Provost's PACE Award Application

During the 1995-1996 academic year, Dr. Myrna Carney, Assistant Dean of University College, and Sue Shellabarger, Director of Advising, dreamed of finding a way to recognize and honor freshmen who excel across disciplines, at the University of Oklahoma. These conversations resulted in the creation of the first-year PACE Awards. In 2025, this award was elevated to become the Provost’s PACE Award.

The Provost’s PACE Award represent outstanding accomplishments of first year students in four areas, limited to performance during the fall semester only. The PACE acronym is interpreted as:

  • Participation in recognized campus organizations and activities
  • Academic achievement with a minimum of 3.5 GPA in 14 credit hours
  • Community service either on campus or in the surrounding area
  • Excellence in leadership on campus and the community

A committee composed of Academic Success Center administrators and staff reviews all nominations and then selects up to 1 percent of the total number of entering freshmen, approximately 60, as the Provost’s PACE recipients.

Provost’s PACE winners, their supporters, their parents and family members then gather with us for a ceremony on the Sunday afternoon of the spring OU Parents’ Weekend to celebrate the achievements of these outstanding first-year students.

Award
Varies
Deadline
02/01/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. To be eligible to apply for the PACE award, you must be a first-semester freshman in Fall 2025 and achieve a 3.25 GPA over 14 credit hours. You must also demonstrate participation in campus clubs and activities, community service, and leadership positions on campus.

    How do you pronounce your name? (Phonetic Spelling of Full Name)
  2. Hometown address, including street address, city, state, and zip:
  3. Fall 2025 OU GPA:
  4. Fall 2025 OU Hours Completed:
  5. Parent(s) Names:
  6. Parent(s) Address:
  7. OU Clubs/groups in which you participated. Estimate the total number of hours involved in each from August 25 to December 19, 2025 only.
  8. Offices held in OU student organizations. Estimate the total number of hours involved from August 25 to December 19, 2025 only.
  9. Community Service. Include University or community service. Estimate the total number of hours involved from August 25 to December 19, 2025 only.
  10. Place of Employment:
  11. Number of hours working per week (August 25 to December 19, 2025 only):
  12. Show 6 more