Innovation Academy
We celebrate Innovation Academy graduates every year for their commitment to serving the global community with their innovative spirit. Summit is the Innovation Academy Award Ceremony where eligible IA graduates receive their Innovation Medallion and celebrate with the graduating class.
IA holds two Summit ceremonies every year in the Spring and the Summer.
Family and friends of the graduates are invited to in-person events and all details are provided to graduates via their Gatorlink email before the event.
Registration by the deadline and business attire are required to attend.
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
If you have extenuating circumstances that make you unable to attend Summit, contact the Innovation Academy Office via iacademy@ufl.edu.
Two students will be selected as IA Scholars Awardees, one who entered UF as a freshmen (Four-Year Scholar) and one who entered as a transfer student (Two-Year Scholar if in the graduating class).
Selection Criteria
Students will be selected on the following criteria in the following order:
This award will be presented to a student who has continually exhibited outstanding creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, and ethics for the betterment of the Innovation Academy and the University of Florida.
Nomination Process
Students will be nominated by IA faculty and staff. IA Director will review all applications and determine final winner.
This award will be presented to a student who has continually demonstrated the qualities and personal attributes reflective of a promising student leader through their dedication to the ideals, ethics, and principles of innovation in their chosen profession, for the betterment of present and future students of the UF Innovation Academy.
Nomination Process
Students will nominate themselves or other graduating students by completing an online application that will be submitted to the IA professional team for selection. Students will be selected based on their contributions to leadership throughout the UF community (local community, the campus community, IA community).
Applications Dates vary for Spring & Summer Summits - details will be announced via graduation emails and the application will open below.
Selection Criteria
Application Information
Please fill out and submit the application on this website. Applications must be submitted by the deadline.
The Emerging Leader Award selection committee will review nominations and make a final decision on who will receive the awards. Each nominee shall be considered individually and confidentially and will be judged according to the criteria listed above. The award will be presented at the Spring and Summer Summit Ceremonies, but there is no requirement that the award be given at each ceremony.
This award is presented to a graduating student who embodies Innovation-in-Action in all they do! They engage with the innovation and entrepreneurial community in and outside of UF. They are not afraid to take risks, be disruptive or fail. They utilize design thinking to create novel & innovative solutions, products, or services. They may have started a business, designed a new product, attended national or statewide innovation conferences, and continually networked with like-minded innovators.
Nomination Process
Students will be nominated by IA faculty and staff or a fellow student. IA faculty and staff will review all applications and determine final winner.
To nominate a fellow student or self-nominate, please email your nomination to iacademy@ufl.edu by the deadline.
In recognition for completing the Innovation Minor, Innovation Academy graduating students receive a graduation medallion. The Graduation Medallion is a symbolic declaration of their dedication to their industry and professional development. It highlights their unique academic achievement and declares their readiness to serve as a change agent.