Distinguished Freshman Award

At UTA we celebrate the exceptional students selected for the College Board National Recognition Programs. The Distinguished Freshman Award is open to incoming freshmen who have received designations through any of the four National Recognition Programs for their first year at UTA.

The National Recognition Programs include:

• College Board National Recognition
• National Merit Semifinalists
• National Honor Society (NHS) Officers
• Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Alumnus
• Salutatorians

Eligible students will have taken the PSAT, MSSQT, PSAT 10, and received notification of their National Recognition Program status directly from the College Board to be eligible for this award. Send an email to schol@uta.edu with your certificate for the award attached. Please include your name and UTA student ID number. The designation will then be verified with the College Board. For details on the criteria or how to qualify please visit the College Board, National Honor Society or Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership websites for details on the criteria or how to qualify for this award.

Salutatorians must send the official, final transcript from high school to the UTA Admissions Office. Please send an email to include your name and UTA student ID number to schol@uta.edu, advising of your status once the final transcript has been submitted. 

Students awarded the Distinguished Freshman Award will receive it for their first fall and spring semesters at UTA and must be starting at UTA in the summer or fall semester to be eligible. A student may only receive one Distinguished Freshman Award. Receiving designations in multiple National Recognition Program groups and/or the addition of the Salutatorian designation will not result in additional Distinguished Freshman Awards. This award is not stackable with other awards/designations from the College Board and is not renewable. This award can be received in addition to other scholarships offered for incoming freshmen through the Scholarships Office. Students are required to enroll in full-time status to activate and maintain this scholarship. This scholarship does not include the non-resident waiver. Accelerated Online students and students opting to participate in the Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) are not eligible for this award. Students must be in a for-credit, degree seeking program.

The deadline to submit your documentation to be considered for this award is September 6, 2024.