FAQs

The MLK Leadership Awards nomination process

Who is eligible to receive an MLK Leadership Award?

MIT undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, staff and faculty are eligible for nomination for this award. Both individuals and groups, including living groups and student and professional associations, may be considered.

Can I nominate an entire department for the Group category of the MLK Leadership Awards?

The awards are intended to recognize individuals or teams at MIT, rather than an entire department. If you have a larger team in mind and have questions, please contact mitmlkcelebration@mit.edu 

Can more than one person nominate the same individual or team for an award? 

Yes, more than one person can submit an online nomination for the same individual or team. It is advised that nominators work collaboratively on the nomination, and list the names of all the nominators in the opening statement.

Nominations can also include additional documentation, such asa letter of support, a compilation of statements of support from multiple colleagues, an example of the nominee’s work, or any other supporting evidence that might be helpful. Each nomination may only include one item of additional documentation, no more than two pages long. The total amount of material received (Nomination + Additional Documentation) cannot exceed 6 pages.

What if I can’t use the online nomination form? 

If you are unable to use the online nomination form, either because you can not get a certificate or you do not have access to a computer, please contact mitmlkcelebration@mit.edu 

How long is the average nomination?

Most successful nominations are around one page long. It seems to take about that much space to address the questions on the nomination form and demonstrate how the nominee has met most of the criteria for the category. Nominations may not exceed 6 pages in length.

When can I submit a nomination?

For the 2026 awards, nominations are due on or before December 1, 2025.

Who can submit a nomination?

Any member of the MIT community (including alumni) can submit a nomination. Faculty and supervisors can nominate their staff, employees can nominate their supervisors, and co-workers can nominate one another. 

Can I nominate myself? Can I nominate a family member? 

Yes, you may nominate yourself for an individual award, but you will need to include, as additional documentation, letters of support from others.

If you are nominating a team that you worked on, please acknowledge your involvement, but do not include yourself on the list of team members eligible to receive an award.

It is not appropriate to nominate a family member, spouse, or partner. It is recommended to suggest that a colleague or team member write a nomination instead.

When will the decisions be made?

The Selection Committee begins reviewing shortly after the nomination window closes and makes their determinations by early December. Notifications are sent to all nominators by mid-December. 

How are the award recipients selected?

The committee reviews all the nominations by category and scores them based on how well they meet the award criteria. It is very helpful to the committee if the nominator responds to the example questions in each of the four sections of the nomination. Excellence is the primary standard.

When will the winners be notified and will I be notified if my nominee won an award? 

Notifications are sent to all recipients and nominators by mid-December. 

When will the recipients be publicly announced? 

The awards will be presented at a special ceremony on February 10, 2026. The awardees will be publicly announced at the MLK Celebration Luncheon that takes place the next day, February 11, 2026. 

Who is invited to the awards ceremony?

Award recipients and their nominators are invited to the ceremony on February 10. Award recipients may invite limited family and friends as well.

Who has received an award in the past? 

Please see this listing of previous award recipients.

Questions?

Email: mitmlkcelebration@mit.edu.