Purple & Old Gold Award

The Purple and Old Gold Award is the highest award given by the University of Northern Iowa. Named after the university colors, the traditional awards were first presented at commencement ceremonies in 1939. Recipients of this honor wear a bronze medal to symbolize their outstanding achievements, are noted in the Commencement Program, and a permanent notation is made on their academic transcript.

Selected nominees must be provided to the Office of the Registrar by April 1 for inclusion in the Commencement Program.

Office of the Registrar

The Purple and Old Gold Award for Meritorious Scholarship

The Purple and Old Gold Award for Meritorious Scholarship is awarded to the top graduating student(s) in each academic discipline who have demonstrated outstanding academic success at the university.

 

The Office of the Registrar provides a list of the eligible candidates to each of the colleges. To be eligible for consideration, students must:

  • have submitted the Application for Graduation by March 1
  • have earned at least 60-89 undergraduate credits at UNI AND have a UNI cumulative GPA of 3.60 
  • OR 90 undergraduate credits at UNI AND a UNI cumulative GPA of 3.50

*Students graduating at the end of the previous fall semester or students that have applied to graduate for the upcoming summer semester are also eligible for consideration for the awards at the spring commencement. 

The Purple and Old Gold Award for Conspicuous Achievement

The Purple and Old Gold Award for Conspicuous Achievements is granted to one graduating student in each of the following extra-curricular fields who has completed an outstanding public performance, show, event, or publicly displayed piece that distinguishes their ability from their peers. Candidates are identified by leaders in identified areas and nominations are given to the Office of the Registrar.

  • Athletics (Men)
  • Athletics (Women)
  • Art
  • Digital Media
  • Forensics
  • Journalism
  • Music
  • Performance Studies
  • Theatre