Data Science Undergraduate Studies Alumni Awards

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 one of these two undergraduate degrees are eligible. 

Since our program began awarding degrees in 2019, the Changemaker Award focuses on early-career or community impact rather than lifetime achievement. We're looking for young 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.

Yes. In 2026, we will add the following award: 

UC Berkeley Data Science Community Award

This award honors alumni who have made a notable positive impact on the UC Berkeley undergraduate data science community through mentorship, student engagement, or philanthropy.

1-3 winners may be selected

Application requirements will include: 

• Statement of impact, including specific accomplishments or contributions to the UC Berkeley data science community
• Optional: Additional support letters or documentation of impacts

Why is the Community Award not being offered in 2025? 

The Community Award will begin in Spring 2026 for several strategic reasons:

2025 marked the launch of our alumni mentor program, providing many graduates with new opportunities to engage with the undergraduate data science community. However, the full impact of this mentorship will only become visible after the Spring semester concludes.

Additionally, we're introducing several new alumni engagement opportunities throughout 2025. By waiting until Spring 2026 for the Community Award, we'll allow these initiatives to develop and give alumni time to create meaningful impact.

Starting in 2026, all alumni awards will follow an earlier application cycle. At that time we will consider nominations of mentors who served in the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 cohorts. 

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. 

etters of Support

All nominations require at least one supporting statement in addition to the primary statement of impact:

• 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).

Documentation

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.

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.