Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards

The Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards Banquet, established in 1993, is a cherished spring tradition recognizing students who excel in academics and the Elon Experiences. While celebrating contributions that uplift and support the Black community, the event honors the achievements of all students who demonstrate academic success and meaningful engagement. It serves as a space to highlight accomplishments, foster community, and inspire continued excellence. All students are welcome to attend and take part in the celebration.

Since the first of the Black Excellence Awards in 1993, Elon students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the community have gathered annually to celebrate the accomplishments of the black students enrolled full-time in the undergraduate program at Elon University. The banquet was officially named the Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards Banquet in 2006 in honor of Elon’s first black student, Glenda Phillips, and the first black graduate, Eugene Perry.

Now known as the Phillips-Perry Excellence Celebration, the mission is to recognize, celebrate, and affirm students who excel in academics, leadership, internship, study abroad, research, and service-learning. The Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education remains committed to this mission by helping students become active participants in their personal growth and in achieving their educational objectives.

Award Criteria

There are several awards given out at the Phillips-Perry Excellence Awards Celebration. Below, are the award types and criteria for each award.

Academic Award

The academic award is given to full-time undergraduate students with a minimum of 12 semester hours of academic coursework who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher. There are three categories for the academic award. Those categories include; Maroon Club (3.2-3.49), Gold Club (3.5-3.79), and Phoenix Club (3.8-4.0).

Elon Experiences Award

The Elon Experiences Awards are faculty and staff nominated. These are awarded to students who excel in one or more of the five Elon Experiences including; Internship, Leadership, Service & Civic Engagement, Study Abroad/Study USA, and Undergraduate Research. These awardees are selected by a selection committee.

Athlete Award

The Athlete Award is given to student-athletes who are enrolled at Elon University for at least two semesters and have participated in a Division One sport for at least two semesters. These students have the highest cumulative grade point average of male and female athletes.

Academic Excellence Award

Students eligible for the Special Academic Award must be enrolled at Elon University for at least one semester. These students have the highest cumulative grade point average in their particular class.