MCDONNELL ALUMNI WRIGHTON AWARD

The Mark S. Wrighton Award for McDonnell Academy Alumni will recognize an alumnus having a significant impact on their communities or professional career, based directly on their experience in the program.

Established in 2019 in honor of Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, founder of WashU’s McDonnell International Scholars Academy, this award recognizes outstanding McDonnell Academy alumni who embody the Academy’s mission of fostering global leadership and collaboration. The McDonnell Academy is a leading international initiative at WashU, driven by its mission to foster global leadership and collaboration.

McDonnell Academy alumni are “Scholars for Life,” shaped by their experiences at WashU and their commitment to making an impact worldwide. This award celebrates those who give back—demonstrating exceptional leadership, mentorship, and engagement through their professional and personal contributions.

The Mark S. Wrighton Award will be $25,000, beginning in 2025—more than doubling from its previous amount of $10,000. This increase is made possible through the generous support of Richard J. Mahoney, retired chairman and CEO of Monsanto Company, distinguished executive-in-residence at Olin Business School, and an emeritus trustee of WashU, whose commitment to the McDonnell Academy and its mission continues to strengthen our global network. The recipient will receive an engraved crystal plaque, and a travel allowance for the honoree and a guest to come to St. Louis to receive the award at our fall Welcome Dinner for McDonnell Scholars. In addition to honoring the recipient of this award at the welcome dinner, the awardee will be interviewed by the director of the McDonnell Academy and finalize their proposed initiatives for the academic year.

Wrighton Award Application Guidelines

The Wrighton Award recognizes McDonnell Academy alumni who have demonstrated exceptional engagement, leadership, and contributions to both WashU and the McDonnell Academy community. Beginning in 2025, the award will be structured as follows:

• An initial award of $15,000 upon selection.
• A final award of $10,000, granted at the conclusion of the recipient’s outlined year of service.
• Travel awards to attend ceremony and proposed in-person initiatives during the academic year.

Rules & Eligibility

Nominations, including self-nominations, can be submitted from anyone. Nominations that paint a full picture of a nominee’s qualifications for the award are strongly recommended, as the nomination you submit will be a significant factor for consideration to the selection committee about your nominee. We recommend your letter address the following items:

Your relationship with the nominee.

The reason you believe your nominee should receive the Wrighton Award for McDonnell Academy Alumni.

Description of your nominee’s leadership and impact on WashU’s McDonnell Academy community, and how it exceeds their professional responsibilities.

Examples, stories, and details about how your nominee meets the award criteria.

Characteristics of Award Honorees

The award committee anticipates a broad range of nominations that define leadership and “giving back”. While the committee is not looking for a specific type of leadership involvement, characteristics of award honorees might include one or more of the following:

Significant career achievement that contributes to society and demonstrates the Academy’s mission of a network of leaders that address global issues either directly or via track-II diplomacy.

Helping the McDonnell Academy through recruiting new Scholars and or building our ties with partner universities and positively influencing the reputation of WashU as a global research institution.

Public service: Exudes passion for a social, cultural, or economic issue.

Philanthropically supporting the McDonnell Academy or WashU.

Exceeding professional responsibilities in service to the mission of the McDonnell Academy’s network and global focus areas of environmental research, public health, digital transformation, medical research and local to global connections.

Nomination & Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by the McDonnell Academy selection committee, which will assess past contributions, proposed engagement, and potential impact. The committee may invite consulting members of WashU to assist in its deliberations. All deliberations are kept confidential. 

If selected, the award recipient will be required to attend the McDonnell Scholar Welcome Dinner and actively engage with the Academy throughout the academic year. This includes participation in the fall McDonnell Academy leadership course and other proposed service activities that foster meaningful connections with current Scholars. If engagement responsibilities are not met, the final payment may be withheld. However, special circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility and Expectations

Candidates must demonstrate a history of engagement with the McDonnell Academy and or WashU and propose a plan for active participation throughout the academic year following their selection. Recipients will be expected to contribute meaningfully to the Academy’s mission by engaging in both the fall and spring semesters.

Application Questions

Applicants will be asked to provide:

1. A statement of their ongoing contributions to the McDonnell Academy and WashU.
2. Examples of how they have supported the Academy’s mission in the past.
3. A proposal for their year of service if selected, detailing how they will contribute to the McDonnell Academy at WashU.
   • As a required component, the recipient must serve as a speaker (in-person or virtual) for the McDonnell Scholar leadership course, co-instructing one class during the fall semester of their selection year. In addition to this mandatory role, the proposal should outline further engagement activities—spanning both fall and spring—from the following options or a self-designed initiative:

Samples of additional proposed engagement:

• Lunch with a Leader: In-person campus engagement with Scholars
• MAPS (McDonnell Academy Panel of Scholars) Consultant and Mentorship Network Consultant
• Alumni Regional Engagement Leader 
• Service on the McDonnell Academy Alumni Advisory Board
• Other innovative engagement initiatives proposed by the applicant

Travel support may be available for the awardee whose proposed engagement activities require in-person attendance at WashU.

This award is designed to not only recognize past dedication but also to foster future contributions, ensuring that McDonnell Scholars for Life remain active and engaged in strengthening our global network.

compose and edit your submission, as well as save a copy for your personal files.

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Selection Committee

• Director, McDonnell Academy
• Executive Director, McDonnell Academy
• Advisory Counsel Member
• Alumni Relations Coordinator

If you have any questions about the awards selection process, please contact Angie Rahaman.