Established in 2021, the Pinnacle Awards Luncheon is an annual presentation ceremony to recognize exceptional contributions by administrative staff, faculty members, librarians and students who are the recipients of:

• The Chancellor’s Leadership Award,
• The President’s Excellence Award,
• The Jill Matus Award for Excellence in Student Services,
• The Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award, and
• The Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize

Each of these awards are aligned with the University’s broader Awards of Excellence Program – U of T’s most distinguished awards program.

The luncheon is held annually in the spring. Kelly Hannah-Moffat, Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, and Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost, Students, will present the recipients of each program with their award certificate at the event.

For more details about this award, contact thanks@utoronto.ca. Other contact methods.

The Chancellor’s Leadership Award

The Chancellor’s Leadership Award recognizes exceptional contributions by administrative staff and librarians. The Chancellor’s Leadership Award complements the President’s Excellence Award.

Recipients of the Chancellor’s Leadership Award demonstrate outstanding leadership and significantly advance the University’s mission to foster an academic community in which the learning and scholarship of every member may flourish.

There are three categories of the award:

• Influential Leader,
• Distinguished Leader, and
• Emerging Leader

Learn about the most recent Chancellor’s Leadership Award recipients.

The President’s Excellence Award

The President’s Excellence Award recognizes exceptional contributions by administrative staff and librarians. The President’s Excellence Award complements the Chancellor’s Leadership Award.

Recipients of the President’s Excellence Award demonstrate outstanding service to the University and enhance the university experience for students, faculty members, librarians, and/or staff in accordance with the University’s mission.

There are three categories of the award:

• Influential Excellence,
• Distinguished Excellence, and
• Emerging Excellence

Learn about the most recent President’s Excellence Award recipients.

The Jill Matus Award for Excellence in Student Services

The Jill Matus Award for Excellence in Student Services is awarded to individual staff members who demonstrate excellence in the area of student services and whose contributions in this area go clearly above and beyond the responsibilities and expectations of their job.

Two recipients are selected annually.

Learn about the most recent Jill Matus Award for Excellence in Student Services recipients.

The Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award

The Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award is presented annually to a student, faculty member or administrative staff member who has made a distinctive and lasting contribution to enhancing the quality of the undergraduate or graduate student experience at the University of Toronto.

Learn about the most recent Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award recipients.

The Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize

The Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize recognizes exceptional contributions by administrative staff, librarians, faculty members, and students.

Recipients of the Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize include a wide variety of individuals who have been recognized for their scholarship, personal service to others, or activities in support of the University of Toronto’s commitment to human rights and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

There are two categories of the prize:

• Influential Leader, and
• Emerging Leader

Learn about the most recent Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize recipients.

About the Awards of Excellence

Throughout its rich history, the University of Toronto has striven to promote and recognize excellence among its community members. The University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) has played an integral role in furthering this mission through its longstanding support of distinguished awards programs that acknowledge outstanding faculty members, staff, librarians, and students.

Though the criteria differ for each award, recipients all share a commitment to enhancing the university experience of their peers and leave a significant impact on the University through their efforts.

Learn more about the Awards of Excellence.

Further Information

Contact the Employee Recognition and Engagement Team for more information about the Chancellor’s Leadership Award, the President’s Excellence Award, the Ludwik & Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize, or the Pinnacle Awards Luncheon.

Contact the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students for more information about the Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award or the Jill Matus Excellence in Student Services Award.

Learn more about other staff recognition programs at U of T through our Recognition Scaffold.