Night on Fire

Enrollment & Student Affairs Recognition & Awards Ceremony

April 20, 2027 at 5:30pm  |  Student Union Ballrooms

Night on Fire is an awards celebration recognizing and highlighting student leaders who exemplify leadership, engagement and dedication to VSU as they contribute greatly to the success of many departments on campus including those in the Division of Enrollment & Student Affairs. In addition to recognizing departmental student achievements, Night on Fire also includes 3 unique awards celebrating student engagement - Burning Bright, Unsung Hero, and the Eternal Flame. 

In order to receive any of the 3 unique awards:  

  • A student must receive a minimum of 3 nominations.  
  • Once a student receives 3 nominations, they must complete an application to be eligible for each award.
  • The student must be currently enrolled at Valdosta State University during the award cycle.  
  • The student must be in good standing with the University (academic and conduct). 
  • Professional faculty & staff members (regardless of their student status) are not eligible to receive these awards  
  • Nominations must include clear, behavior-based evidence (events led; organizations served; initiatives impacted).
  • Incomplete nominations (missing rationale or impact statements) will be disqualified from counting toward the minimum threshold. 

Award Descriptions and Criteria 

This award should be given to a first year student that has been able to maintain academic success while also being involved, and who has impacted the VSU community in a great way. Key Criteria include: Early Engagement, Emerging Leadership, Academic Commitment, and Campus Integration. 

This award should be given to a student who contributes greatly to the VSU community in many ways but may be “behind the scenes” more than anything else. Key Criteria include: Behind-the-scenes impact, Reliability & Consistency, Service Orientation, Low Visibility - High Value. 

Similar to a Hall of Fame, this award recognizes a class of students who embody student leadership, exemplify a balance between academic and co-curricular activities, and always show dedication to fulfilling the Blazer Creed. Key Criteria include: Sustained Engagement, Leadership Progression, Institutional Impact, Mentorship & Legacy, and Holistic Excellence. 

In addition to these three awards, the following departments will be giving out awards at Night on Fire: 

  • Housing & Residence Life
  • Student Life 
  • Campus Recreation
  • Fraternity & Sorority Life
  • Career Opportunities & Volunteer Services
  • Orientation
  • Ambassadors 
  • Student Success & Retention
  • Enrollment Marketing
  • Campus Reservations & Facilities
  • Student Government Association 

Missed the 2026 event? Check out the program below: 

Night on Fire 2026 Program

 

Frequently Asked Questions

We've made a few changes to the nomination process. Check out the questions below to better understand the new process. 

No—students do not apply initially. 
Students are first nominated by members of the VSU community (peers, faculty, or staff). 

If a student receives the required number of nominations (3), they will be invited to complete a short form to confirm eligibility and provide additional context. 

The updated process allows for: 

  • Maintaining community-driven recognition through nominations  
  • Ensuring fair and consistent evaluation using a rubric
  • Verifying academic and conduct eligibility

No. Self-nominations are not permitted. 
All nominations must come from other members of the VSU community. 

No. Students are not expected or required to seek out nominations. The process is designed to reflect authentic recognition from others, not campaigning. 

Any current: 

  • Student  
  • Faculty member  
  • Staff member  

A student must receive a minimum of three (3) valid nominations to be eligible for award consideration. 

Valid nominations: 

  • Include specific examples of the student’s involvement or impact  
  • Reflect the nominator’s own perspective or experience  
  • Are not duplicates or copied submissions  

Yes, but a separate nomination must be submitted for each award category, addressing that award’s specific criteria.

No. Nominations are kept confidential to ensure honest and unbiased feedback. 

The student will receive an invitation email indicating they are eligible for consideration. 

They will be asked to complete a short form to: 

  • Confirm eligibility (academic and conduct standing)  
  • Provide basic involvement information  
  • Optionally add context to support their nomination  

This step is required to: 

  • Verify eligibility in accordance with university policy  
  • Ensure all candidates are evaluated fairly  
  • Provide consistent information to the selection committee 

A selection committee evaluates all eligible candidates using a standardized scoring rubric based on: 

  • Engagement 
  • Leadership 
  • Impact 
  • Contribution to the VSU community 
  • Quality of evidence in nominations  

The committee is made up of Enrollment & Student Affairs Staff members. 

To ensure fairness: 

  • Committee members cannot nominate students  
  • Members may only evaluate specific award categories  
  • Conflicts of interest must be disclosed  

Typically, students are only selected for one award to recognize a broader range of individuals. 

If the form is not completed by the deadline, the student will not be considered for final selection.