Intern Awards

Save the date for the 2022 University of Illinois Research Park Intern Awards on Thursday, July 28!

Every year, we celebrate and recognize the amazing work of student interns working in the Research Park at the annual summer Intern Awards ceremony. The 2022 Research Park Intern Award nomination form is now open! This summer, we will recognize five of these outstanding interns and one team of interns selected by a deliberation committee.

Nomination forms will close on Tuesday, July 19: 

If you would like to nominate a student intern, click HERE

If you would like to nominate a team, click HERE

Awards will be announced at the annual Summer Picnic and the Intern Award Ceremony on Thursday, July 28 at the Atkins Patio. Register HERE to attend.

Winners will receive trophies commemorating their achievement and will be featured on the Research Park website; a press release will also be sent to local media and campus units.

Nominations for the 2022 summer awards are now open. Award categories are: 

Best Entrepreneurial Leadership in a Startup

A student in a startup who has developed capabilities as an idea-generator, decision-maker, and team-builder. They help others above and beyond their job description, have a positive mindset, and take ownership of tasks from inception to completion. (Please note that this award is ONLY for interns working at startups – companies with 70 employees or less globally.)

Best Technical Innovation

Any intern who has helped with, independently created or led a team in developing solutions for the betterment of projects, processes, tools, or automation. They perform tasks that are self-driven, like improving the processes, cost savings, improving efficiencies, and using out-of-the-box thinking to solve business problems demonstrated through leadership.

Best Non-Technical Innovation

Any intern who has impacted their company through non-technical innovation. Their innovation may have entailed designing and implementing effective workflow processes, building strategic partnerships across industries, discovering new opportunities for company growth, or a project of a different form. No matter the medium of their innovation, their self-motivation, creativity, and leadership push the team and company towards greater success.

Most Outstanding Graduate Student Intern

A graduate student intern who is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. They treat people with respect and inspire the trust of others, work with a high level of integrity, and are proactive in building relationships. They keep confidence, admit mistakes, can find common ground and encourage cooperation, and work well as a member of a team – both in leadership and membership roles.

Most Outstanding Undergraduate Student Intern

An undergraduate student intern who is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. They treat people with respect and inspire the trust of others, work with a high level of integrity, and are proactive in building relationships. They keep confidence, admit mistakes, can find common ground and encourage cooperation, and work well as a member of a team – both in leadership and membership roles.

Most Competent and Collaborative Team

This team is like a well-oiled machine and knows how to get the job done. Every team player contributes to the best of their knowledge and expertise. The team has a conducive environment and as a whole is accountable for a very successful project or a project that was difficult to deliver.

2021 Intern Award Recipients

2020 Intern Award Recipients

2019 Intern Award Recipients