The Distinguished Graduate Award  The Distinguished Graduate award is to be given to graduates of the United States Military Academy whose character, distinguished service, and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities that West Point strives for, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.”
With the purpose of identifying to the public and the Corps of Cadets the broad national significance of West Point as one of America’s cherished institutions, candidates for the Distinguished Graduate Award will be graduates of the United States Military Academy who have demonstrated a strong interest in supporting West Point throughout their lifetime. For the 2009 Distinguished Graduate Award, the following guidelines apply with respect to nominations: • Only societies or classes, not individuals, may nominate candidates for the Distinguished Graduate Award. • Societies and classes may nominate no more than two candidates for the Distinguished Graduate Award in a given year, and if they nominate two candidates, the societies and classes must rank-order their nominees. In recent years, the materials that have been placed before the Distinguished Graduate Committee have become so voluminous and disparate that it became extremely difficult for the members to either read it all or make valid comparisons among candidates. Therefore, a nomination must adhere to the following format, or it will be returned to the nominator for revision and resubmission. • It shall take the form of a letter to the Chairman of the Distinguished Graduate Award Committee. After identifying the nominee, the letter shall continue with a narrative of the nominee’s life and accomplishments that makes clear to the reader the way in which these “draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto – Duty, Honor, Country.” • The nominating letter shall be no longer than three pages of single-spaced typescript, and if the society or class is proposing two candidates for 2009, each nominating letter must specify whether the candidate is the society’s or class’ first choice or second choice. • Any endorsements of the nomination that either accompany it or that arrive separately shall be confined to a single page. Letters should be addressed as follows: Chairman
Distinguished Graduate Award Committee
c/o Linda Giacoio
West Point Association of Graduates
698 Mills Road
West Point, New York 10996 The Award will not be given to individuals who occupy, or are candidates for, elective office, or who are still on active duty. The individuals selected for the Distinguished Graduate Award must agree to accept the Award at West Point whenever possible. List of Recipients
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