The career development of students does not rest solely on the Toppel Career Center. We are fortunate to partner with amazing career champions across and beyond the University of Miami campus. The Toppel Awards were created to honor and recognize the significant achievements of others including students, student groups, administrators, faculty, employers, and recruiters.
Nominations for the 2025 Toppel Awards are open! To nominate an individual/group for a Toppel Award select the corresponding award category from the list below. Read on to learn more about the eligibility requirements for each award category.
#BreakThru Award
Student of the Year (Graduate and Undergraduate)
Student Organization of the Year
Distinguished Administrator
Distinguished Faculty
Employer of the Year
Recruiter of the Year
Paying it Forward Award
Program of the Year
On-Campus Internship of the Year
#BreakThru
The Toppel Career Center introduced the #BreakThru award in 2020, representing overcoming obstacles. It's about pushing past barriers for yourself or removing barriers for others when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
The #BreakThru Award is presented to an individual, student organization, faculty/administrator, or recruiter who has demonstrated - through a program, initiative, event, or their own professional breakthrough - a commitment to overcoming obstacles for themselves and/or for others.
To nominate click here.
Student of the Year 2025 (Graduate and Undergraduate)
The Student of the Year Award is presented to one graduate and one undergraduate student who are nominated by themselves/staff/faculty/employer for their achievements in their worksite, demonstrated professional and/or personal growth, and evidence of leadership.
To be eligible, students must have participated in at least one semester of experiential education: internship, practicum, clinical, fieldwork, research, organizational leadership or student teaching in the 2024 calendar year.
To nominate a student click here.
Student Organization of the Year 2025
The Student Organization of the Year Award is presented to one student group for its support of the Toppel Career Center model - Explore, Prepare, Connect - within the 2024 calendar year.
To be eligible, student groups must be Registered Student Organizations or Registered Greek Organizations at the University of Miami that have exemplified professional development and/or career awareness in their programming/philanthropic efforts.
To nominate a student group click here.
Distinguished Administrator 2025
The Distinguished Administrator of the Year Award is presented to an administrator for promoting and supporting the professional and career development of students, as evidenced through mentorship or through collaborative efforts with the Toppel Career Center.
To be eligible, administrators must be full-time employees, who have worked for the University for more than one year. Administrators who consistently guide students in their career journeys are eligible.
To nominate an administrator click here.
Distinguished Faculty 2025
The Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award is presented to a faculty member who actively supports the career development of students and the work of the Toppel Career Center.
This may occur through the following:
- Incorporating career education and readiness into the classroom.
- Providing career advice and support to students.
- Seeking out partnerships with employers, graduate/professional programs and/or Toppel.
To be eligible, faculty must be full-time employees, who have worked for the University for more than one year.
To nominate a faculty member click here.
Employer of the Year 2025
The Employer of the Year Award is presented to two organizations, one corporate and one government/non-profit, for their impact on students through support of career programs, sponsorship of events, and internship/full-time hiring.
To be eligible, employers must have been active through the Toppel Career Center within the 2024 calendar year.
To nominate an employer click here.
Recruiter of the Year 2025
The Recruiter of the Year Award is presented to one individual who has made an impact on UM students through career programs, sponsorship of events, and the recruitment of students and alumni.
To be eligible, the recruiter must have been active through the Toppel Career Center within the 2024 calendar year.
To nominate a recruiter click here.
Paying it Forward Award 2025
The Paying it Forward Award honors a University of Miami alumnus who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to supporting the career growth and success of other 'Canes. This individual exemplifies the spirit of giving back by making significant contributions to the career readiness of current students and young alums by leveraging the power of the ‘Canes connection.
To be eligible, the nominee must have obtained at least one degree (undergraduate or graduate) from the University of Miami.
To nominate an alum click here.
Program of the Year 2025
The Program of the Year Award will be presented to an individual, student organization, or faculty/administrator who has successfully implemented a career-focused program. The program must have made a significant impact on the professional development and career readiness of University of Miami students.
A program that you nominate can fall under any of these categories but is not limited to: conference, event, initiative, presentation. Example career programs would be, "Dress Codes, Hairstyles, Tattoos, and Piercings in Today's Ever-Evolving Workplace", "Frost Preparatory Program", and "NanoFlorida 2020".
To nominate a program, click here.
On-Campus Internship of the Year 2025
The On-Campus Internship of the Year Award is presented to a University of Miami department and/or leader for offering a robust internship during the 2024 calendar year, focused on developing essential skills, mentorship, and guidance, and bolstering the professional advancement of students.
To be eligible, the internship must be an on-campus experience. In addition to the responses below, nominations must include at least one testimonial from a student who has participated in the internship program (one-page maximum).
To nominate a department and/or leader, click here.
Patricia Toppel Award
The Patricia Toppel Award was introduced in 2017 to recognize individuals, both on and off-campus, who have consistently made a positive impact on the work of the Toppel Career Center. Recipients of the Patricia Toppel Award are selected by Toppel staff based on their long-term support and collaboration in Toppel's services.
