The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is committed to providing students with a solid foundation for career and professional success. Each year, we pause to honor students for their achievements in their co-curricular experiences.
Real World Action Scholarships
Student Affairs team members work closely with students to guide them in areas including civic engagement and citizenship, career preparation, collegiate involvement, and community engagement. This commitment to real-world readiness extends to recognizing students for outstanding achievement in the form of Real World Action Scholarships.
$1000 scholarships are awarded to:
- A first year student
- A sophomore student
- A junior student
- A senior/Super Senior student
In order to be eligible for a Real World Action Scholarship, applicants must:
- submit a completed application at this link
- have a minimum GPA of 3.0,
- be currently enrolled on a full-time basis,
- have no current judicial sanctions, and
- prepare an essay (between 500 and 750 words) answering the following questions:
- While a student at Pitt-Johnstown, how you have seized opportunities in the following areas: 1) career preparation, 2) campus involvement, 3) community involvement, 4) civic engagement, and 5) making a difference in the world, and
- How have those opportunities helped to prepare you for the real world?
Mountain Cat Award Descriptions and Nomination Links
THE AWARDS
Climbing Mountain Cat Award - The Climbing Mountain Cat Award honors a non-officer member who represents the future of the student organization. They exhibit leadership without holding a formal leadership position. The nominee should be a rostered member for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 academic year. Each organization can nominate up to three recipients of the award.
Outstanding Faculty Advisor/Outstanding Staff Advisor -This award honors a faculty or staff member who has provided outstanding support of an organization. Organizations may nominate one staff and one faculty member for this award. The person(s) nominated must have made a significant impact on your student organization's success and/or daily operations and activities and does not need to be the advisor to that student organization.
Unsung Mountain Cat Award - Organizations may nominate their advisor for demonstrating outstanding service and support of the group. He/she should be actively involved in the organization's activities and events. This person must have been the advisor during the 2023-2024 academic year and be rostered with the university.
Fraternity and Sorority Life Mountain Cat Awards - These awards acknowledge the work, leadership, and contributions of brothers and sisters in the Fraternity/Sorority Life community. These awards are for the four registered social Greek organizations.
Rising Star Award - given to a member or new member of a national chapter that has positively impacted the chapter or FSL community. The individual is considered a positive person to watch for the future of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Pitt-Johnstown.
Fraternity Brother of the Year- The recipient of this award is an example of how to live the values of fraternity life. He will positively represent the men in his chapter, both on campus and in the fraternity. He should also be active on campus, have a solid grade point average, and be a positive representative to our overall FSL community.
Sorority Sister of the Year- The recipient of this award is an example of how to live the values of fraternity/sorority life. They will positively represent the women in the chapter, both on campus, and in the fraternity, They should also be active on campus, have a solid grade point average, and be a positive representative to our overall FSL community.
Fraternity Man of the Year - The recipient of this award is an example of how to live the values of fraternity life. He positively represents the men in the chapter both on campus and in the fraternity. He should be active on campus, have a respectful and positive relationship with the all chapters on campus, have a solid grade point average and be a positive representative of the FSL community.
Sorority Woman of the Year - The recipient of this award is an example of how to live the values of fraternity life. They positive represent the women in the chapter both on campus and in the fraternity. They should be active on campus, have a respectful and positive relationship with all chapters on campus, have a solid grade point average and be a positive representative of the FSL community.
Academic Achievers Award - Scholarship is a vital pillar in the FSL world. We are students before we are members of our organizations. This award is given to the organization that has the highest GPA of all four nationally recognized social organizations.
New Member Academic Achievement Award - This award honors the FSL chapter that had the highest GPA of all new members in their organization.
Fraternity Sorority Life Officer of the Year - This award is presented to an officer who goes above and beyond. The winner of this award should lead by example and be willing to set their chapter's interests ahead of their own and strive to help their brothers or sisters thrive. Through his role as vice president, he has made strides to make this chapter more efficient and welcoming.
Outstanding Service and Leadership Award - This award honors an outstanding student in service and leadership who has demonstrated involvement in community service in the greater Alleghenies. They have also demonstrated great leadership in teams, organizations, or academics. Each organization is asked to nominate just one nominee.
Elite Mountain Cat - The Elite Mountain Cat Award honors an outstanding officer who has demonstrated great leadership skills that were above and beyond the job description of their role. The nominee must have served as a rostered officer in the 2023-2024 academic year. Organizations may nominate up to two officers for this award.
The Commitment To Community for Outstanding Service Award - This award honors an organization that has contributed outstanding service to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Campus, the greater Cambria County community and beyond. The services provided by the nominees are voluntary, unpaid and non-compensated activities for the benefit of the community as a whole. The community service must have occurred during the 2023-2024 academic year. All service hours in the nomination should be recorded on campus services for the student organization up to April 5, 2024 at 1000 p.m.
Mountain Cat Award for Program of the Year - This award honors an organization that has conducted a program or event that had a positive impact on the organization's members and/or the campus community. Nominees will be judged on the quality and outcome of the program or event. This program must have occurred during the 2023-2024 academic year. Due to the length of the answers for this award, we invite you to submit multiple events (up to three nominations) by starting a new form for each nominated program.
Exceptional Mountain Cat Award /Student Organization of the Year -This award honors the organization that has exceeded expectations in all aspects including programming, service, leadership, and campus involvement. Eligibility is reserved for organizations that have completed all minimum organization reporting and programming requirements (submitting rosters in a timely fashion, completed service hours, and provided campus programming, etc.). They are a positive representation of the leadership and service on our campus and are collaborative and supportive in spirit with other students and campus departments. Clubs are encouraged to nominate ONE student organization for this award.
Inclusive Programming Award - This award is for any student organization program or event that provides inclusive education, support, and/or social interaction for the wider campus community. The event must be open to all (not just within a particular organization’s membership) and be sponsored by a student group.
Student Trailblazer Award This award goes to a student leader has demonstrated a long-term commitment to inclusion and diversity at Pitt-Johnstown through a multiplicity of engagement and across disciplines/programs.
Commuter Student of The Year This award is presented to a student leader who has demonstrated commitment to the Pitt-Johnstown while commuting from home. This student leader is involved on campus and in the community striving to make a positive impact on campus culture.
The Mountain Cat Strong Award: This new award is given to a group of students or teammates who have shown resilience or strength of character throughout the year. This award is given on behalf of the Student Affairs Team. If you would like to have a group considered for this award, please email Heather Hall, Director of Campus Activities and Engagement at hbh7@pitt.edu by April 8 at 10pm.
Student Athlete Awards
Woman Athlete of the Year
Male Athlete of the Year
Highest GPA/Classroom Excellence Award
Community Service
Sportsmanship Engagement Award
Servant Leadership
Student Athlete of the Year
Student Organization Awards - submitted by registered student organizations.
A portion of the Mountain Cat Awards is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of your clubs as determined by you! Please take a minute and share your award winners with us so that we can give them a shout out for their hard work. You will be required to bring the award that you are giving away. Each student organization may submit three awards for the academic year.
Submit your Awards at this link!