Alumni Awards

The Gustavus Alumni Association has established the following awards to honor alumni and friends of the College who have notably advanced and aided the College; for alumni who have demonstrated exceptional career achievement and brought honor to the College; and to recognize alumni and former students who have made distinctive commitments and contributions to the service of others.

The annual Alumni Awards Celebration is a celebration of the Gustavus Adolphus Alumni Association, the accomplishments, contributions, and profound impact of alumni to Gustavus, their communities, and greater society. During the on-campus program, the College recognizes the year's Alumni Association award winners, a group of outstanding Gustavus alumni and friends who each day live out our five pillars of service, community, justice, excellence and faith.

Distinguished Alumni Citation

The Distinguished Alumni Citation recognizes outstanding and exceptional career achievement of graduates of the College. Criteria appropriate to selection shall include the difficulty of accomplishment; quality, creativity, and distinctiveness of performance; recognition by peers; and lasting contribution to the world of ideas and affairs. Humanitarian achievements may also be weighed.

Anniversary Awards

The Anniversary Award recognizes one graduate from the silver anniversary year and one from the golden anniversary year for outstanding and exceptional career achievement.

First Decade Award

First presented in 1968, the First Decade Award was established to recognize an individual for early professional achievement by graduates of the 10th anniversary class. Criteria appropriate to selection shall include the difficulty of accomplishment; quality, creativity, and distinctiveness of performance; recognition by professional peers; and lasting contribution to the world of ideas and affairs.

Greater Gustavus Award

The Greater Gustavus Award is the highest award given by the Gustavus Alumni Association. It is awarded to those "who by deed, have notably advanced and aided Gustavus Adolphus College."

Honorary Gustie

Established in 2012, the Honorary Gustie recognition pays special tribute to individuals who, while not having graduated from or attended Gustavus, have earned the conferred right to be considered bona fide “Gusties” due to their dedicated service to, interest in, and enthusiastic support for the College.

The Service Award

The Service Award of the Gustavus Adolphus College Associations of Congregations recognizes alumni and former students of Gustavus Adolphus College "who have made distinctive commitments and contributions to the service of others."The College and the Associations celebrate the efforts of members of the College community who participate in service activities through volunteer work, involvement in the church, and extraordinary professional accomplishments. Alumni and former students serve others through their concern for human dignity, moral values, social justice, the care of the earth, the alleviating of poverty, and a range of other social issues.