Founder’s Celebration Awards

Established in 2022, the Founder’s Celebration Awards recognizes members of the Butler community for their continuous efforts that advance our Founding Mission and Butler Beyond Strategic Priority 5. Recipients are acknowledged for their DEI initiatives’ positive impact on campus and the broader community, ability to go above and beyond their role associated with Butler, and demonstration of innovation and creativity in their DEI work.

The Ovid Butler Founder’s Award—this award is bestowed upon a community partner (individual or organization) whose work and contributions embody Butler University’s values of innovation, excellence, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those awarded are recognized for their ability to go beyond and expectations of a community partner as they work to benefit Butler and the broader community.

Butler DEI Champion Awards—these awards recognize a Butler University program, person, and practice advancing the Butler mission at the crossroads of DEI & innovation.

  • A PERSON who consistently demonstrates a commitment to Butler’s founding mission through their University service to students, faculty, and/or staff.  Their active engagement helps tackle Butler’s DEI goals innovatively and thoughtfully.
  • A PRACTICE that actualizes the Butler mission and is utilized to intentionally uphold the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This practice would include but is not limited to, process improvements and/or revamping systems or policies that seek to minimize barriers, inequities, or injustices to members of the Butler community.
  • A PROGRAM, such as a special event or initiative (new, improved, or existing), that reflects the tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion and advances the Butler mission by providing innovative support or service to historically marginalized identity groups or education about social justice and/or DEI issues.

2025 Nomination Information

Members of the Butler community can submit nominations for the 2025 Founder’s Celebration Awards program from Monday, October 7th to Friday, November 15th using the online nomination form. Nominators may submit more than one nomination in any category. Nominations will be reviewed by a committee of Butler students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Recipients will be honored during Founder’s Celebration in February of 2025.

Questions about the awards program should be directed to founderscelebration@butler.edu

Past Recipients

Ovid Butler Founder’s Medal Award:

DEI Champion Awards:

Person

  • Braxton Martorano ’22 (2023)
  • Dr. Lavender McKittrick-Sweitzer (2024)

Program

  • Professor Susan Adams and the College of Education DEI Faculty Fellows Program (2023)
  • Cathy Hartman and the Future Black Leaders Leadership Summit (2024)

Practice

  • BU Alumni Association’s DEI Task Force (2023)
  • Diversity Program Council (2024)