Torch Award Nominations

With each graduating class, a few special students come to mind as deserving of recognition for their academic excellence, as well as active service to student, civic, or professional organizations. As a member of the FHSU faculty, you have an opportunity to identify and bring recognition to a deserving member of the Class of 2026. Although not every student can receive the Torch Award, nomination is, in and of itself, an honor to Fort Hays State University graduates. View past recipients. 

To qualify, nominees for the Torch Award must be a graduating senior of the class of 2026 (December 2025, May 2026, or July 2026). Students of senior status who will graduate in December of 2026 or later are not yet eligible for nomination. Eligible nominees will be contacted by email to complete the next steps of the award process. Only students who complete all requested steps in the process will be considered eligible.

If you know of a student who deserves to be considered for the Torch Award, please complete the online form below, no later than Monday, February 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM. Nominations will only be accepted online. The Torch Award selection committee members will review all applications. The award recipient will be announced during a recognition celebration on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM in the Peter Werth Black and Gold Room in the FHSU Memorial Union. 

Thank you in advance for your participation with this program. 

The nomination period for the 2026 Torch Award has closed.