn State campus are eligible for selection, with the exception of Penn State Global staff, who have their own awards.
- Criteria: The award recognizes the dedication and focus of a staff member or team of staff to advance the global work of the university, with clearly articulated outcomes for their work.
- Amount of Award: $1,000 and an engraved plaque.
Excellence in Global Engagement Staff Nomination Form
The Early Career Faculty Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize innovative international research projects, excellence in global scholarship, or curricular and experiential leadership surrounding global learning for a tenure-earning faculty member at Penn State.
- Eligibility: All tenure-earning faculty up to 5 years of service at any Penn State campus are eligible for selection.
- Criteria: The award recognizes the vision and skills of an early career (tenure-earning) faculty member who has demonstrated consistent and exemplary leadership in research, scholarship or instruction to advance the global work of the University with an emphasis on two or more of the Penn State strategic plan priorities (e.g. Enhancing Student Success, Fostering DEIB, Growing (Inter)disciplinary Research Excellence, Increasing Land-Grant Impact.)
- Amount of Award: $1,000 and an engraved plaque
Early Career Faculty Award Nomination Form
The Excellence in Global Education Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize innovative teaching pedagogies used by outstanding faculty at the teaching/instructor rank when teaching global/international content with excellence.
- Eligibility: All faculty with a teaching/instructor rank at any Penn State campus.
- Criteria: The award recognizes the vision and skills of a teaching/instructor-ranked faculty member who demonstrates experiential and actively engaged teaching pedagogies in their teaching or program content and advances global learning at Penn State in novel and commendable ways (e.g. use of digital media to engage internationally, use of the United Nations SDGs, etc.)
- Amount of Award: $1,000 and an engraved plaque.
Excellence in Global Education Nomination Form
The Global Outstanding Alum Award
This award recognizes a Penn State Alum who has made significant contributions and achievements in their chosen profession, their community, and to the Pennsylvania State University.
- Eligibility: All graduates of Penn State having obtained an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, living outside of the United States at time of nomination.
- Criteria: Nominees will be evaluated on the following, with consideration in one or multiple area(s):
- Significant contributions and achievements in their chosen profession
- Positive impact on the quality of people’s lives
- Demonstrated exemplary community involvement
- Success as leaders in their fields
- Recognition for their achievements from other professional or community organizations
- Advancement of Penn State’s international outreach
- Nominations: Nominations are solicited from our international alumni group leaders and boards. Self-nominations are not accepted for this award.
- Award: Awardee must agree to return to Penn State for the purpose of attending the award ceremony and participation as a speaker/presenter at a sponsored student event such as the Global Careers Institute, the Global Engagement and Leadership Experience, or similar. Penn State Global will cover the cost of travel, lodging and per diem for the duration of the stay at Penn State.
Global Outstanding Alum Nomination Form
Questions
Questions about the application process? Email psgawards@psu.edu.