Data Science Undergraduate Studies Alumni Awards

As Data Science Undergraduate Studies began awarding degrees in 2019, the Changemaker Award focuses on early-career or community impact rather than lifetime achievement. We're looking for alumni who, since graduating, have:

• Used data science skills to create meaningful change in communities of any size
• Applied innovative approaches to address social issues
• Made contributions in industry or research that promote positive change

Ideal candidates demonstrate leadership, innovation, and dedication to the public good, going beyond their expected responsibilities. Whether your impact is focused on a small community or addresses broader challenges, we encourage you to apply if you've used data science as a force for positive change.

Nomination tips: 

Including any of the points below can help strengthen a nomination:

Above and beyond:
Describe how the nominee’s contributions exceed the typical expectations of their role. In other words, would anyone in this position have done the same, or has the nominee made a distinctive, exceptional impact?

Scope of impact:
Strong nominations show a broader pattern of impact even if toward a focused goal (or within a particular role/organization). Highlight multiple ways the nominee has driven change (e.g., several projects, innovations, or sustained efforts) or how they have followed through to amplify and extend the impact of their work.

The Community Award honors alumni who have made a meaningful, positive impact on the UC Berkeley undergraduate data science community. We’re looking for alumni who, since graduating, have:

• Supported DSUS students or alumni through mentorship, guidance, or program involvement
• Taken initiative or leadership roles that strengthen community programs
• Contributed time, expertise, or philanthropy in ways that enhance the student or alumni experience

Ideal candidates show sustained commitment, either through involvement across multiple initiatives or by making an exceptional contribution in a focused area. Whether through mentoring, leading improvements to community programs, organizing events, or providing supportive resources, these alumni help our community thrive.

If you’ve made a meaningful difference in the experiences of our students or alumni, we encourage you to apply.

Nomination tips: 

Including any of the points below can help strengthen a nomination:

Depth or breadth of contribution
Identify whether the nominee’s impact comes from a wide range of activities (e.g., mentorship, events, webinars, philanthropy) or from going above and beyond in one area.

Leadership and initiation
Describe moments where the nominee stepped up to lead, improve, or innovate within community programs, especially when they helped create new opportunities for students or alumni.

Special notes for DSUS alumni mentors: 

• Automatic mentee outreach: In advance of every year's nomination cycle, DSUS will automatically reach out to mentees from the previous two years of the program to invite statements of impacts for mentors. A statement of impact from a mentee is an automatic nomination and we will share with mentors whether they are nominated. 
• Highly encourage statements from nominees: However, we also highly encourage mentors to nominate themselves. Statements directly from nominees about what their contributions have meant to them elevate a nomination significantly. We encourage you to reach out to mentees directly for statements of impact, but you can include other evidence of impact if former mentees are not responsive. If you nominate yourself and we also receive a nomination from a mentee, DSUS will combine your items into a fuller nomination packet. 
• First-time fall mentors: If you served for the first time in the Fall before an open awards cycle and it is a significant part of your nomination, consider whether waiting for a future awards cycle will allow time to strengthen your nomination. This will allow time for your mentees to reflect on the longer-term impact of your support. 

Yes! Keep in mind that the goals for these awards are different and you can take one of two approaches if a nominee is strong in both categories: 

1. (Recommended) Apply to each award separately, focusing each application packet on the award's category. This approach makes a candidate's fit for the award categories clear and can be helpful when considered against other applications that are highly focused. Both applications will be considered separately for their unique awards and the applications will be considered in combination for the Distinguished Alum Award. You may duplicate supplementary materials in both nominations. 
2. Create a combined application and submit to both awards. This approach is particularly useful when it is difficult to separate a nominee's "changemaking" impact from their community impact. We encourage making sure the application addresses the goals for each award, even in its combined format. 

If a nominee is stronger in one area, but you would like to add an element from the other category to support consideration for Distinguished Alum, you may submit to one of the award categories but include supplementary materials or additions to the statement of impact that highlights their contributions beyond their award category. 

Letters of Support: Changemaker Nominations*

All Changemaker nominations require at least one supporting statement in addition to the primary statement of impact to corroborate the accomplishments and impact described:

• For self-nominations: Request a detailed letter from a third party who can speak to your impact from their perspective.
• For nominations of others: If you've already provided a comprehensive nomination statement, you can either:
  • Include a brief supporting statement from someone else who can verify the nominee's impact
  • OR ask the nominee to write their own statement of impact to accompany your nomination

Multiple support letters (beyond 1-2) are typically only necessary when documenting impacts across different domains (e.g., various professional roles or combined professional/community contributions).

Letters of Support: Community Nominations*

Letters of support are not technically required for Community award nominations in cases where DSUS staff or faculty are aware of the alum's contributions first-hand. However, additional statements can help elevate a nomination. 

• For self-nominations: Optionally request a letter from a third party who can speak to your impact from their perspective. 
• For nomination of others: Optionally: 
  • Include a brief supporting statement from someone else who can also speak to the nominee's impact
  • OR suggest to the nominee that they submit their own statement of impact to accompany your nomination

Additional Documentation (Both awards)*

While optional, the following supplementary materials can strengthen a nomination:

• Impact reports
• Online profiles or news articles
• Previous awards or recognition
• Other evidence demonstrating the nominee's contributions

These materials help our selection committee better understand and evaluate the full scope of the nominee's impact.

* All letters of support and additional documentation must support the nominee's accomplishments after graduating from UC Berkeley's B.A. program. 

Yes! All UC Berkeley alumni who graduated with either a B.A. or minor in data science are eligible. 

As these awards are presented by Data Science Undergraduate Studies, only alumni who earned a major or minor from the undergraduate program are eligible. 

The DSUS Alumni Awards primarily focus on achievements and service after graduation. When preparing nominations:

• For impacts that began during undergraduate studies but continued post-graduation, clearly distinguish between what was accomplished before and after receiving the degree.
• While you may mention undergraduate achievements to provide context for a nominee's trajectory, use these references judiciously to avoid diminishing attention from their post-graduation contributions.

The Google form through which nominations are collected requires a sign-in to provide security when we view uploaded files. 

If you cannot submit through the Google form for this reason, or are running into other technical difficulties, please email Brandilyn Buckley at brandilyn@berkeley.edu with your nomination. Do not include attachments unless you are emailing from an @berkeley.edu address. If you do not have a UC Berkeley email address, please provide links to your documentation. 

Yes! When submitting the nomination form, add a brief explanation before your recommendation that lets us know this is supplementary material meant to complement a nomination.