Elliott School Alumni Icon Awards
The Elliott School Alumni Icon Awards annually recognize a select group of Elliott School alumni who have elevated the standards of excellence, accomplishment, and dedication for the community of GW's Elliott School of International Affairs. By honoring their achievements, the awards contribute to a history that serves as inspiration to future generations of Elliott School students. We are proud to honor outstanding members of the Elliott community in the following categories:
- Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
- Recent Alumni Achievement Award
- International Women of Elliott (I/WE) Alumni Award
Nominations are welcome from all Elliott School alumni, faculty, and staff. An awards committee will evaluate nominations for the achievement awards and share recommendations with the Dean and Dean's Council of the Elliott School for review and final approval. A selection committee from the International Women of Elliott Executive Circle will evaluate the nominations for the I/WE Award. Recipients in each award category will be honored at a ceremony later in Spring 2026.
Please fill out the nomination form by February 20, 2026, to nominate someone for the Elliott School Alumni Icon Awards. For questions, please contact Elaine Garbe in Elliott School Alumni Programs at egarbe
gwu [dot] edu (egarbe[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Elliott School Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
The Elliott School Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recognizes and honors Elliott School alumni who have attained prominence in their professional careers and whose life work reflects the legacy of excellence at GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs.
Criteria
- Conferred on alumni who have enjoyed a high level of success in their careers and demonstrated distinguished accomplishments in their professional lives.
- Recipients have brought honor to the Elliott School and the university through professional achievements that reflect the highest standards of quality, excellence, and innovation in their professional roles.
Elliott School Recent Alumni Achievement Award
The Elliott School Recent Alumni Achievement Award recognizes and honors graduates of the past 10 years who have attained notable achievements in their careers and/or volunteer activities.
Criteria
- Conferred on recent graduates (BA, BS, MA) who have attained success in their professional fields and/or voluntary endeavors.
- Recipients are identifiable as emerging leaders through their professional and/or community achievements.
International Women of Elliott Alumni Award
To recognize exceptional Elliott School alumnae/alumni who are empowering women through their work, the Elliott School has established the International Women of Elliott (I/WE) Alumni Award. The International Women of Elliott network works to amplify the role of women leaders in international affairs and to expand the number, influence, and authority of women on the world stage.
Accordingly, the I/WE Alumni Award recognizes exceptional Elliott School alumni who have made significant contributions to the cause of promoting women in global leadership, through their professional, volunteer, and/or philanthropic accomplishments, and/or by exemplifying leadership in international affairs. The award pays tribute to graduates of the Elliott School who have had a lasting influence on the role of women in our global society.
Criteria
- Professional Attainment and Achievement—Candidates have attained prominence in their careers or professions. Work should have a demonstrated and wide-ranging impact.
- Public Service/Outstanding Service to Field or Profession—Candidates have demonstrated outstanding service in the field of international affairs or a related field. This service leads, directly or indirectly, to expanding the influence of women in global leadership.
General Eligibility
To be eligible for an Elliott School Alumni Icon Award, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Recipients must have an undergraduate or graduate degree from GW’s Elliott School of International Affairs or its predecessor schools.
- Self-nominations are not accepted.
- Recipients are expected to attend the awards ceremony in person to accept their award, except in extraordinary circumstances.
- The awards committee is not obligated to select a recipient from every category in any given year.
- Awards will not be given posthumously.
- All nominations will remain in consideration for three years but candidates must be renominated.
- Recipients cannot have previously received an award in the category for which the nomination is submitted. However, previous award winners may be nominated for a different category.
- The Elliott School Icon Awards follow the guidelines as set forth in the University's Naming Policy as it deals with revocation of honorific naming.