Nominations are now closed for 2024.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Rock Ethics Institute (REI) has announced its call for nominations for the 2024 Stand Up Awards. 

The Stand Up Awards were established in 2008 to acknowledge and celebrate Penn State undergraduate students who have displayed ethical leadership by taking a stand for a cause, idea or belief. Each year, these awards celebrate the courageous examples set by these students, with the aim of inspiring more ethical leadership within the Penn State community. 

“Many Penn State students are positively impacting their campuses and local communities through their ethical leadership, often without significant recognition. The Stand Up Awards present an opportunity to celebrate and encourage such service,” said Ben Jones, assistant director of the Rock Ethics Institute. “I urge faculty, staff, students, and community members to nominate students who have demonstrated remarkable ethical leadership.” 

Any undergraduate student from any major or campus is eligible for nomination, provided they were enrolled full time at the University for at least one semester during the 2023-24 academic year.  

Each winner of a 2024 REI Stand Up Award will receive a $1,000 cash prize and be honored during the awards ceremony at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on April 16, 2024. 

Past awardees have shown ethical leadership in areas such as restorative justice, access to healthcare, prevention of sexual violence, and sustainable agriculture. Each Stand Up honoree has a unique story of bravery and determination, each contributing to a more equitable world. 

Nominations for the 2024 Stand Up Awards must be submitted online no later than Feb. 1, 2024. 

Additional information about the Rock Ethics Institute Stand Up Awards can be found at StandUpPSU.com. For additional information on the 2024 awards, please contact Ben Jones at btj7@psu.edu. 

The Rock Ethics Institute was established in 2001 through the support of Doug and Julie Rock. The REI promotes engaged ethics research and ethical leadership from its home in Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts.