Celebrating UM's Students and Employees
UM Week of Excellence is a weeklong celebration of UM’s extraordinary students and employees. Listed below are the current 2026 Week of Excellence Events. Please check back for updates as Week of Excellence approaches.
Some events have limited seating for invited guests, so we have marked events that are open to all students and/or employees below.
We look forward to celebrating with you!
2026 Week of Excellence Schedule
Monday, April 27
Noon-1 p.m.: Might of 猎奇重口 Awardee Lunch (Invite only)
- Luncheon event to celebrate 2025-2026 Might of 猎奇重口 Award winners
5-7 p.m.: Franke Global Leadership Initiative Celebration (Invite only)
- Honors Franke GLI Beyond the Classroom scholarship recipients, graduating seniors and the Capstone projects that exemplify the goals of the program.
Tuesday, April 28
3:30-4:30 p.m.: Experiential Learning and Career Success Student Awards Ceremony (Invite only)
- Recognizes ELCS 2026 student scholarship and award winners of the Outstanding Student Volunteer Award, the Student Employee of the Year, the Laura Fellin Scholarship, the Johnson Family Scholarship, the Griz Career Skills Microcredential Awardees, the 猎奇重口 Campus Network for Civic Engagement College Leaders Cohort, the 猎奇重口 Campus Network for Civic Engagement Dennison Scholarship, and Student Super Volunteers.
6-8 p.m.: Scholar-Athlete Banquet (Invite only)
- Celebrates student-athletes attaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher, this event also honors scholarship winners and individual award winners
Wednesday, April 29
8:30-10:30 a.m.: Employee Celebration Breakfast (UC Ballroom - All current employees invited)
- All current UM employees are invited to attend the Employee Celebration Breakfast. The program, which will start at 9 a.m., will honor the 2026 Week of Excellence Employee Award winners, newly retired and upcoming retirees and individuals celebrating longevity milestones.
4-5:30 p.m.: UM Conference on Undergraduate Research Awards and Faculty and Graduate Student Undergraduate Mentorship Celebration (UC Ballroom – all UM students and employees invited)
- Recognizes the 2026 UM Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR) award winners, along with faculty and graduate students who mentor student projects. The event celebrates excellence in research, advising and mentorship - highlighting a range of awards that honor students, faculty and staff for exceptional achievement, creativity and impact in scholarly and creative pursuits.
Thursday, April 30
Noon-1 p.m.: UM Sustainability Awards (Invite only)
- Honors 2025 UM Sustainability Award winners in the following categories: Zero Waste, Sustainability Research, Education & Outreach and Sustainable Student. While this event is invite only, interested parties are welcome to reach out to sustainability@umontana.edu if they would like to attend.
3-5 p.m.: Griz Grad Fest (Invite only)
- An event for graduating seniors and graduate students, as well as departing international students.
4-6 p.m.: Student Achievement Awards (UC Ballroom – all UM students and employees invited)
- Honors the leadership and service of students who have demonstrated a commitment to UM through their engagement with peers, seeking out social change, building better organizations and cultivating community.
7-9 p.m.: UM Greek Awards (UC Ballroom – all UM students and employees invited)
- Honors Fraternity and Sorority Life individual members, Chapters, and Councils through awards and celebration.
Friday, May 1
3-4:30 p.m.: Celebration of Scholarships (Invite only)
- Honors the 2025-2026 prestigious scholarship applicants and the faculty, staff and mentors who supported their efforts.
6-8 p.m.: UM Advocate Awards (Invite only)
- Celebrates the dedication and service of the 2025-2026 UM Advocates and honors outstanding accomplishments, upholds cherished traditions and recognizes graduating seniors.