Commencement Awards
Each year, the Commencement Awards celebrate the achievements of four exceptional graduating seniors. If you're graduating this year (fall, winter, spring, or summer), you could be one of the recipients. We want to recognize students with outstanding academic achievements, so if you've maintained a strong cumulative GPA, we encourage you to apply and be recognized for your hard work and dedication!
The deadline for all Commencement Award applications is in early Spring (2025 date TBA).
Interested students may apply for a Commencement Award by division. Expand the links below to learn more.
Awarded to a graduating senior in the College of Letters & Science for outstanding scholarship. Nominees for any of the three divisional Awards will automatically be considered for the Deans' Award. Students do not apply directly to this award.
Where appropriate, one nominee for the Colville-Dearborn, Leal, and Reardon awards will be selected for the Deans’ Award for Outstanding Senior, based on academic achievement consistent with the Deans’ Award criteria.
Awarded for outstanding academic achievement to a student with a major in Mathematical, Life, or Physical Science, in memory of Frances M. Colville, Associate Professor of Physical Education (1955-64), and Terry H. Dearborn, Associate Professor of Physical Education (1940-64).
Awarded for outstanding academic achievement to a student with a major in the Social Sciences in honor of Don Luis Leal, a visiting professor whose presence and scholarship have greatly enriched the Santa Barbara campus (1976-2010)
Awarded for outstanding academic achievement to a student with a major in Humanities and Fine Arts, in honor of William R. Reardon, Professor of Dramatic Art (1965-86) and Associate Dean of the College of Letters and Science (1979-86), emeritus.
Application Process
1. Complete the Commencement Award Application before the deadline. Application opens mid-February.
2. Secure a letter of recommendation from a UCSB faculty member, preferably in your major department. Letters of recommendation should discuss scholarly achievement as well as any service to the campus community, or special circumstances you would like us to consider. The letters should be emailed to scholarships@ltsc.ucsb.edu by the recommender by the same deadline.
Commencement Speaker Role
Are you eager to share your journey and inspire your fellow Gauchos?
The College of Letters & Science is looking for Student Commencement Speakers for all Letters & Science ceremonies. If you're a senior graduating this year, don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to leave your mark.
Visit the Commencement website for official commencement schedule information.
Application Process
- Submit the Commencement Speaker application by the deadline (Spring 2025, TBA). The application includes an essay not to exceed 500 words on how your academic experience at UC Santa Barbara has transformed you. It is acceptable (and inspirational) to talk about obstacles you have overcome. This essay will be what you expand upon for your draft commencement speech.
- A small group of finalists will be chosen out of the application pool to be interviewed by a committee of faculty and deans before final selection is made.
- Student speakers will be selected to deliver their brief commencement address (about 5 minutes) as representatives of their classmates during Commencement.