AKA Doctoral Student Scholar Awards in Kinesiology
The AKA Scholar Awards recognize at the national level, the academic and leadership
accomplishments of doctoral students in AKA member departments. This annual award honors
a select number of students nominated, by member departments, whose academic and
leadership records are distinctive. Recommendations for this award are initiated by department
faculty from the student’s academic institution. The award is intended to recognize and promote
academic excellence, to further the professional competence and dedication of academically
accomplished doctoral students and to promote kinesiology and its related fields.
Selection Process:

Nominees shall be selected by a vote of the faculty or departmental graduate faculty
committee in the AKA - member kinesiology department in which the student is enrolled.

Number of nominees to be submitted will be limited to 1 doctoral nominee (where
applicable). Nominees should be enrolled in a concentration in kinesiology.

Names of nominees along with digital photographs and a 150-word biography featuring
their academic and professional accomplishments shall be submitted to the appropriate
office of AKA on official nomination forms beginning on January 1 and no later than May
1. As nominations are received an AKA National Scholar Award Committee will start
the review process and member departments will be notified of the results soon after the
decision is made.
Selection Criteria:

Nominees must reasonably be expected to graduate in the current calendar year. In
addition, doctoral nominees must have completed all coursework for the degree and
passed all examinations exclusive of the dissertation defense.

All nominees must have demonstrated an exceptional interest in the field of kinesiology
and possess personal qualities that lend themselves to assuming a leadership position
in the profession. In addition, doctoral students should have distinguished themselves by
unusual scholarly initiative, intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, and potential for
making a significant impact on the field.

Doctoral nominees must have attained an overall GPA of at least 3.75 on a 4 point
scale.
Forms of Recognition:

Awardees will receive AKA Doctoral Scholar certificates

The name of each awardee, his or her photograph, and brief bio will be posted in a
directory to be maintained on the AKA web site;

Notification of the nominees’ selection will be forwarded to the Department Chair and
Dean of the home institution.